HC Deb 17 November 1992 vol 214 cc149-52W
Rev. Ian Paisley

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will name the schools, public bodies and Government sponsored associations involved in the promotion of the Irish language; and how many individuals use these facilities.

Mr. Hanley

[holding answer 9 November 1992]: Details of the number of pupils studying Irish in individual schools are not available. However, on the basis of a 10 per cent. sample survey relating to those schools which offered Irish as a subject in the 1988–89 academic year, it has been estimated that 26,210 were studying Irish. Those schools are listed in the annex.

There are in addition two grant-aided primary schools which teach through the medium of Irish and an Irish medium unit in an English medium primary school with a total enrolment of 648 in September 1992.

The Arts Council of Northern Ireland provides grants for relevant projects and activities involving the Irish language—for example, in the fields of drama and literature. No information is available centrally as to the numbers participating in these activities.

The Ultach trust was established with Government support in 1989 to widen appreciation of the contribution which the Irish language makes to the cultural heritage of Northern Ireland and to increase knowledge of the language throughout the community. In 1991–92 Ultach supported 64 projects. No information is available centrally as to the numbers participating in these projects.

The origins of placenames project began on I October 1987 and involves a team of 5 academics located in Queen's university. The Project was assigned the following task by the Department of the Environment: to research the origin of all names of settlements and physical features in Northern Ireland appearing on the Ordnance Survey 1:50,000 scale map; to indicate their meaning and to note any historical or other relevant information. The project will enable an authenticated Irish language version to be provided for most of these names."

Currently the Training and Employment Agency's action for community employment scheme assists employment in six projects which promote the Irish language. Information on the number of individuals using these facilities is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

The British Broadcasting Corporation local radio provision includes Irish-medium and bilingual Irish-English magazine programmes and schools programmes which support Irish teaching in English-medium schools. A bilingual series and several Irish-medium and bilingual feature programmes have been broadcast on television. Information on the number of individuals using these facilities is not available.

In the financial year 1991–92 93 prisoners used the educational and translation facilities provided by the prison service.

SCHOOLS OFFERING IRISH LANGUAGE—1988–89

School

  • Abbey Grammar School, Newry
  • Assumption Grammar School, Ballynahinch
  • Carnhill High School, Londonderry
  • Christian Brothers' Grammar, Omagh
  • Christian Brothers' Grammar School, Belfast
  • Christian Brothers' Secondary School, Glengormley
  • Christian Brothers' Secondary School, Belfast
  • Convent Grammar School, Enniskillen
  • Corpus Christi College, Belfast
  • Cross and Passion College, Ballycastle
  • Cross and Passion High School, Belfast
  • Dean Brian Maguire High School. Carrickmore
  • Dominican College, Portstewart
  • Dominican College, Belfast
  • Drumcree High School, Portadown
  • La Salle Boy's Secondary School, Belfast
  • Lismore Comprehensive School, Craigavon
  • Little Flower Girls' Secondary School, Belfast
  • Loreto College, Coleraine
  • Loreto Convent Grammar School, Omagh
  • Our Lady and St. Patrick's College, Knock
  • Our Lady of Mercy Secondary School, Strabane
  • Our Lady's High School, Cookstown
  • Our Lady's Girls' Grammar School
  • Convent of Mercy, Newry
  • Rathmore Grammar School, Finaghy
  • Sacred Heart Girl's Grammar School, Newry
  • St. Aiden's High School, Enniskillen
  • St. Aiden's High School, Glenavy
  • St. Aloysius Secondary School, Cushendall
  • St. Brechan's High School, Londonderry
  • St. Brigid's Boys' High School, Armagh
  • St. Catherine's College, Armagh
  • St. Cecelia's Secondary School, Londonderry
  • St. Ciaran's Secondary, Ballygawley
  • St. Colm's Secondary School, Draperstown
  • St. Colman's High School, Strabane
  • St. Colman's College, Newry
  • St. Colmoille's High School, Crossgar
  • St. Columb's College, Londonderry
  • St. Columba's High School, Portaferry
  • St. Columban's High School, Kilkeel
  • St. Columbanus's high School, Bangor
  • St. Comgall's High School, Larne
  • St. Comgall's Secondary School, Enniskillen
  • St. Dominic's High School, Belfast
  • St. Eugene's Secondary School, Castlederg
  • St. Eugene's Secondary School, Enniskillen
  • St. Gabriel's Secondary School, Belfast
  • St. Gemma's Secondary School, Belfast
  • St. Genevieve's High School, Belfast
  • St. John's Secondary School, Dromore
  • St. Joseph's Boys' Secondary School, Newry
  • St. Joseph's Grammar School, Donaghmore
  • St. Joseph's High School, Crossmaglen
  • St. Joseph's High School, Coalisland
  • St. Joseph's Secondary School, Londonderry
  • St. Joseph's Secondary School, Plumbridge
  • St. Louis Grammar School, Ballymena
  • St. Louis Grammar School, Kilkeel
  • St. Louise's Comprehensive College, Balfast
  • St. MacNissi's College, Carnlough
  • St. Malachy's College, Belfast
  • St. Malachy's High School, Castlewellan
  • St. Mary's Convent Grammar School, Magherafelt
  • St. Mary's Girl's High School, Downpatrick
  • St. Mary's High School, Limavady
  • St. Mary's Junior High School, Lurgan
  • St. Mary's Secondary School, Londonderry
  • 152
  • St. Michael's Grammar School, Enniskillen
  • St. Michael's Senior High School, Lurgan
  • St. Olcan's Secondary School, Randalstown
  • St. Patrick's College, Maghera
  • St. Patrick's and St. Brigid's Secondary School, Claudy
  • St. Patrick's Boys' Academy, Dungannon
  • St. Patrick's Boys' Secondary School, Dungannon
  • St. Patrick's Boys' Secondary School, Omagh
  • St. Patrick's Girls' Academy, Dungannon
  • St. Patrick's Girls' Secondary School, Dungannon
  • St. Patrick's High School, Dungiven
  • St. Patrick's High School, Ballymena
  • St. Patrick's High School, Downpatrick
  • St. Patrick's High School, Banbridge
  • St. Patrick's High School, Cookstown
  • St. Patrick's High School, Keady
  • St. Paul's Junior High School, Lurgan
  • St. Paul's Secondary School, Kilrea
  • St. Paul's Secondary School, Bessbrook
  • St. Peter's Secondary School, Londonderry
  • St. Pius X Secondary School, Magherafelt
  • St. Joseph's Boys' Secondary School, Enniskillen
  • St. Patrick's Grammar, Armagh
  • Thornhill College Convent of Mercy, Londonderry

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