Below find a copy of a report on the recent successful court case brought by the Patronage Institute for Gaelscoileanna ( Foras Pátrúnachta) and two individual Gaelscoil (Tralee and Naas). Also a copy of the protest forwarded by the Irish branch of the Celtic League about the infamous circular issued by the Minister for Education which provoked this campaign.

"High Court Victory for Gaelscoileanna - Withdraw Circular now!

On Tuesday last (Nov 13th.), the day on which Gaelscoileanna launched a national campaign in support of Irish immersion education An Tumoideachas -Sároideachas, Excellent Education -Immersion Education a significant victory was achieved in the courts. The campaign was initiated in response to the Minister of Education's circular forcing Irish language schools to teach English after the first term (see below ).

The Patronage Institute for Gaelscoileanna ( Foras Pátrúnachta) and two individual Gaelscoil (Tralee and Naas) took an action in the High Court and were granted an interim injunction against the implementation of the circular. The full case is expected to be heard in some weeks time but a final judgment might not emerge for months later. Gaelscoileanna again called on the Minister to withdraw the circular which has no educational or research basis.

At its yearly conference, held in Limerick over the weekend the organisation publicised the results of an MA thesis carried out by Dónall Ó hAinféin, a principal in Gaelscoil Mhichíl Chíosóig, Ennis , Co Clare. This research shows clearly that pupils in both Class 2 and Class 5 perform significantly better in the standard English reading tests then those in ordinary schools and moreover that this applies also in Gaelscoileanna in disadvantaged areas. Furthermore it confirms that children exposed to the fuller early Irish immersion adopt Irish quicker as the language of the schoolyard.

It is time for the Minister to admit her mistakes, withdraw her circular and stop hindering the good work in the Gaelscoileanna. She should emulate her counterpart in the North, Catiríona Ruane, who is continuing to support early Irish immersion in the Irish medium schools there. She attended the Gaelscoileanna conference dinner as keynote speaker and gave an excellent supportive address."

"An tAire Mary Hanifin, TD An Roinn Oideachais agus Eolaíochta, Sráid Mhaoilbhríde, Baile Átha Cliath 2 Ciorcalán 0044/2007 A Aire, a chara,

Bhí an-iontas ar Chraobh na hÉireann den Conradh Ceilteach gur sheol tú ciorcalán 0044/2007, ag cur cosc ar an luath-tumoideachas in Éireann, amach agus cáinim muid an gníomh seo go láidir. Iarraim muid ort é seo a tharraingt siar láithreach. Mas rud é go raibh iontas orainne bhí iontas i bhfad níos mó ar na Craobhacha eile den Conradh. Shíl said gur rud scannalach é Aire i stait neamhspléach ceilteach a bheith ag feidhmiú mar sin in éadan sealbhú an Ghaeilge ag na páistí sna Gaelscoileanna. Tá luath-tumoideachas riachtanach le go néireodh le paistí greim ceart a fháil ar an teanga, tá árd caighdéan oideachas ag na Gaelscoileanna agus ard caighdeán Béarla ag na páistí freisin.

Is eol dúinne sa Chonradh Ceilteach buntáistí an luath-tumoideachais ins na tíortha Ceilteacha eile ( agus go deimhin i measc neart mionlaigh teanga eile.)

Ag cruinniú chinn bhliana an Chonradh Cheilteach i gCaerdydd, an Bhreatain Bheag, roinnt seachtainí ó shoin ritheadh an rún seo leanas agus déanadh poiblíocht ar seo in iris an Chonartha, CARN, (féach túsleathanach leis seo). Beidh an scéal seo dhá scaipeadh go forleathan.

" This AGM of the Celtic League (meeting here in Caerdydd, Cymru) deplores the Irish Minister of Education, Mary Hanafin's, decision to ban the early Irish immersion programme practiced in many Irish medium schools (Gaelscoileanna) in the Republic and calls upon her to rescind this and listen to those who call for a research informed decision. We congratulate the Minister of Education in the North of Ireland, Catiríona Ruane, for confirming that early Irish immersion programmes in Gaelscoileanna in the North will continue.

The benefit of early immersion education in gaining fluency in the Celtic language is clearly proven not only in Ireland but in countries such as Cymru (Wales) and Alba, where it has also been shown that pupils achieve a high standard in the dominant language. We call upon you to reverse this ill based decision and allow pupils in Gaelscoileanna the opportunity to continue to obtain early fluency in Irish. We look forward to a positive response from you on this.

Is mise, le meas,

Pádraigín Mylevreeshey, Rúnaí, Craobh na hÉireann"

This report prepared by the Celtic League Irish branch for Celtic News.

J B Moffatt Director of Information Celtic League

18/11/07

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