Ms Jean O'Mahony:

I have a couple of points. Glacaim go hiomlán nach bhfuil go leor eolais ag daltaí sna meánscoileanna faoina cúrsaí atá ar fáil i nGaeilge nó fiú na deiseanna gairmiúla, cé go ndéanann COGG a lán oibre tábhachtaí sa réimse sin. Tá cúpla duine tar éis é sin a phlé anseo. Tá muid ag an bpointe anois - we are at the point currently, and I take the Deputy’s point that we were at that point a number of years ago rather than just now, where a number of policy initiatives or policy decisions have been taken with respect to Irish-medium education, both at primary and post-primary levels, and employment in the public sector, with my reference to demand in the labour market, and there is the question of how those policy decisions intersect or meet at third level when it comes to third level policy in the Irish language. I absolutely take the Deputy’s point in that regard.

With respect to second level students, as Dr. Dowdall mentioned, our colleagues in the Department of education are due to bring forward a policy regarding education in Irish-medium schools. We have been liaising with that Department on the transition of second level students from Irish-medium post-primary schools into third level. That is a question that has been raised a number of times at this committee because of the fall-off in the numbers of students who did their education through the medium of Irish and who do not study through Irish at third level. That is a policy question which has been raised between our Department and the Department of education.

Obviously, there is the State’s policy with respect to public sector employment and the actions required to stimulate and meet demand and to adequately train people to do that. I understand our colleagues in that Department are bringing forward and developing an action plan as to how to achieve that target. We have been engaging with them in that regard.