New figures show a 15% decline in the numbers of  young Irish people heading off to the Gaeltacht during their summer holidays.

Less than 24 thousand young people are travelling to the Gaeltacht this summer for Irish courses, compared to 28 thousand in 2008.

The group representing Irish colleges around the country, Concos, has put the dramatic decline in numbers  down to the economic downturn, saying the numbers of students going to the Gaeltacht for summer courses has fallen by 20% since the peak, while the cost of running Irish language schools continues to rise.

However, there's better news for colleges offering courses on foreign languages , with several reporting rising demand for their classes.