Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 95: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills in view of the special status given to schools teaching through Gaeilge, and the importance of Irish speaking schools in nurturing the language within the Gaeltacht, if he agree that his policy should ensure the allocation of adequate resources to promote the language in a targeted and strategic way in order to ensure the sustainability of Gaeilge as a community and family language in the Gaeltacht. [33990/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I am aware of the role that schools can play in nurturing the Irish language within the Gaeltacht. The implementation of the plans set out in the 20-Year Strategy for Irish will assist schools in this regard. The Government is committed to implementing these plans over the lifetime of the Strategy and as resources permit. Officials from my Department are cooperating closely with officials in the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht on the implementation of the Strategy. A number of education-related actions in the 20-Year Strategy are already underway especially in relation to teacher education, reform of the curriculum at primary and post-primary level, and the provision of authentic teaching resources. These measures will support schools in Gaeltacht areas in targeted manner, particularly with a view to developing pupils' ability to speak the language in a variety of communicative and social contexts and meeting the specific Irish language needs of pupils whose first language is Irish. The fact that, since this Leaving Certificate (2012), 40% of the marks will be allocated to oral competency will also help to ensure the sustainability of the language and reward students who are proficient in Irish. It will also motivate the community and families to promote continued use of the language in the Gaeltacht areas.