asked the Minister for Education whether he proposes making any change regarding the Irish language requirement for the award of grants and scholarships to third-level educational institutions.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Irish Language Requirement.
9.
Mr. R. Burke
I have already announced the changes in relation to the subject, Irish, which will apply to students seeking to become eligible for grants under the Local Authorities (Higher Education Grants) Act, 1968, by virtue of successes in the leaving certificate examination from this year onwards. I do not propose to make any further change in relation to the Irish language requirements for the purposes of the higher education grants scheme.
No change has been made, or is contemplated, in relation to the Irish language requirements of the university scholarship schemes operated by my Department.
Could the Minister say if the changes he. is envisaging in reply to Question No. 8 create a situation——
We must not revert to Question No. 8. We are on Question No. 9.
May I not ask a supplementary question?
On Question No. 9, yes. The Deputy referred to Question No. 8.
It arises out of the Minister's reply.
The Chair would prefer the Deputy not to revert to the subject matter of Question No. 8.
May I ask the Minister, due to certain changes he is making in the Irish language subject, will there be pupils who may not have the facility of entering for Irish as a subject in examinations and that will negative any scholarship or grant scheme that may be available?
Mr. R. Burke
I do not think that will be the case. I think the opposite will be the case. The greater attractiveness of the subject will induce a greater number of students to study the language and the changes, therefore, will not result in the situation the Deputy seems to have in mind.