Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 20: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the undertaking given by Údarás na Gaeltachta to NUI Galway in regard to the funding of other institutes in the matter of third level education through the Irish language; his views on this undertaking; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31286/06]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Údarás na Gaeltachta sets out in its Strategic Development Plan 2005-2010 its commitment to support the development process for the provision of third-level education through Irish in the Gaeltacht. In this regard, the strategic impact envisaged will accrue not only to the Irish language but also in terms of direct and indirect economic benefits to the Gaeltacht itself.

Arising from a longstanding commitment to the provision of academic programmes through Irish, allied to its location on the periphery of the largest Gaeltacht community, NUI Galway has identified the Irish language as one of seven strategic priorities in its published strategic plan for the period 2003-2008. A core aspect of that plan is the development of a network of outreach centres in the Gaeltacht and, to date, three such centres have been established, with a fourth at planning stage.

I understand that delivery of the accredited courses in these Gaeltacht outreach centres is funded largely by Údarás na Gaeltachta through its training and education fund. I have been informed by Údarás that, in view of the substantial resources being committed by NUI Galway to developing these centres, a commitment has been given to the university that Údarás will not fund any other third-level institution to provide similar courses in the same areas. This would accord with the non-displacement policy adopted by Údarás na Gaeltachta and applied across the full spectrum of Údarás-funded enterprises whereby grant assistance is not made available to competitors of existing businesses within the same area.

Finally, I would like to clarify that it is open to any other institution to bring forward proposals for appropriate third-level courses for the consideration of Údarás na Gaeltachta and, in this connection, I understand that Údarás has provided financial assistance to a number of institutions for the provision of third-level courses, including Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, Waterford Institute of Technology, Letterkenny Institute of Technology and NUI Maynooth.

Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 21: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if the study examining the use of Irish in Gaeltacht areas has been completed; the findings of this study; the actions his Department intend to take on foot of this study; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31212/06]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I understand that the linguistic study of Irish usage in the Gaeltacht to which the Deputy refers will be presented to my Department shortly. As I have already outlined in the House, all of the findings and proposals emerging from the study, including the issue of the Gaeltacht boundaries, will receive careful and considered examination. As indicated previously, any proposals which may emerge on foot of that examination will be put before Government in due course, as appropriate.