Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

I thank Senators for their contributions. I always enjoy coming to the Seanad because of the genuine interest here. I had not quite realised there are so many new Senators with backgrounds in education but I am sure their aim will be to make a positive contribution and not just keep me on my toes.

Two issues were new. The first concerned the National Educational Psychological Service, which is very valuable. The Government set this up in 1999 and all schools have access to psychological assessments. It is important to point out not all children require a psychological assessment to be able to get additional resources because every school in the country has resource teachers at primary level. That is important.

The recruitment process for this year took longer than anticipated and the panel then became exhausted. It became difficult to recruit people for certain areas around the country but the new process began and was closed on 25 October. Short-listing and interview will now take place. The process was slower than I would have liked this year but it is in hand.

Más féidir liom dul ar ais go dtí an tomoideachais, tógadh an taighde ocht mbliana. One would have to begin with the child coming into junior infants. There is an acceptance that there may be a gap in the middle years between the standard of English and Irish as against children in other schools, but they would catch up in sixth class. I do not believe it appropriate that any child should be behind another in those intervening years. Thógadh an taighde ocht mbliana. Any international research on this is inconclusive and I am not sure there would be any conclusions.

It is just a matter of policy but I remain committed to the Irish language and ensuring our schools in particular promote the Irish language at all levels. Mar is eol do dhaoine, rinne mé chuid oibre maidir leis an Ardteistiméireacht by changing the focus on to the oral Irish in the leaving certificate examination, which would make a significant contribution to the teaching and learning of Irish.

I will never do anything a dhéanfadh aon dochar don Ghaeilge sna bunscoileanna, meánscoileanna nó na gaelscoileanna. Is beag Aire eile atá chómh báúil don Ghaeilge is atá mé fhéin. Beidh daoine i mo dhiadh nach mbeidh chomh báúil. Caithfidh mé féachaint ar an gcuraclam ina iomlán, sna scoileanna i gcoitinne. Ba chóir dóibh go léir an curaclam iomlán a chur i bhfeidhm. I thank the Senators and the Cathaoirleach for their courtesy.