Language issue

I DO not know why most Irish language organisations are up in arms over the decision by Education Minister Mary Hanafin to end total immersion in Irish in our gaelscoileanna.

Under the circular she has issued, English will be taught only for a half an hour every day. I cannot see what is wrong with this. Students will still spend most of their school day speaking Irish.

There are far more important issues facing the gaelscoil movement — namely the shortage of second-level schools, or gaelcholáistí, and the reprehensible condition of many of them.