Irish Language (Hansard, 19 January 1995)

§ 24. Mr. Flynn
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what new proposals he has to increase the use of the Irish language.

§ Mr. Ancram
The Government seek to encourage respect for, and appreciation of, cultural diversity in Northern Ireland and to respond positively, where practical, to soundly based requests for assistance for Irish language projects. On 6 December 1994 a draft order was laid before Parliament which includes a power to enable district councils to erect street names in a second language, other than English. In practice, the second language is most likely to be Irish.

§ Mr. Llwyd
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proposals he has to enable students wishing to study at a non-denominational institution to train to be teachers in Irish-medium schools; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Ancram
None.

§ Mr. Llwyd
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many non-denominational educational establishments currently offer courses in Irish as a main or subsidiary subject in primary phase initial teacher training; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Ancram
One.

§ Mr. Llwyd
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps the Department of Education for Northern Ireland intends to take to improve the design and content of the BEd course in Celtic at St. Mary's College; which interest groups are being consulted; when changes are likely to be implemented; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Ancram
My Department is examining proposals from the college for a re-designed course which takes into account the views expressed by various interest groups. Changes are unlikely to be in place before September 1996.

§ Mr. Llwyd
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the research projects undertaken612W during the past five years at St. Mary's college, Belfast into the teaching of Irish in Irish-medium schools; what public funding was provided for them; what research obligations are imposed on teacher training college lecturers; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Ancram
No empirical research projects have been undertaken. There are no research obligations imposed on college lecturers.

§ Mr. Llwyd
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if the BEd course in Celtic at St. Mary's college, Belfast has been retained specifically for the purpose of training students to teach in Irish-medium primary schools; what percentage of this course is taught and assessed through the medium of Irish; what percentage of the teaching material is in the Irish language; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Ancram
The decision to retain the course took account of the then growing needs of the Irish-medium primary schools. All of the course is taught and assessed through the medium of Irish and approximately 80 per cent. of the teaching material is in the Irish language.