Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 557: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the arrangements in place to ensure the discharge by universities of their statutory obligation, under section 12 ([i]e[/i]) of the Universities Act 1997, to promote both of the official languages of the State with special regard to the preservation, promotion and use of the Irish language and the preservation and promotion of the distinctive cultures of Ireland; if she monitors the courses of study and research promoted by the various universities to facilitate this objective; if she was consulted on or gave a view on the abandonment by University College Dublin of its course in old Irish; her views on whether that course of action is compatible with UCD's statutory obligations and its distinctive record as one of the premier universities in the State; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12409/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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All universities have established structures in place to ensure the discharge of their statutory obligations relating to the promotion of Irish. These generally comprise Irish committees which are set-up as sub-committees of the governing body or which report directly to the university President. Universities are autonomous institutions and I have no function in relation to their day to day operational affairs. Decisions on programme provision are made by the universities themselves. The provision of Irish studies in the university sector remains extensive. This includes a broad range of Irish language studies in UCD and a range of Irish studies qualifications in Trinity College, including an undergraduate honours degree in Early and Modern Irish. Other examples include programmes provided through the Department of Early and Medieval Irish in UCC and the very extensive range of Irish studies provided in NUI Galway.

Funding, amounting to €1.17 million in 2006, is provided to the universities, colleges of education and NCAD under the Irish Strategic Initiative, managed by the Higher Education Authority. The fund aims to support the teaching of subjects, other than Irish, through the medium of Irish and the development of the use of Irish by both students and staff on the university campus. This fund is distinct from the core funding provided to Universities at undergraduate and postgraduate level. Institutions are required to report to the Authority annually on the activities supported under the Initiative.