, a chara
I appreciate your e-mail and thank you for your concerns. I am completely dedicated to the Irish language. I am a fluent speaker myself and am committed to trying to promote the language to the very best of my ability. To fully inform you on the Irish policy I will explain briefly what the policy sets out to do.
The Irish issue has been misinterpreted by many. The Language will continue to be compulsory up to Junior Cert level. Fine Gael are proposing to award extra points for college as an incentive to any students who continue to pursue the study of Irish to leaving certificate level in an attempt to ensure that people will take the subject and learn it to the best of their abilities. Enda is also endeavouring to increase the number of weeks that primary teachers spend in the Gaeltacht from the current three week course to a minimum of five to six weeks, thus increasing the income in the to the Bean a Ti´s and ensuring that those primary teachers will be enabled to speak the language and teach the language proficiently.
Shockingly, the Department of Education recently published a study stating that almost 80% of primary teachers do not feel that they´re level of Irish is sufficient and as a result they feel they are not confident speaking or teaching it. This is why we are tackling this issue head on. We also propose to increase the grant to the Bean a Tí´s which Fianna Fáil cut recently to ensure that the valuable service they supply is continued and to boost the economy in Gaeltacht areas. As both Enda and I are fluent speakers of the language and believe strongly in the language, we are endeavouring to promote it as much as possible. Furthermore we are proposing to increase the value of the Oral to 50%, thus emphasising the importance of the spoken word and encouraging young students and student teachers to become more proficient and confident in the spoken word. we are also hoping this will encourage young people to attend moore summer courses in an effort t improve their spoken Irish.
However I am aware of the concerns of the people of my constituency and wish to confirm that the above proposals are just that - proposals. Fine Gael has set up a task force to look into this issue and we are aware of your concerns and I give you my word that we will take them into account before any new policy is implemented.
Since my election to Dáil Éireann I have worked tirelessly on your behalf in my representations of the people of South Kerry. I am an honest, hardworking family man who understands the needs and concerns of the people in my constituency. If re-elected I promise to continue to work steadfastly and diligently to ensure your voice is heard. Following my four years in Dáil Éireann I understand the importance of having a strong voice at Government level. The work I have done and relationships I have built will ensure that I will be in a strong position to represent you the people of South Kerry with access to Government Ministers and the Taoiseach.
Contrary to what is being said, under no circumstances is my election a certainty. For the above reasons I am seeking your number 1 vote on February 25th, or your next highest preference.. I am also asking for your second preference for the other Fine Gael candidate
n Griffin.
Thanking you for your continued support and looking forward to representing you in the 31st Dáil.
Please continue to contact me with any further issues or concerns.
Le Gach Dea-Ghuí
Tom
(...) Brenda, a chara
