John Gerard Hanafin (Fianna Fail)

I am giving the House my view on what will happen. The policy they are propounding is to remove the compulsory element of Irish for the leaving certificate. It will single-handedly sound the death-knell of the Irish language, and I am not being political, but am speaking from concern.

It is interesting that the Labour Party in the Dáil does not support this policy. Neither does the Green Party. I shall be interested to see what attitude is taken in this House today. If implemented, the policy being put forward in this motion will have enormous knock-on effects. I regret it shows such a lack of understanding of the manner in which the education system works and the importance of the language as a core part of the curriculum. I genuinely believe it is not what Fine Gael Members want as regards the language. As long as we offer a broad curriculum, as will always be my intention, then I will insist that the compulsory element continues.

Recognising that, we must of course ensure that we adapt in the way we do things. Bhí an Seanadóir Maurice Hayes ag caint mar gheall ar technology agus CDs, agus tá an ceart aige. Caithfhimid iad sin a chur ar fáil agus na háiseanna agus na hacmhainní do mbúinteoirí freisin. The second level support service provides a modular course on Irish through education centres, etc., and the NCCA is looking at resource material in that regard. It is crucial, as more and more students become adept at computers, that they should have access to this type of information as well.

As regards na téacsleabhair ins na Gaelscoileanna, tá dul chun cinn á dhéanamh le na h-áiseanna a chur ar fáil. Tá méadú tagtha ar an méid airgid a chuirimid ar fáil. With that increase in money we are getting new materials called Séideán Sí, a wonderful series. It is now in place for the infants, the senior infants and the first class and they are preparing currently for the second class as well. It is not just a question of books. There are puppets, posters, picture cards, compact discs and handbooks and the methodology being used is exciting. There are card games so that children may enjoy the teaching of the language. All of that is being incorporated and will be rolled out for the whole eight-year cycle. Obviously, I should like this to happen more speedily. We are only working towards it at present.

Tá an Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta ag obair air sin, working on the provision of textbooks, aids etc. It has provided various types of resources which are invaluable for both first and second level. Only recently at Colaiste Eoin I launched na háiseanna for the teaching of science to junior certificate students with all the experiments included. It is a very technical language. The particular resources were needed for science with all the experiments and these are now available and will be of great benefit to the teachers. I recognise nach bhfuil siad go léir ar fáil agus nach bhfuil siad ar fáil in am, ach tá dul chun cinn á dhéanamh air sin.

The question of entry to primary school teacher training college comes up for debate quite often because it is specified that the applicant has to have a minimum of a grade C in higher level in leaving certificate Irish. People say that it is prohibitive and is blocking some people from becoming teachers. It is absolutely essential that primary school teachers have a reasonable standard of Irish. If they do not, they cannot teach it. I know the entry requirement is higher for Irish than for English or mathematics. I would seriously consider increasing the entry requirement for English, rather than downgrading the entry requirement for Irish. One does not have to have honours English in the leaving certificate to get into primary school teaching, but one does have to have honours Irish. Surely that begs the question as to whether honours should be required for English as well, as this is crucially important.

Maidir le múinteoirí a bhíonn á n-oiliúint i Sasana agus áiteanna eile, they have to do the Scrúdú Cáilíochta sa Gaeilge, SCG. Again, this is a system that has been recently reviewed and contains a much more comprehensive language syllabus. There is a new literature textbook, Leoithne Gaeilge, and courses are being provided for teachers doing this course to ensure they can pass more speedily, so that when they are in the schools they can implement a course they know and understand. This has increased the success rates for the teachers as well.

Bhí an Seanadóir McHugh ag caint mar gheall ar third level programmes and Magee. Again, there have been great advances in the number of third level courses being provided, particularly in Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge, NUI Galway, which offers a great number of courses and has three centres in the Gaeltacht, in Carna, Carraroe and Gweedore. There is also Dublin City University, which established Fiontar in 1993 and offers a range of courses.

It is very encouraging that students are perhaps going to the Gaelscoileanna le gur féidir leo leanúint ar aghaidh agus a gcuid gcúrsaí a dhéanamh trí mheán na Gaeilge freisin. Summer courses are hugely popular. Bhí an Seanadóir Maurice Hayes ag caint mar gheall ar bheith mBaile Bhúirne. Tá fhios agam gur chaith sé am sa Rinn freisin. He and my father spent their childhood in Ring together. I think Senator Hayes's Irish is probably slightly better than my father's. That kind of support and encouragement that being in the Gaeltacht area gives to young people is hugely important. Every year about 25,000 students participate in cursaí samhraidh insan Gaeltacht. Sin an fáth go bhfuil an Gaeltacht an thábhachtach.

Tá obair idir lámha ach mar a dúirt mé, ní féidir leis na scoileanna gach rud a dhéanamh, ach is féidir leis an scoil feabhas a chur ar an scéal. The teaching of Irish is hugely important. It genuinely is of concern. The Harris report highlights this. The Harris report, which is about the teaching of Irish, is gone for translation agus táimid fós ag feitheamh leis agus sin ceann de na fáthanna nach féidir liom é a fhoilsiú. It is ironic that a report about the Irish language has to be translated into Irish before we can actually publish it. The report is quite critical of the Irish language and the teaching of Irish.

Senator Quinn has highlighted the importance of the Irish language in the Constitution, its importance for us as a nation in terms of our identity, and its importance for us now in Europe. For all these reasons Irish is important in schools. The policies we adopt in regard to the Irish language in our schools is what will ensure its future.

Ba mhaith é so liom a rá leis an Seanadóir O'Toole freisin mar gheall ar Bhaile Bhúirne. I am actively working on this matter and I have taken advice from different groups. I accept that a commitment was given to it but I want to make sure that something definite and positive happens in Baile Bhúirne and that it is not just a concept. I am very anxious to progress that as quickly as possible.

I believe everybody in the Seanad is genuinely interested in the Irish language. I do not question it but I would ask that the policies would follow the interest and that the policies of any party in this House in regard to the Irish language would be such as to support and strengthen it, not to weaken it which is the one thing that would happen as a result of the removal of compulsory Irish for the leaving certificate.