There has been a surge of applications, probably due to the recession, but also more children getting the full grant. Is the grant per family or per child? Is the increase in full grants a sign of a slight slippage in standards? Or applications by families with good Irish who didn't bother before the recession?

The figures for 2008/09 are:

Cork: 100 full grants, 48 reduced grants, 37 refusals (the previous year: 74, 77 and 24)

Note: The Gort na Tiobratan area (includes Cúil Aodha) was the strongest, with good results for an Cnoc Riabhach and part of Baile an Ghaorthaidh (which is split into two for the purposes of this - one half very weak and other half stronger). Six full grants on Cléire (up from 4 full and 2 reduced in the previous year)

Kerry: 242 full grants, 76 reduced grants and 75 refusals (187, 151, 34 in previous year)

A number of strong areas in Kerry. 24 full grants in Dingle now (contrary to repeated statements on the Internet that the figure is 4). All 8 applications in Dún Chaoin got the full grant.

Waterford: 56 full grants, 23 reduced, 20 refusals (36, 28, 3 the previous year)

So: all Munster areas strong this time

GAlway: 1054 full grants, 140 reduced, 115 refused (1075, 173, and 74 last year)

Meath: 34 full grants 22 reduced, 7 refused (down from 38, 17 and 17 in the previous year)

Mayo: 67 full grants, 60 reduced, 119 refused (51, 104, 141 in the previous year)

Galway and Meath both weaker. Mayo, arguably slightly stronger but with large number of refusals - showing the language is disappearing over much of the territory but with a few strongholds. The only part of Mayo where the majority of applicants got the full grant is An Geata Mór Theas - this is probably the only viable area in Mayo long term.

Donegal: 781 full grants, 214 reduced, 181 refused (compare 725, 360 and 104 in the previous year)

Donegal has some very strong areas: Machaire Chlochair and Gort an Choirce.

Overall: 2334 full grants ( up from 2186), 583 reduced grants (down from 910) and 554 refusals (up from 397)

Note, only 2 years previously the reduced grants had been 1,002 and the refusals 283. It seems there is a trend for reduced grants to be paid to those who were refused in previous years.

Interesting. Do you have a direct link for these data?

It's the last spreadsheet at the bottom of the page linked below.

http://www.pobail.ie/en/AnGhaeltacht/GaeltachtSchemes/SceimLabhairtnaGaeilge/

Yes, the full data are at http://www.eamonocuiv.ie/images/docs/slg_english.xls

Go raibh maith agaibh.