An Phoblacht/Republican News   ·   Thursday October 26 1995

Minister hears SF demand funding for Meánscoil

By Laura Friel

THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT should lift its ban on funding to the Irish language secondary school, Meánscoil Feirste and afford the Irish language the same treatment it affords Welsh and Scottish Gaelic. That was the message a delegation of Sinn Féin councillors brought to NIO Minister Michael Ancram in what was the first meeting between Sinn Féin and the Education Minister on constituency issues.

The Sinn Féin delegation was headed by Belfast City Councillor Máirtín O Muilleoir and included the party's Six-County chairperson and Derry Councillor Gearóid O hEara and Councillor Conor Murphy from Camlough. Accompanying the delegation was Cathal O Donghaile representing the Meánscoil Feirste and the umbrella organisation for Irish medium schools, Gaeloiliúint.

The delegation travelled to Stormont for what was described as a "forthright" hour long meeting on Monday, 23 October. Commenting, Sinn Féin's Gearoid O hEara said that the delegation had "forcefully put the case for funding of Meanscoil Feirste and partity of esteem for the Irish language".

NIO Minister Michael Ancram denied discrimination against the Irish lanugage and claimed that the British government's approach "recognises the cultural importance of the language for many people" in the Six Counties.

O hEara said the British must recognise the central importance of the Irish culture to the realisation of parity of esteem. "There are more Irish-medium schools without recognition today than there were in August 1994."

Following a vigorous campaign by teachers and parents, West Belfast's Meánscoil Feirste, was granted a one off payment of £100,000 earlier this year. However the British government continues to refuse full recognition of the school and grant proper long-term funding. In 1990, the British government withdrew funding, including funding for nursery school teachers, from the Irish langauge group Glor na nGael. The funding was restored but only after a protracted campaign and international presure.