Vol. 521 No. 4
284 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will give details of the Irish Language Committee due under the Education Act, 1998; the membership of the committee; the terms of reference he has offered beyond the terms of the Act; and the expected date of inauguration. [17226/00]
Section 31 of the Education Act, 1998, provides for the establishment of a body of persons with a broad role to advise the Minister in relation to teaching through Irish, and the teaching of Irish, in recognised schools nationally. The specific functions of the body, as set out in the Education Act, include: to plan and co-ordinate the provision of textbooks and aids to learning and teaching through Irish; to advise the Minister on policies relating to the provision and promotion of education through the medium of Irish in recognised schools generally and in schools located in a Gaeltacht area; to provide support services to those schools through the medium of Irish; to conduct research into any or all matters to which this paragraph applies and to plan and co-ordinate the provision of textbooks and aids to the learning and teaching of Irish and to conduct research into and to advise the Minister on strategies which have as their objective the enhancement of the effectiveness in the teaching of Irish in recognised schools and centres for education.
