Decline in language feared from current Act

The Labour Gaeltacht spokesman, Mr Brian O'Shea, warned that current policy could lead to the decline of the Irish language.

When the Official Languages Bill had been debated he had expressed specific concerns that only a small minority knew about it or were really interested.

"I stated that unless and until the community at large took ownership of the Irish language, in a manner free of elitism and fanaticism, the prospect of halting the decline in the use of the language was scant," he added.

Mr O'Shea said he had serious concerns regarding the cost of putting the provisions of the Official Languages Act, 2003, into effect.

"The Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs [ Mr Ó Cúiv] recently indicated that fewer than 10 jobs would be created as a result of its implementation, although he stated in July 2003 that a dividend of almost 2,000 posts for the Irish-language community would be one of the main results of its implementation," he added.

He said that the Book of Estimates gave little or no indication of what it would cost next year to implement the Official Languages Act, 2003.

A certain clause that the Minister had added to the Bill would have very significant implications for the cost of its implementation.

"The Bill originally provided that, if a person was not satisfied with a decision of the Official Languages Commissioner, that person could not go to court to contest that decision," he added.

"However, the Minister buckled under pressure and included a clause that allowed those who are not satisfied with a decision of the commissioner to contest that decision in court.

"This is at variance with the position regarding decisions of the Ombudsman,." Mr O'Shea said.

The Minister, said Mr O'Shea, was unclear about the Act and the estimated cost of its implementation. "His failure to provide the necessary information, and his being covert in his actions, will only do damage to the Irish language," he added.

Ms Kathleen Lynch (Labour, Cork North Central) criticised the provisions in the estimates for education.

"Most of us who have children know what it is like to deal with two, three or four children at one time, but let us imagine trying to adequately educate a classroom of 40 eight-year-olds, all with different ranges of intelligence.

"The estimates will not do anything to resolve that difficulty. There are schools in my constituency which hold classes in corridors," she added.

"They have had temporary accommodation for the past 25 years. If anyone mentions temporary accommodation to any primary school, he or she will be told 'no way' because he or she knows temporary can soon be permanent."

Ms Lynch claimed there was little sympathy for a single parent on his or her own with one child.