asked the Minister for Education when text books in the Irish language will be available for all subjects and classes in schools.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Irish Language Text Books.
95.
Mr. R. Burke
As I announced last April, I am prepared to make additional editorial and administrative staff available in the publications branch of my Department in an effort to ensure an adequate supply of text books in Irish for all subjects in schools. In this connection the Civil Service Commissioners are at present holding a competition for the appointment of assistant editors.
The supply of text books will also be affected by the extent to which private publishers will make use of the schemes already in existence to encourage them to produce original text books and translations. I am hopeful that with developing expertise and experience they will succeed in availing themselves of them to an increasing extent.
Would the Minister accept that the required textbooks are not available at the moment?
Mr. R. Burke
The Deputy is asking me to assent to something in regard to which he is not being specific.
I could be specific and suggest to the Minister that if he calls into the nearest national school to him, Scoil Bhríde, Marlborough Street, he will ascertain that they have not textbooks suitable for the teaching of subjects through Irish.
Mr. R. Burke
The Deputy is aware, otherwise he would not have pressed me so often on this matter, that I have made efforts to increase the number of people involved in this work. I hope the decisions we have taken recently will result in a greater supply of textbooks to the two levels of schools, primary and secondary.
Would the Minister answer the specific question I put to him about the school which adjoins his office?
Mr. R. Burke
If the Deputy will ask me a specific question about Marlborough Street school I will be glad to answer him next week.
How many people has the Minister succeeded in getting for this employment through advertising?
Mr. R. Burke
This is a matter for the Civil Service Commissioners. I am not yet in a position to say how many.
Have any been employed yet?
Mr. R. Burke
Although I am not able to give the number of applications I can tell the Deputy we have got a sizeable number.