OF ALL the students who attended Irish summer colleges this year, just under one per cent were sent home for a range of reasons, according to the Department of Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht. This percentage represents 210, says a spokesman for the Department.
Those students, says the spokesman, were sent home, for a range of reasons. Some were sent home from colleges which have a strict rule about not speaking any English, while others were sent home from various colleges for reasons such as smoking, drinking and other misbehaviour.
"It all depends on who (which college) you are dealing with," says Donal O Loinsigh, chairman of CONCOS (Comhchoiste Naisiunta na gColaisti Samhraidh), the main representative body for Irish summer colleges, a federation to which 63 of all the colleges are affiliated. "Each college is an independent entity," he adds.
"Nior chuireadh moran abhaile i mbliana," he says. "Ta cupla colaisti agus ti rial an daingean, o thaobh na Gaeilge acu.
Liam Suipeil of Colaiste na Rinne in Co Waterford points to the importance of the wording on the various college brochures, on which it is usually clearly stated what the consequences will be for students who break the rules.
The following sample of extracts, relating to the English speaking rule, are taken from a random selection of brochures which were available recently from the CONCOS stand at 46 Kildare Street, Dublin:
Colaiste na Mumhan in Ballingeary, Co Cork states: "Students flagrantly breaking the `no English' rule may be asked to go home".
Colaiste Chiarain in Carraroe, Co Galway, states that: "students who speak one complete sentence in the English language under any circumstances, for whatever reason, must leave the colaiste. Failure to comply with these rules will warrant expulsion and no reimbursement of fees is permitted."
Comharchumann Chleire Teo on Cape Clear Island off Co Cork states that "all levels of ability are catered for, the only requirement being a willingness to speak the language. Students who continually break this rule will be subject to disciplinary measures including suspension."
Colaiste Gaeilge in Coolea, Co Cork, states in its brochure that "students are expected to comply with two basic rules. (Failure to do so will lead to automatic expulsion). a) A real effort to speak Irish always. b) Be polite and well behaved."
Colaiste Mhichil in Ballinskelligs, Co Kerry, states on its brochure in Irish, that "Gaeilge amhain a cheaditear do dhaltai a labhairt ar an gcorsa . . . Ti ceart ag an gcolaiste aon dalta, a thugann neamhairt a rialacha an Cholaiste, a chur abhaile agus ni aisioclar sa chaos seo."
