asked the Minister for Education if she will agree that her Department's policy of providing a quota of up to 10 per cent of all places in teacher training colleges, and also a number of places in colleges of home economics to people living in the Gaeltacht areas is no longer realistic and that it clearly discriminates against applicants from other areas; and if she will review this anomaly.
Written Answers. - Teacher Training Colleges.
832.
The practice of reserving up to 10 per cent of places in the colleges of education for qualified Gaeltacht candidates was introduced when the preparatory colleges were discontinued in 1967 and is maintained for the sake of the enrichment it provides to Irish language courses in colleges of education and to ensure an adequate supply of teachers whose first language is Irish for Gaeltacht schools and for national schools generally throughout the State. I am satisfied that there is a continuing need for this arrangement.