Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 4 November 2015
226. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Education and Skills the percentage of staff in her Department capable of dealing with the public in the Irish language; if there are training programmes in place for staff to improve their level of working Irish; the provision there is for other minority languages; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38622/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraA survey of my Department's administrative staff conducted in 2013 indicated that approximately 10% of staff have proficiency in Irish. 1.5% of administrative staff indicated a high level of proficiency in Irish while 8.7% of staff indicated a medium level of proficiency. In addition to the administrative staff, many field staff such as inspectors and educational psychologists have a high level of proficiency in Irish. Opportunities to improve Irish language skills are also offered to inspectors as part of the programme of training managed within the Inspectorate. At primary level, the Inspectorate provides an inspection service in both Irish and English to all recognised schools including schools in the Gaeltacht and all-Irish schools. At post-primary level, the Inspectorate provides a service in the inspection of teaching and learning in Irish through its Subject Inspection model and provides an inspection service through Irish in all schools in the Gaeltacht or all-Irish schools. During whole school evaluations, inspection questionnaires for parents are provided in Latvian, Lithuanian and Polish if required. Inspectors also examine provision for students with English as an additional language in the course of many models of inspections. The National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) also delivers its services through Irish to the said type of schools. The Department's Staff Training and Development Unit (STDU) is committed to providing appropriate training and development opportunities, including Irish Language training, for all staff to meet priority business needs.
