asked the Minister for Education whether he is aware of the widespread dissatisfaction at the lack of suitable text books in Irish; and whether any action to meet the deficiency is under consideration.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Irish Textbooks.
110.
I would have felt that the unprecedented steps taken in recent years in regard to the provision of text books in Irish should have been a cause for satisfaction. In the last five or six years a total of 48 new text books in Irish covering a substantial range of subjects have been published either directly by An Gúm or by private publishers through the aid of grant schemes administered by An Gúm.
In addition some 55 more text books in Irish are at present at various stages of printing, translation or preparation.
Furthermore, private publishers have now available to them not only the various grants for the publishing of text books in Irish but also the aid of An Gúm as regards the provision of terminology and editorial advice.
As regards terminology, permanent machinery has been set up in An Gúm whereby the schools and the publishers are provided with the terminology necessary for teaching through Irish and for the provision of text book material.