Minister for Education Mary Hanafin today insisted a strategy was in place to create an interest in Irish as a new report warned of a dramatic drop in the standard of spoken Irish in schools.
The study found only a third of pupils in English-speaking schools had mastered the ability to communicate through the language, while in Gaeltacht schools proficiency in spoken Irish had dropped significantly.
Ms Hanafin admitted she was both disappointed and worried by the findings. "It is disappointing to see that pupil performance in Irish in mainstream schools has declined in the past two decades."
"What is also a worrying development is the reported fall in pupil performance in Irish in schools in the Gaeltacht."
She said 30 extra cuiditheoiri, or language experts, had been employed to advise and direct teachers, and that evening and weekend courses were being held for teachers to improve their Irish.
Irish summer camps are being held for pupils from disadvantaged areas, while a scholarship programme to help other teenagers to spend summers in the Gaeltacht is also being extended.
Ms Hanafin said the main objective was for teachers to find satisfaction in teaching Irish and for pupils to enjoy learning it, see it as a living language and a part of their unique national identity and culture.
The report Irish in Primary Schools: Long Term National Trends in Achievementby Dr John Harris, Trinity College Dublin, examined 219 schools around the country in 2002 including ordinary, Gaeltacht and Gaelscoileanna.
Focusing on the standard of Irish among sixth class pupils, it found a dramatic decline in the spoken language with only a third of pupils in ordinary schools achieving mastery in Irish communication, compared to half in 1985.
The study found 16 per cent of pupils failed all Irish speaking tests and 14 per cent could not talk in Irish about any of the topics suggested.
Dr Harris said the results from ordinary schools reinforced the view that there is an urgent need for a comprehensive and impartial review of every aspect of the learning and teaching of Irish.
He also recommended a national action plan for the language, consideration of teaching other subjects through Irish, design of home/school models for engaging parental interest in helping their children to learn Irish and investment in teacher training.
PA