Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The ambition of South East Technological University, SETU, never fails to amaze me. It is a good thing. We have the Waterford Crystal site, there are plans for student accommodation and Deputy Ó Cathasaigh has rightly indicated that there is a Gaeltacht within the university's catchment area. I am happy to have follow-up conversations with SETU. I am sure the Higher Education Authority, HEA, would be happy to receive proposals in respect of the points made by Deputies Ó Cathasaigh and Mairéad Farrell.

I respect the institutions' autonomy, but we have conversations from time to time about scanning the horizon and what work has to be done to meet our country's needs. I must reflect on how best to do it, but I would be happy to have a conversation about how to engage with the sector on horizon scanning as regards the provision of Irish language courses in the context of the legislation and of where we want to get to as a country with our official and native language.

Deputy Ó Cathasaigh is right. I am taking Irish-language classes. It is a good challenge for people to take up during the European year of skills. We are funding Conradh na Gaeilge, through the HEA, to promote an initiative around Irish-language clubs and societies in college so that, even if someone is not doing a course through Irish, he or she can still experience the Irish language at third level.

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