Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 374: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason she insists on pressing ahead with her campaign to outlaw by means of statutory instrument the teaching method of early total immersion in gaelscoileanna, irrespective of the fact that the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, the INTO, and all Irish language organisations are unanimous in their call for comprehensive native research into ETI before any legal departure is made touching upon it and that research (details supplied) shows that pupils from ETI backgrounds score well above average in her Department's standardised tests for English; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13401/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I am aware of the research to which the Deputy refers, which indicates that students in all-Irish schools perform above average in standardised tests in English. National studies in this area also show that students in such schools have a higher socioeconomic profile, and have greater levels of parental interest in education than is the case in mainstream schools. In Irish medium schools, all subjects except English may be taught through Irish providing for an immersion level of 88-90%. The fundamental public policy issue in this case concerns upholding the rights of all children to access the full curriculum from the earliest possible stage.

The revised primary curriculum was launched in 1999 after extensive consultation with the partners in education. Page 27 in the Introduction to the Curriculum states "It is a particular feature of Irish primary education that children, from the beginning of schooling, have experience of language learning in two languages." It also sets out a suggested minimum weekly time framework for tuition. This provides that where a first language is being taught, there should be four hours instruction per week, and 3 hours per week where there is a shorter day for the infant classes. Where a second language is being taught, the suggested minimum timeframe is 3.5 hours per week, and 2.5 hours per week for infant classes with a shorter day.

I have determined as a public policy issue that the position as set out in the curriculum, and in previous Parliamentary Questions, should remain unchanged i.e that the minimum recommended timeframe set out for a second language in the curriculum should be adhered to. Accordingly, Circular 0044/2007 requires that Irish medium schools should provide for a minimum provision in English of 3.5 hours per week, or 2.5 hours per week where there is a shorter day for infant classes, no later than the start of the second term in Junior infants.

The question of deferring a decision in relation to this matter pending a research project to ascertain the impact on student performance of various models of immersion education was considered. Such research is, in any event, likely to be inconclusive, given the many variables (socioeconomic status, school practice, variations in first language at home of students etc) that are at play here. In any event, research will, by its nature, focus on but one subset (learning impact) of what is a significantly wider public policy matter and for that reason I did not consider it appropriate to delay a decision pending any such research.

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 375: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her views on the views of a person (details supplied) that the immersion education system is by far the best way to teach the Irish language to teachers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13402/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The comments to which the Deputy refers express a view that immersion is the best model of education not only for pupils of Irish but also for teachers of Irish, and advocate that a period of one month or two in the Gaeltacht should be mandatory for student teachers. The comments also recommend that grants should be available to support upskilling for teachers who feel that their standard of Irish is weak, and that the Department's circular which requires that English be taught for a minimum period in Irish medium schools in the infant classes with effect from no later than the start of the second term, should be withdrawn.

I am aware of a range of studies which highlight the effectiveness of immersion approaches to language learning. However, the precise models of immersion in use, whether this applied to the exclusion of other languages, the socioeconomic profile of students, their home linguistic background, and the national context and level of societal use of the immersion language in the studies are not always clear and make comparisons difficult with the situation n Ireland. It has also been demonstrated that practices in Irish medium schools vary considerably and a review of literature in this area undertaken on behalf of the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment in 2006 has concluded that "existing international research is not adequate to decide the reading sequencing issue clearly in the context of Irish immersion, either in a general way or in particular schools."

In granting recognition to Gaelscoileanna I am supporting parental choice in relation to education through the medium of Irish but this does not obviate the need for such schools, as recognised primary schools, to implement all elements of the national curriculum. Furthermore the achievement of the curriculum objectives in every curriculum area at each of the four levels of primary schooling is an over-riding requirement in all schools. I have therefore determined as a public policy issue that the introduction of a minimum of 2.5 hours per week for English as Language 2 in Irish medium schools should not be delayed beyond the start of the second term in Junior Infants. I am convinced of the importance of ensuring that all children have access to the full primary curriculum from the earliest possible stage. In Irish medium schools, all subjects except English are taught through Irish, and this provides an immersion level of 88-90%.

With regard to teachers, it is already a requirement that student teachers undergo a period of 3 weeks in the Gaeltacht as part of their training. I have asked the Teaching Council to begin a review of the standards of initial teacher education and training and the knowledge skills and competences required of teachers in today's profession, and to advise me on policy proposals in the context of Article 38 of the Teaching Council Act. I have asked the Council to pay particular attention to Irish, and the need for teachers to have full competence to teach the Irish curriculum. I look forward to the Council's recommendations in this important area.

As part of the work of the Primary Curriculum Support Service, 31 full-time Cuiditheoiri offer training, support and advice to schools in relation to the teaching of Irish under the Tús Maith initiative. This is supplemented by programmes offered in the network of Education Centres and by courses in spoken Irish provided by other organisations. I will continue to keep the matter under review in the light of the resources available and the policy advice from the Teaching Council.