§ Mr. McGradyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the nature of contact between the Department of Education and Irish language groups in Northern Ireland.
§ Dr. MawhinneyThe Department has had contact with Irish language groups about specific issues, for example, the procedure for seeking registration of independent schools, and other matters related to the establishment, operation and resourcing of Irish medium schools.
I met a deputation from Glor na nGael on 4 November 1986 and I have met other groups whose interests have 279W included the position accorded to the Irish language. I am prepared to respond to any genuine group which wishes to make representations on behalf of the Irish language.
§ Mr. McGradyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if he will list the number of curriculum development projects in the Irish language in(a) the primary school sector, (b) the post-primary sector and (c) the third-level education since 1965;
(2) if he will list the names of curriculum development projects and schools involved with the Irish language in (a) the primary school sector, (b) the post-primary sector and (c) the third-level education since 1965.
§ Dr. MawhinneyLike other languages, Irish is included in the major Northern Ireland curriculum initiatives such as primary guidelines, 11 to 16, GCSE cluster groups. In 1985, the inspectorate published a good practice document on modern language teaching which covered the teaching of Irish. As part of a comprehensive in-service programme, teachers of Irish have contributed towards the production of teaching and learning materials and with the development of graded objectives for the subject.
Six new courses with an Irish language component have recently been introduced at university level.
£000 Roads service headquarters Ballymena division Belfast division Coleraine division Craigavon division Downpatrick division Omagh division 1980–81 4,046 4,767 14,235 4,924 3,646 5,069 3,182 1981–82 6,706 3,587 11,107 4,276 2,883 3,923 2,352 1982–83 8,873 3,079 11,241 2,916 1,967 2,323 1,638 1983–84 6,449 3,217 7,816 3,793 4,006 2,758 2,404 1984–85 2,842 2,482 6.050 3,343 3,356 2,356 2,847 1985–86 718 2,699 5,257 2,724 3,748 3,290 3,976 1986–87 569 2,577 6,913 3,743 4,100 3,614 3,134 Note:
The table is an aggregation of capital expenditure each year on roads and bridges, road lighting, parking, depots and stores and plant and vehicles. Headquarters expenditure was mainly in respect of specific major highway schemes, which were handled centrally rather than divisionally.