Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)

I thank the Minister for his answer. When I read the press report, my concern was that the €300,000 is probably some kind of token. On checking, I discovered there are between 50 and 60 third level institutions overseas that teach the Irish language, be they in the United States, Canada, Australia or Europe. This is obviously a reflection on the degree to which Irish culture is esteemed and valued. However, if one divided the €300,000 between the 50 or 60 institutions that exist worldwide, each would receive a sum of between €5,000 and €6,000, which is not very much.

I am aware that, of 139 primary schools in Gaeltacht areas, only 106 teach all subjects through Irish. Of 30 post-primary schools in the Gaeltachtaí, only 20 are classified as teaching all subjects through Irish. If money is to come from the Minister's Department for the study of the Irish language, is it not much more important that it be spent in this particular area? It is a matter of grave concern that so many Gaeltacht schools are no longer teaching all subjects through Irish. Figures I have seen suggest there were 250,000 native Irish speakers when the State was founded and that only around 20,000 people now use the Irish language as a vernacular.

I worry about tokenism. The funding being made available highlights that Irish is taught in the colleges in question, which is to be welcomed, but, in order to consolidate, promote and develop the Irish language, surely to goodness the real emphasis should be placed on the shortfall in education in the Gaeltachtaí.

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