Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 558: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when the Ionad Náisiúnta Oideachas Gaeilge will be established in Baile Bhúirne; the role it will have; and the process which is being used to ensure that it will meet the needs of those promoting Irish in the system and beyond it in view of the findings of the Harris Report. [24790/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Officials from my Department met recently with interested parties in relation to Baile Bhúirne. Following consideration of the views expressed by the interested parties at that meeting, I expect to be in a position very shortly to make a final decision on the project.

I recently announced a range of additional measures to promote enhanced quality in the teaching and learning of Irish. These include the employment of 30 additional cuiditheoirí at primary level to provide a programme of supports and inservice training for teachers, enhancement of the second level support service, and from 2007 development of summer camps in Irish for children attending schools in disadvantaged areas. This builds on developments to date in the form of implementation of the revised primary curriculum in Irish with effect from September 2003 supported by a national programme of 3500 inservice training seminars for 21,000 teachers a revised literature programme for Leaving Certificate Irish examined for the first time in 2006 substantial progress in the supply of textbooks through the development of Séideán Sí for primary schools and the work of An Chomhairle um Oideachais Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta. The Chomhairle has published an extensive resource directly now running to 83 web pages of materials and resources available to support the teaching of Irish in the curriculum and the teaching of other subjects through Irish enhancements in the arrangements for the Scrúdú Cáilíochta sa Ghaeilge which must be passed by primary teachers trained abroad within a 5 year period.