asked the Minister for Education if he will make a statement on the reduction of almost 40 per cent in the number of students enrolled for the subject Gaeilge at evening classes in vocational schools for 1973-74.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Evening Irish Classes.
32.
I understand from a number of vocational education committees that they expect that further evening classes in Gaeilge will be provided later on in the present session. Thus, the complete enrolment figures for evening classes in Gaeilge for the whole of the present session are not at present available and valid conclusions cannot be drawn from a comparison of figures for part of this session with figures for the whole of last session.
On the other hand, would the Parliamentary Secretary accept that at this stage of the year you would have more or less the true picture and, that even allowing for an increase which the Parliamentary Secretary anticipates—for which there is no foundation—we can anticipate a reduction of 35 per cent in the number of students studying the subject Gaeilge in our post-primary school evening classes?
This is a long question.
Is the Minister not concerned about that?
The burden of my reply is that one cannot anticipate definitely at this stage.
This is not satisfactory in so far as enrolments have already taken place in our schools. Why does the Parliamentary Secretary insist on saying that enrolments have not yet concluded——
Deputy Tunney is making a statement.
——when this is not in accordance with the facts?
Some enrolments have taken place but the point is that, as the academic year is only half way through, further enrolments may yet take place. Therefore, one is not in a position to make a definite comparison between this year's figures and last year's figures.
Could the Parliamentary Secretary give the position as of now and 28th November of last year?
I could not do so because I was not given notice of that question.