The Irish language will be included on the British national curriculum from September 1999, when the academic year begins.
This, along with other initiatives, was announced in Dublin yesterday following a meeting between the British Secretary of State for Education, Mr David Blunkett, and the Minister for Education, Mr Michael Martin.
The addition of Irish to the British curriculum aims to promote links between schools and young people in Britain and Ireland. Irish is already taught as an extra subject in some British schools.
"When Micheal Martin and I met in London last December, we agreed to investigate a range of measures to promote greater links between our countries. We also recognised the importance of encouraging friendship and understanding between young people who have a central role to play in building the trust that is essential to long-term peace and stability," Mr Blunkett said.
A joint statement said Mr Blunkett had considered the issue carefully after the meeting during which Mr Martin described the language's cultural importance to the Irish community in Britain. Mr Blunkett "had decided that Irish should be included among the national curriculum languages from the start of the 1999/2000 academic year".
The ministers discussed the Belfast Agreement and emphasised the role of education and training in the promotion of mutual understanding. Both reaffirmed their commitment to the education sector contributing to "the development of mutually beneficial relations between the peoples of these islands, particularly within the framework of the proposed British-Irish Council".
Mr Blunkett and Mr Martin also announced special funding for developments to promote links and exchanges between schools and young people. Both governments will give £120,000 each annually to promote co-operation in these two areas. They also announced a joint conference in Dublin planned for next spring to develop and explore the use of information and communications technology in education.
Conradh na Gaeilge yesterday welcomed the decision, praising Mr Martin for his role. "Thousands of emigrants and generations of Irish descent all over England will be very pleased to have access to the Irish language in the national curriculum there in the future as a result of this far-reaching decision," it said.