Sinn Fein candidate Raymond McCartney
SINN Féin Assembly candidate for Foyle Raymond McCartney has said there will be no return to discrimination against Irish language education.
He was speaking following comments by First Minister and DUP leader Arlene Foster.
“The DUP’s stance on the Irish language is out of step with the wider community,” said Mr McCartney.
“Over 95 per cent of response in the recent consultation on an Irish language act show clearly that there is a much more positive view of the Irish language in the community that is being reflected by unionist leaders.
“It’s bizarre that anyone would be seeking to blindly undermine one of the education sector’s success stories of the last 30 years.”
The Foyle candidate said the benefits of bilingualism are “very well documented”.
He added: “The results coming from the Irish medium sector are excellent.
“Spending is not based on “preferential treatment” – it is addressing the growing demand for Irish medium education and years of underinvestment in this sector.
“It wasn’t uncommon under British direct rule for schools to be denied funding and school children being taught in accommodation, which was frankly not good enough.
“There will be no return to those days.”
