Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 29 May 2013

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection

Pupil-Teacher Ratio in Gaeltacht Schools: Discussion

1:45 pm

Photo of Marie MoloneyMarie Moloney (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the ladies. I know Ms Ní Mhainín but I have not met Ms Ní Chartúir before. I also welcome the Department officials. Well over a year ago we attended a public meeting in Dingle and a big crowd came out that night to support the retention of the Gaelscoileanna. I got a quick lesson that night on the difference between Gaelscoileanna and Gaeltacht schools because when I referred to the Gaeltacht schools as Gaelscoileanna, Ms Ní Mhainín was not long about putting me in the picture. I have not forgotten it. Can the witnesses indicate when we can have the results of the review for small schools? Will they be brought to this committee for discussion?

As Deputy Ó Snodaigh said, doing the review after the job is done is a bit like closing the stable door after the horse has bolted. Will Gaeltacht schools close down as a result of these changes? The Department is a year into the changes and Mr. Loftus said that six posts have been lost. If Gaeltacht schools do close down will the students be placed in English medium schools or will they be put into Gaelscoileanna where they are taught through the medium of Irish? This can cause a huge problem, especially if the children go on to be educated through Irish. I recall somebody saying to me once that they did not send their child to a Gaelscoil because they could not help the child with homework as they did not know the names of the mountains and rivers as Gaeilge. If children taught for several years through Irish are suddenly landed into an English medium school it will be hard for them, for example, to study geography. It will be like learning a new language all over again. I would appreciate if Mr. Loftus could indicate the impact of this on the Gaeltacht schools and whether they will eventually close down, and if so, is it proposed to amalgamate them with English medium schools?

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