Ms Jean O'Mahony:

So ní féidir liom an cheist sin a fhreagairt go hiomlán maidir le cén fáth nach ndearnadh cheana é. Na rudaí atá déanta ag an údarás go dtí seo ná maidir leis na teorainneacha atá againn ó thaobh an dlí de agus ó thaobh an chúrsa de. An polasaí go dtí seo, the policy to date has been to fund the teaching, learning and research of our higher education institutions, which obviously includes the academic teaching and learning of Irish, to realise the obligations placed on the HEA and, by extension, on our universities and their application with respect to the use and promotion of the Irish language by enshrining those in the legislation but also in the additional ring-fenced budgets that have been allocated to meet the special provision for the Irish language and the support for Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge, and to support the use of the Irish language by student societies on campus. To date, that has been the policy operating within the administrative and legislative boundaries.