Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy may have a fair idea of the answer to his question. It is always a good question to ask. There are around 200,000 students enrolled in higher education in Ireland now, which is up from 20,000 in 1971. I take the Deputy's point. However, I would also make the point that the figure of 73 does not tell the full story in any way, manner or means. I think he would agree with me on that. The Deputy is a passionate advocate for our official language. He makes a very interesting point about the development, progression and expansion of Irish language primary and secondary schools in recent decades and years. We have seen a very significant increase in the number of students enrolling in Irish language courses and courses provided through the Irish language at third level. I stated that the number of students enrolled in either higher education courses on the Irish language or conducted through Irish has increased by 19% but the Deputy is making a distinction between courses conducted through Irish and courses on the Irish language. I would be very happy to engage with him and to explore the matter of supply and demand from students leaving secondary school for accessing higher education in Irish. I will arrange that meeting with him in the coming weeks.

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