Vol. 435 No. 1
203 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Education if there are grants available from her Department or from any other agency to enable a person (details supplied) in Dublin 7 who is currently unemployed to do a community counselling course in Newpark College, Dublin.
I understand that a number of part-time counselling courses are included in the self-financing adult education programme at Newpark comprehensive school. Particulars of these courses may be obtained direct from the school.
My Department has no structured scheme for grant-aiding students attending such courses though certain limited funding has been made available this year to vocational education committees to enable them to assist disadvantaged members of the community who wish to avail of part-time second-chance education. Inquiries may be addressed to the Dún Laoghaire Vocational Education Committee, Eblana Avenue, Dún Laoghaire. Telephone 2852997.
204 D'fhiafraigh Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Oideachais cad iad na céimeanna a tógadh le cinntiú go raibh Gaeilge ó dhúchas ag na scoláirí ón nGaeltacht a fuair áiteacha speisialta sna coláistí oiliúna múinteorí i mbliana.
Caithfidh mé a rá i dtosach nach bhfuil aon bhaint ag mo Roinnse le reachtáil an chomórtais le haghaidh iontrála sna coláiste oideachais do bhunmhúinteoirí; is iad na coláistí féin a chuireann i bhfeidhm an fhoráil speisialta d'iarrthóirí ón nGaeltacht atá leagtha síos ag an Roinn Oideachais.
Tuigim gur iarr na coláistí ar iarrthóirí a rá an raibh siad ag cur isteach ar na háiteanna a bhí curtha i leataobh le haghaidh iarrthóirí ón nGaeltacht. Cuireadh sonraí na n-iarrthóirí sin chuig an Roinn Ealaíon, Cultúir agus Gaeltachta ansin, agus dheimhnigh an Roinn sin cé acu ar chomhlíon na hiarrthóirí i gceist na coinníollacha cuí, i.e. (i) an bhfuil cónaí orthu sa Ghaeltacht a aithnitear go hoifigiúil agus (ii) an an Ghaeilge a ngnáth-theanga bhaile.
