Seán Ryan (Dublin North, Labour)
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Question 86: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he will provide details of the programme to provide Irish language teaching assistants in third level institutions in the United States under his Department and the Fulbright Commission; the level of interest in the scheme; if same is being provided on a permanent or once-off basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22748/06]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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In May of this year I approved a grant of €30,000 to assist the Fulbright Programme with the costs of appointing Irish-Language Teaching Assistants in third-level institutions in the United States.

Funding for this scheme has been approved on a pilot-basis for a period of two academic years, beginning with 2006-2007. I am heartened that there has been considerable interest in the scheme to date with four teaching assistants selected to take up places in US universities in the academic year 2006-2007.