asked the Minister for Education the total number of students who have enrolled from September, 1974, to date for the subject Gaeilge in evening classes organised by vocational education committees.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Irish Language Enrolments.
8.
Mr. R. Burke
There is no information available to my Department to enable me to state the total number of students enrolled for evening classes in Gaeilge provided by the vocational education committees since September, 1974. These committees have been asked to supply the particulars for their respective schemes. I hope to be able to give the numbers sought in a month or so.
If that is the position we must accept it but would the Minister not consider it remiss of the Department not to have these figures available?
Mr. R. Burke
It takes time to get all these details from the various schools.
A fair amount of time has elapsed since September last.
We can no longer get information from the Department.
Mr. R. Burke
I have offered to let the Deputy have the information the moment it arrives. Last year the Deputy asked the same question and there was some delay in getting the reply for him but he was supplied with it as soon as it became available.
That is hardly relevant. Perhaps the Minister would change whatever system obtains. I understand that vocational schools are required to make returns every month of the numbers of students who have enrolled. When I was acting as principal of a vocational school I had to return to the Department each month details of the numbers of students who had enrolled for classes in the various subjects.
Mr. R. Burke
The Deputy is probably better qualified than most to understand there are other aspects of this evening class situation which are not usual, to say the least.
In view of the change in the financial year and the monetary provisions which must be made for X or Y or any number of students in any subject during the financial year commencing on 1st January, surely well in advance of the 1st January the Minister and his Department must know how many of these students have enrolled at or after the start of the school session in September, 1974?
Mr. R. Burke
Surely the Deputy will realise that these are projections which are made by local education authorities. It is not for the Department to make the projections.
In a normal school year how long does it take for the Department of Education to get the statistics on the Gaeilge classes?
Mr. R. Burke
Last year was the first year, to my memory, in which the question was asked. It took us about the same amount of time to provide the information when the question was asked, and the same will happen this year.
Did the Minister not just state that, due to circumstances which are unusual this year, he has not got the information. Is he now saying the waiting period is no longer this year than it was last year?
Mr. R. Burke
I cannot give the Deputy any help on that. It might even be longer this year because of the circumstances outlined.