Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)

We all agree that what the Deputy is saying is an important part of what we do as a nation. Much work has been done. The official Irish versions of the placenames of those counties have been recorded in Kilkenny, Louth, Limerick, Monaghan, Waterford, Tipperary and Offaly, as have Gaeltacht areas, centres and districts of population and counties and provinces. A further order relating to non-administrative names in the Gaeltacht has been prepared by the commission, which will be presented for consideration under the provision of the Act next June, following public consultation.

The Department established a postgraduate bursary scheme in 2006 in educational institutions and the commission has advised on the awarding of bursaries. Six of these bursaries have been awarded to date, which will allow postgraduate students to undertake research on placenames in areas of counties Cork, Roscommon, Meath and Westmeath, as well as other aspects of placename studies. Following further advice from the Commission, the Department is funding a three-year post-doctoral fellowship in NUI Galway to complete research on the placenames of County Mayo.

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