Gaelscoileanna granted injunction against minister

A DIRECTIVE from Education Minister Mary Hanafin that Gaelscoileanna should begin teaching English to pupils no later than the second term of junior infants has been subjected to legal challenge.

The High Court yesterday granted a temporary injunction to two Gaelscoileanna and An Foras Pátrúnachta which is patron body to 54 all-Irish primary schools, restraining the minister from implementing the circular letter issued in July.

The letter directed that at least two-and-a-half hours a week, or half an hour a day, should be set aside to teach English from the second term of junior infants.

However, Gaelscoil Mhic Easmainn in Tralee, Co Kerry, Gaelscoil Nás na Rí in Naas, Co Kildare, and An Foras Pátrúnachta brought a successful case seeking a judicial review of this decision.

The case is likely to be heard in the coming weeks.

Meanwhile, the Department of Education will be prevented from enforcing the policy.

The department’s letter told schools that the policy should be put in place from this school year, but allowed a year’s grace for schools in which such total immersion in Irish has been a long-standing practice.

Dónal Ó Conaill, secretary of An Foras Pátrúnachta, last night welcomed the ruling, pointing out that all 13 of the schools opened under its patronage in the last five years were not teaching English until at least the first term of senior infants. “Total early immersion is the method of teaching practised and recommended worldwide as a beneficial, effective approach to acquiring a minority language without harming acquisition of the mother language. The minister should encourage this approach in Irish schools instead of hindering it.”

The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, a statutory advisory body to the minister, recommended freedom for schools on when English classes are introduced until further research took place. However, Ms Hanafin insisted on the policy as she believes all children should be given equal access to English and Irish lessons from as early an age as possible.

The Department of Education was not party to yesterday’s High Court proceedings but is expected to oppose any challenge to implementing the new policy.