This Supplementary Estimate is intended to inaugurate a scheme for scholarships for children of Irish-speaking families in the Fior-Ghaeltacht. We have had considerable difficulty in getting candidates to come forward from the Fior-Ghaeltacht for some of our public examinations, even for the preparatory training colleges. We actually reserved a number of places for those who got 75 per cent. qualification in oral Irish. It has been found difficult to get the number of pupils that we would like from the Irish-speaking districts proper. That is more marked in the case of some of the Irish-speaking districts than in the case of others and, consequently, it will probably be necessary to have some sort of a geographical allocation of the scholarships that we now propose to establish. We are not only anxious to get, for the purpose of general education in teaching, the pupils from these particular areas, but we are also anxious to influence the areas themselves. Consequently, it may be necessary to have a certain geographical division of the number of scholarships that we intend to offer.
It is intended to take a number of pupils each year from the Fior-Ghaeltacht, members of Irish-speaking families, and to send them to secondary schools, in the case of girls to schools in which with the exception of English, all subjects are taught through the medium of Irish, and, in the case of boys, to one school. There will be offered ultimately 18 scholarships each year, of which 9 will be reserved for girls. In the case of girls, 6 free places will be reserved in the Kilmacud Training School of Domestic Economy, if the girls care for that particular profession. We are anxious to start as soon as possible and that is the reason for introducing this Supplementary Estimate.
If the Estimate is passed. we intend to choose six girls this year from the Fior-Ghaeltacht. There is a reason for that. Owing to the difficulty we have found in getting native Irish speakers for the position of domestic economy instructress, we hope to be able to make a start, utilising the last preparatory scholarship for the purpose. The scholarship will consist of free education at the types of school that I have mentioned for the chosen boys and girls and a certain amount each year will be allowed for necessary expenses and equipment. We realise that in the case of many families the parents will not be able to supply necessary equipment.
The sum asked for this year is only £300. It covers six scholarships for six months beginning next September. The ultimate cost in four or five years' time —the scholarships may be tenable for four or five years—will be £5,000.
