asked the Minister for Education if he is aware that when children of Irish nationals, some of whom were born in the State, return from Britain to permanent residence here having received their education abroad up to the age of ten or 12 years, they find themselves seriously handicapped in qualifying for the primary certificate due to their lack of knowledge of the Irish language which is not included in the curriculum of British schools; and, if so, whether he will look into this disability and endeavour to make provision therefore in instances where the child's education is up to standard in other subjects.

Where it is clear that a pupil in a national school who attends the primary certificate examinationwould have qualified for that certificate were it not that owing to residence outside the country for a prolonged period, he is unable to reach the necessary standard in Irish, my Department is prepared, on application, to issue a certified statement that he has completed the sixth standard programme in the subjects followed by him and that he has passed in English and in arithmetic at the primary certificate examination. It would not be possible to award the primary school certificate itself in such a case.