Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 29 Apr 1998

Vol. 490 No. 3

Written Answers. - Folklore Council of Ireland.

Ruairí Quinn

Ceist:

90 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Education and Science when the Folklore Council of Ireland - Comhairle Béaloideas Éireann last met; if he will outline its work programme for 1998; the steps, if any, it proposes to take to celebrate the millennium; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10235/98]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Martin)

Following the disbanding of the Irish Folklore Commission in 1971, the work of collecting, editing and publishing folklore material was transferred to the Department of Irish Folklore in the National University of Ireland, Dublin. To assist the Department in discharging its responsibilities, a folklore council was established comprising ten members. Six members are appointed by the president of the university and four by the Minister for Education and Science. The president of the university also appoints one of the members as chairperson of the council.

The last meeting of the council was held on 11May 1994. Pending a review by NUI, Dublin of the Department of Irish Folklore, the council has not yet been reconstituted. Work by the Department of Irish Folklore on future publications is ongoing, including a major project on all of the material taken down from Peig Sayers. No specific project for the millennium has been decided upon.