But the minister has met with a setback. Although she has the names and addresses of students in Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne stored in her department, she cannot use the data for the purpose of conducting the current survey.

She has been informed that data protection legislation does not allow information collected for one purpose to be used for another. So, the Minister must set about collecting the data all over again. To this end she has placed advertisements in the newspapers inviting students and parents to apply for forms to complete the survey.

"The survey will give parents of students attending Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne, and the students themselves, an opportunity to directly express their views and preferences in relation to the language used in tuition," the Minister said.

She was anxious, she said, to ensure that the Pobalscoil continued to guarantee an education through Irish to those students from the Gaeltacht and from Irish speaking homes who wished to be educated through the medium of Irish.

The second-level school in Dingle, Co Kerry, is an amalgamation of the Christian Brothers and the Presentation schools, both of which were bilingual. However, the new trustees decided that the new Pobailscoil would be an all-Irish school.

This led to a bitter dispute in the community which has gained momentum since last September, with some parents wanting their children to be taught at least some subjects through Irish and some taking their children out of the school and sending them elsewhere.

Now, the board of management and trustees have been put on notice that High Court proceedings are being taken against them. (Source: Irish Independent)