(An Clár) asked the Minister for Education whether he is aware that 50 per cent. of the places in the Preparatory Colleges this year have been allotted to candidates who failed to get 85 per cent. in oral Irish while many candidates who got 85 per cent. and over and also secured high places in the examination in the other subjects have been rejected, and, if so, whether he can explain how this happened.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Preparatory Colleges' Candidates and Irish.
The allocation of places in the Preparatory Colleges has been made strictly on the basis of the regulations applicable to this year's examination as published in October, 1932. I am sending the Deputy a copy and I would refer him to Sections 8, 9 and 17. Fifty per cent. of the vacancies were reserved for candidates who obtained 85 per cent. or over in oral Irish and who attained the qualifying standard at the examination—one half being allocated to candidates from the Fíor-Ghaeltacht. The remaining 50 per cent. were allocated to candidates who passed the examination generally, in accordance with their places on the order of merit list made out on the basis of the aggregate marks, under the regulations, obtained by each candidate. The successful candidates in the allocation of this 50 per cent. of the places need not necessarily have obtained 85 per cent. but must have secured at least 60 per cent. in oral Irish.