asked the Minister for Education if he will state in connection with the sum voted for Scientific Research into Spoken Irish in subhead B.5 of the vote for the Office of the Minister for Education in the years 1968-69, 1969-70 (a) what sum was actually spent in each year, (b) in what branches of the Department or in what research bodies the research was carried out, (c) what was the scope of the research, (d) who were the scholars who carried out the research and (e) how much money was spent on salaries and travelling expenses etc. in the subheads A.1 and A.2 in respect of people doing the above-mentioned research.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Irish Language Research.
32.
(a) The actual amounts spent under the subhead B.5 in the years 1968-69 and 1969-70 were £23,105 and £26,565 respectively; (b) the research was carried out in Institiúid Teangeolaíochta Éireann (Linguistic Institute of Ireland) and in the primary and post-primary branches of the Department of Education in liaison with the training colleges and the Institute; (c) the project involved research into the sounds, words and speech patterns which should receive most attention in the initial stages of language learning and the production of scientifically graded Irish conversation courses for each standard in the national schools and for the junior classes at post-primary level. These involved the provision of audio-visual aids and ancillary reading material including library books also scientifically graded; (d) Rev. Colman L. Ó Huallacháin, O.F.M., Ph.D., M.Sc. (Ling.) and qualified personnel of the Department; (e) £9,1987 in 1968-69 and £9,678 in 1969-70.
Can the Minister indicate what proportion of the money in regard to part (a) of the question was spent in the Department and what proportion was spent in the institute in question?
I am afraid I have not got that information but I can say that the language research which has been carried out has been acclaimed as one of the best in Europe so that we are getting good value for the money we are spending.
Perhaps the Minister would communicate the breakdown between the two to me?
Very well.