Vol. 466 No. 1
134 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Education the assistance, if any, given to schools to encourage them to take up summer school places in Gaeltacht areas in view of the increasing level of interest in the Irish language due to programmes, such as "Now You're Talking". [10902/96]
The question of attendance at summer courses in the Gaeltacht is a matter for students and their parents. Some schools actively encourage this and assist with the practical arrangements. The Department of Education approves of this practice.
My Department requires student primary teachers to attend a summer course in the Gaeltacht as an integral part of their training.
The Department also supports the work of the summer courses by giving capitation grants to Irish colleges and by inspecting the courses. In 1995 a total of £530,399 was paid in grants in respect of 23,873 students.
