asked the Minister for Education what steps his Department have under consideration to arrest and reverse the decline in the numbers of candidates taking modern continental languages in the Intermediate and Leaving Certificate which has been noted by the Council of Education in their recent report.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Modern Continental Languages.
40.
The decline in numbers concerned has recently reversed itself.
In 1960, the numbers taking French in the Intermediate Certificate Examination was 5,406 and in the Leaving Certificate Examination was 2,557. In 1961, the numbers were 6,896 and 2,887 respectively.
In addition the number following the Intermediate Certificate course in French in 1959-60 was 27,787 and in 1960-61 was 30,590.
That is not true. The report of the Council of Education is already out of date.
Changes have taken place since that was under consideration.