Emphasis on Irish and religion

A chara, – Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn, as reported by Seán Flynn on April 5th, seems a tad surprised that up to 30 per cent of contact time is taken up by religion and Irish in primary classes. Contact time in religion is dictated by the Minister in circular 11/95 and Irish in circular 56/2011. Furthermore, Department of Education inspectors frequently recommend that other areas, such as PE, art, prayers, song, dance, etc, be taught through Irish and praise this practice in school reports. The Minister could change, reconstruct or abolish this tomorrow if he so wished by composing and distributing a new circular. – Is mise,

LIAM McGOWAN,

Woodlands,

Letterkenny,

Co Donegal.