Joe O'Toole (Independent)

It is always as a result of a mistake. Such mistakes are evident all over the city. However, they impact culturally. Throughout this city one finds this lack of understanding of cultural background. There is a place on the north side of Dublin called Larkhill. Before the city spread it was in the middle of a wood and was called Lár Coille. Lár Coille became Larkhill. However, it has now become Cnoc na Fuiseoige.

We are talking about na deacrachtaí a bhíonn ag daoine nach bhfuil a dteanga ar a gcumas acu siúd atá ag obair ar rudaí mar the educational plan. Nuair a bhíos féin ag múineadh there was a huge debate as to whether Ladybird books, for example, should be used in Irish primary schools. All teachers used them. I am sure Senator Fitzgerald used them and so did I. The Department of Education was vociferously opposed to them because they did not reflect the cultural background and values of the children. Peter and Jane were not the children we were teaching. That was true but, as teachers, we used the books because they were valuable in other ways.