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03/15/2005: "Irish Language Commissioners first annual report"

Via the Gaelport.com mailing list: Inaugural Report of An Coimisinéir Teanga.
"The State may not be getting an adequate return for the money it invests in the teaching of Irish according to the inaugural report issued by An Coimisinéir Teanga, Seán Ó Cuirreáin."

English below...

Deir an Coimisinéir Teanga, Seán Ó Cuirreáin ina chéad tuarascáil bhliantúil go bhfuil beagnach 1,500 uair a chloig de theagasc sa Ghaeilge á gcur ar fáil do dhaltaí scoile thar thréimhse 13 bliana, ach fós féin go dtéann cuid mhór acu tríd an gcóras oideachais gan líofacht bhunúsach a bhaint amach sa teanga.

Tá sé tugtha le fios ag an Uasal Ó Cuirreáin go bhféadfadh caiteachas suas le EUR500m. in aghaidh na bliana a bheith á dhéanamh ag an Stát ar mhúineadh na Gaeilge - cé gur "costas deise" é seo nach bhféadfaí a shábháil, seachas costas breise.

Ainneoin na mór-infheistíochta seo thug cuid mhaith comhlachtaí poiblí éagsúla le tuiscint don Choimisinéir Teanga go raibh imní orthu faoi easpa cumais nó easpa líofachta sa Ghaeilge i measc a mball foirne.

"Is léir gur gá an cheist a chur an bhfuil an Stát ag fáil luach a chuid airgid ar an infheistíocht seo más fíor go bhfuil easpa cumais agus easpa líofachta sa teanga ag an oiread sin daoine a chuaigh tríd an gcóras oideachais, fiú ina gcás siúd ar éirigh leo grád maith a fháil sa Ghaeilge ina gcuid scrúduithe cinn
chúrsa?" a deirtear sa tuarascáil.

Deir an Coimisinéir Teanga go gcreideann sé go láidir nár chóir an locht ar fad maidir le heaspa líofachta sa teanga ag oiread daoine a tháinig tríd an gcóras oideachais a chur ar mhúinteoirí na tíre astu féin.

"Creidim gur gá breathnú go grinn ar gach gné d’fhoghlaim na teanga - oiliúint múinteoirí, an curaclam, téacsleabhair agus áiseanna teagaisc, seirbhísí tacaíochta, an mhúinteoireacht, córais chigireachta, agus scrúduithe san áireamh - agus córas comhtháite, forásach a fhorbairt a chinnteoidh go mbeidh
líofacht sa teanga mar thoradh ar mhór-infheistíocht an stáit sa réimse seo den oideachas" a dúirt sé.

Dúirt an Coimisinéir Teanga go bhfuil géarghá le hathbhreithniú cuimsitheach, fuarchúiseach ar gach gné d’fhoghlaim agus de mhúineadh na Gaeilge sa chóras oideachais. "Tá díospóireacht phoiblí ar an ngné fhíor-thábhachtach seo de shaol na tíre riachtanach freisin" a dúirt sé.

Ar an 23 Feabhra 2004 a ceapadh Seán Ó Cuirreáin mar an chéad Choimisinéir Teanga. Uachtarán na hÉireann a cheapann An Coimisinéir Teanga go foirmiúil ar chomhairle an Rialtais tar éis do Dháil Éireann agus do Sheanad Éireann rún a rith ag moladh an cheapacháin.

Feidhmíonn an Coimisinéir Teanga mar Ombudsman i dtaca le cúrsaí Gaeilge. Fiosraíonn a Oifig gearáin ón bpobal i gcásanna ina gcreidtear go bhfuil teipthe ar chomhlachtaí poiblí a ndualgais a chomhlíonadh faoi Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla 2003 nó faoi aon achtachán eile a bhaineann le stádas nó le húsáid na
Gaeilge.

Baineann tuarascáil tionscnaimh Oifig an Choimisinéara Teanga leis an tréimhse 10 mí idir earrach 2004 agus deireadh na bliana 2004.



The State may not be getting an adequate return for the money it invests in the teaching of Irish according to the inaugural report issued by An Coimisinéir Teanga, Seán Ó Cuirreáin.

The report states that pupils receive almost 1,500 hours of tuition in Irish over a period of 13 years yet many go through the educational system without attaining basic fluency in the language.

Mr Ó Cuirreáin has indicated that teaching Irish may cost as much as EUR500m annually although this figure would constitute a non-saveable "opportunity cost" rather than an additional cost to the State.

Despite this significant investment, many public bodies expressed their concern to him about the lack of competency in the language among their staff.

"This clearly raises the question: is the State getting value for money from this investment, if it is true that so many are going through the educational system without achieving a reasonable command of the language - even in the case of students who succeed in getting a high grade in Irish in their final examinations?" the report asks.

Mr Ó Cuirreáin also said that he firmly believes that teachers should not carry all the blame for the absence of fluency in the language on the part of so many people who have come through the educational system.

"Instead, I believe that it is necessary to look closely at every aspect of language learning- taking into account such matters as; teacher training, curriculum, textbooks, teaching methods, teaching aids, support services, inspection systems, and examinations. The aim should be to develop an integrated and progressive system which will ensure competency in the language in return for the substantial state investment in this area of education," he said.

An Coimisinéir Teanga has said that there is an urgent need for a comprehensive and impartial review of the learning and teaching of Irish. A public debate on this very important issue is essential, he says.

Sean Ó Cuirreáin was appointed as the first Coimisinéir Teanga on 23 February 2004 by the President of Ireland on the advice of the Government following a resolution passed by Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann recommending the appointment.

An Coimisinéir Teanga is in effect the Ombudsman for Irish language issues. His Office investigates complaints where there are grounds to believe that a state organisation (public body) may have failed in its obligations under the Official Languages Act 2003 or under any other enactment relating to the status or use of Irish.

The Inaugural Report of the Office of An Coimisinéir Teanga covers the 10 month period from the establishment of the office in the spring of 2004 to the end of that year.


The use of Irish in the Houses of the Oireachtas also comes under the microscope in the report.

The Official Languages Act confirms in primary legislation for the first time the right of anyone appearing before either House of the Oireachtas, or before any committee, joint committee, or subcommittee of the Houses of the Oireachtas, to use either of the official languages.

Although a simultaneous translation system operates in both houses, less than 1% of the Dáil and Seanad debates were conducted in Irish, making them effectively monolingual institutions with over 99% of the debates in English. This does not reflect the fact that many TDs and Senators are fluent Irish speakers and frequently participate in debates in the Irish language media.

"One expects leadership from elected representatives. If the language continues to be marginalised and sidelined like this in the most important institutions in the life of the country, it is difficult to imagine that it will not have grave implications for the future viability of the language" said Mr Ó Cuirreáin.

A complaint was made to the Office of an Coimisinéir Teanga last year about an advertisement for ‘parliamentary reporters’ which stated that while ‘competence in English’ was essential for the job, no mention was made of competency in Irish. When the matter was raised with The Debates Office it emerged that a sufficient number of staff was already available to deal with the few debates
that take place through Irish. "It would be hard to dispute that argument in the light of these figures," the report suggests.


The report is available in English and as Gaeilge.