Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 10: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to halt the proposals to increase the pupil-teacher ratio in Gaelscoileanna to that of English-medium schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5512/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The standardisation of the staffing schedule for gaelscoileanna so that it is the same as that which applies to primary schools in general is one of a number of measures in Budget 2011 to control and reduce teacher numbers. These changes will take effect from September next. Given the legacy of economic mismanagement on the part of the outgoing Fianna Fáil-Green Party Government and the financial constraints that currently apply, it is not possible to reverse these changes.

The changes to which I refer will result in a reduction of the order of 50 posts in gaelscoileanna. There are currently more than 1,500 teaching posts in these schools. The impact at individual school level is determined as part of the allocation process for the 2011-2012 school year and schools are being notified in the normal manner.

The Government will endeavour to protect front-line education services as best as possible. However, this must be done within the context of bringing overall public expenditure back into line with what we can afford as a country. All areas of government, including that which relates to gaelscoileanna, will be obliged to manage on a reduced level of resources. The challenge will be to ensure that the resources that are being provided will be used to maximum effect.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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Is mór an trua é go bhfuil an chóimheas á athrú. Tá dúshlán uafásach deacair ag múinteoirí gaelscoile agus an teanga á oiliúnt acu. Tuigim go ligfí 24 múinteoirí as a bpoist. Ceapann muintir na Gaeilge timpeall na tíre go bhfuil stádas na Gaeilge ag laghdú. Roimh an toghchán, dúirt Fine Gael go rabhadar chun stádas na Gaeilge a íslú ón áit lárnach atá aici san ardteist faoi láthair. Cad iad tuairimí an Aire i dtaobh an Ghaeilge san ardteist? Ceapann Sinn Féin gur chóir go mbeadh an Ghaeilge riachtanach san ardteist.

Chuir an sean-Rialtas bac ar gaelscoileanna nua timpeall na tíre. Tá Gaelscoil Ráth Tó i mo dháilcheantar ag feidhmiú gan aitheantas ón Rialtas. Tá an gluaiseacht gaelscolaíochta mar cheann de na beagán tionscnaimh iontacha rathúla ó thaobh athbheochan na teanga de. Caithfimid níos mó tacaíocht a thabhairt do ghaelscoileanna. An bhfuil an Rialtas sásta aitheantas a thabhairt do ghaelscoileanna nua? An bhfuil an Rialtas sásta áit lárnach agus riachtanach a thabhairt don Ghaeilge san ardteist?

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Gabh mo leithscéal, ach níl Gaeilge maith agam. In that context, I am not sure if I understood everything the Deputy said. It is a reflection on the education system, in which I spent 14 years, that I can speak a number of languages other than English but that Irish is not one of these. My father was a fervent Gaelgóir and I was not, therefore, raised in a home that was hostile to the language.

The status of Irish as a compulsory examination subject - as set out in the programme for Government - will remain. We must face up to the fact that many children who commence school with a positive attitude toward Irish do not, for reasons I do not fully understand, retain that attitude. We must examine why that is the case. We must consider, for example, the amount of time teachers spend teaching Irish relative to and in the context of the outcomes achieved and the ability of young people to speak the language in an enthusiastic fashion. We must approach this issue honestly.

Bringing the pupil-teacher ratio at gaelscoileanna into line with that which obtains in other schools is a consequence of the necessity to spread the reduction in resources as equitably as possible across the system. It would be intolerable that a gaelscoil might, by virtue of its status, have a different pupil-teacher ratio to that which obtains in an ordinary school.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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We refer to gaelscoileanna separately because they face different challenges. That is why, historically, the pupil-teacher ratio at these schools has been different. Gaelscoileanna teach a language which often is not the native language spoken by individual pupils. I am sure the Minister will agree that the gaelscoileanna movement has been one of the most successful mechanisms utilised in the effort to keep the Irish language alive and to develop it. Unfortunately, the previous Government put a stop on recognition of new gaelscoileanna. If it means business with regard to the Irish language - and I hope it does - will the new Government remove this?

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I am conscious of the commitment and enthusiasm of parents, teachers and support groups for the gaelscoileanna movement. However, that movement really caught hold at a time when we believed we had one of the best education systems in the world and when our English language schools were ranked fifth in terms of literacy and numeracy. We have slipped down drastically when it comes to that league table and this is a matter which must be addressed.

I have an open mind on recognition of An Foras Pátrúnachta and new gaelscoileanna. I am particularly conscious that, for reasons of educational politics at ground level rather than attitudes in Marlborough Street, Coláiste Chill Dara, which has five or six feeder schools at primary level, was denied official and proper recognition. Where a demand for a gaelscoil can be shown and proven and where there is a consistency of supply, then the equality of recognition at second level is something to which I am well disposed. I believe in pluralism within our education system and in providing choice, where possible, within the constraints relating to resources.