Parents settle dispute over Irish at Dingle school

A dispute over an alleged all-Irish policy at a second-level school in the Kerry Gaeltacht has been resolved.

Today the High Court was informed that the that parents of 12 students at Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne/Dingle Community School had settled their action against the the Department of Education and Science and the school's board of management.

The parents had claimed claim that as a result of the all Irish policy, an unfair burden is being placed upon their children at a critical time in their education.

Their children, they argued were unable to understand what they are being taught because the alleged abandonment of teaching through English.

The school and the Department had denied their claims and say education is not exclusively through Irish.

As part of what was a detailed settlement agreement an assistance programme will be put in place at the school to help students to improve their Irish, before they would eventually be taught fully through Irish.

Counsel for the parents James O'Reilly SC told Mr Justice Roderick Murphy said that after lengthy discussions an agreement had been reached by all parties. There had been "give and take on both sides," counsel added.

As part of the agreement enrolment and teaching policies at the school will not have a requirement to have a particular level of linguistic ability in the Irish language.