Under the present system, children will learn Irish for eight years in primary school, up to six years in second school and will still leave the education system unable to conduct a conversation in Irish and, even more disappointing, many not liking Irish and having no pride in Irish as being part of our cultural identity. If we are to bring about an improvement in the use of the Irish language, we must start young. The emphasis has to be on spoken Irish. I believe it is more beneficial to have the majority with a love of the language and able to speak it rather than have a few being super competent in Irish with the majority being left with a distaste for the language.
Is mór an trua é agus is cúis náire é go bhfuil Béarla á labhairt againn agus go mbíonn gnó na Dála ag leanúint ar aghaidh trí Bhéarla in ionad Gaeilge. Is cúis náire í cinnte nach bhfuil Gaeilge á labhairt againn beagnach 90 bliain tar éis tosach an Stáit. Cinnte tá job sármhaith á dhéanamh ag na Gaeilscoileanna, go háirithe na cinn atá lasmuigh den Ghaeltacht. Rud eile dearfach: tá a fhios againn go bhfuil suim ag tuismitheoirí go mbeadh níos mó Gaelscoileanna againn. Ba cheart go mbeidh na ranganna beomhar agus praiticiúil.
