Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 26 Apr 1945

Vol. 96 No. 24

Committee on Finance. - Vote 54—Gaeltacht Services.

Aire Tailte (Seán O Maolain)

Tairigim:

Go ndeontar suim ná raghaidh thar £1,960 chun slánuithe na suime is gá chun íoctha an Mhuirir a thiocfas chun bheith iníoctha i rith na bliana dar críoch an 31ú lá de Mhárta, 1946, chun Tuarastail agus Costais i dtaobh Seirbhísí na Gaeltachta, ar a n-áirítear Deontais um Thógáil Tithe agus Bréidín Baile do cheannach agus do dhíol.

That a sum not exceeding £1,960 be granted to complete the sum necessary to defray the Charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending the 31st day of March, 1946, for Salaries and Expenses in connection with Gaeltacht Services, including Housing Grants and the purchase and sale of Homespuns.

Sa mheastachán so tá £1,829 níos lú á iarraidh ná mar a hiarradh anuraidh. is lú de £45,946 an caiteachas iomlán agus is lú na fáltais de £44,117. Tá laghdú glan de £27,275 ar a soláthraítear d'abhair i gcóir na dTionnscal Tuaithe; laghdú de £14,079 ar a soláthraítear don Bhréidín Baile; agus laghdú de £5,316 ar a soláthraítear do na Tionnscail Mara. Tá laghdú dá réir sin ar na Leithreasaí-i-gCabhair.

Tá £1,916 breise á sholáthar i gcóir costais an Cheann-Ionaid. Is é fé ndear so ná duine breise do bheith ar an bhfoirinn, costas an bhónais bhreise agus na ngnáth-bhreisithe ar thuarastal a bheidh le n-íoc. Tá sa tsoláthar tuairim is £4,500 a bhaineann le hoifigigh atá ar iasacht ag Ranna eile Rialtais.

Ní méadú ach laghdú atá ar mhírcheann D 1, toisc gur soláthraíodh don Bhainisteoir Bréagán an bhliain seo fé mhírcheann F 1. Tá laghdú de £95 ar an soláthar fé mhírcheann D 2 toisc ná fuil á íoc anois ach tuarastal Teagascóra amháin. Tá méadú de £34 ar mhírcheann D 3. Baineann an méadú sin ar fad le costas an bhónais bhreise a bheidh le n-íoc leis an Teagascóir Tighis atá ar fhoirinn na Fó-Roinne. Is beag athrú atá ar na soláthair fé mhírcheann D 4 agus mírcheann D 5.

Is fé na mírchinn D 6, D 8 (1), D 9 agus D 11 a déantar soláthar do chúrsaí abhar le haghaidh na dTionnscal Tuaithe. Taspánann na mírchinn sin le chéile laghdú de £27,275. Baineann £10,000 den laghdú sin leis an soláthar fé D 8 (1) le haghaidh an Tionnscail Bhréagán agus laghdúde £17,275 leis na Tionnscail Fiteacháin. Ag féachaint don mhéid a caitheadh ar abhair anuraidh meastar gur leor na soláthair atá á ndéanamh don bhliain seo.

Tá méadú de £12,540 ar an soláthar fé mhírcheann D 9. Tá soláthar ann don dá mhuileann shníomhacháin a bheidh ag obair—an ceann atá ar léas againn le cúpla bliain anuas i Rinn na Scríne, Contae Chorcaighe, agus an ceann atá le hoibriú i gCill Chártha, Contae Dhún na nGall. Beidh an dá mhuileann sin ag obair chun abhras do chur ar fáil don tionnscal fíodóireachta a hoibrítear ón Ionad Tionnscail i gCill Chártha. Ní raibh maisíní nua ar fáil don mhuileann nua ach táthar ag brath air go mbeifear i ndon obair mhaith do dhénamh leis na maisíní leathchaite a ceannaíodh ina n-ionad. Beidh áiseanna chun olann agus gréasáin do dhathú ag gabháil leis an bplannda sníomhacháin i gCill Chártha agus cabhróidh sin go mór leis an obair.

Tá laghdú de £14,079 ar an soláthar fé D 10 le haghaidh Ceannach an Bhréidín Baile. Ceannaíonn Gaeltarra Éireann an brédín sin fé Ordú Cumhachta Práinne (Bréidín Baile), 1943, a rinne an tAire Soláthairtí. Nuair a bhí an meastachán so á ullmhú thárla go raibh sé deacair go maith margadh d'fháil don bhrédín baile ach d'aontaigh an tAire Soláthairtí in a dhiaidh sin maolú do dhéanamh ar an méid cúpón a bheadh le tabhairt suas ag daoine i leith brédín baile agus, de bharr an fhaoisimh sin, do thosnaíomar ar an gceannachán arís. Táimid ag iarraidh scéim a cheapadh trína mbeifí i ndon teora do chur le déanamh an bhréidín do réir riachtanaisí an mhargaidh. Sa bhliain roimhe seo do ceannaíodh luach £70.630 den bhréidín cé ná raibh de sholáthar sa mheastán in a chóir ach £53,250.

Tá mírcheann nua, D 11, sa mheastachán le haghaidh an Phlannda Snasála atá á bhunú i gCill Chártha, Contae Dhún na nGall. Táthar ag brath air go geabhróidh an plannda sin go mór le tionnscal an bhréidín.

Tá méadú beag ar an soláthar fé mhírcheann E l, méadú a bhaineann le costas an bhónais bhreise a híocfar leis an bhfoirinn a bheidh i bhfeighil na dTionnscal Mara fén dtuaith. Do cuireadh laghdú beag i bhfeidhm maidir leis an soláthar fé mhírcheann E 2 do chostais taistil na fóirne sin.

Tá laghdú de £1,550 ar an soláthar fé mhírcheann E 3 le haghaidh an Tionnscail Cheilpe agus Feamna ach tabharfar fé ndeara gur leis na costaisí iompair, etc., a bhaineann an laghdú ar fad. Sa bhliain roimhe seo do ceannaíodh 1,335 thonna ceilpe; 722 thonna slata mara; agus 944 thonna feamna. Siad na méideanna dár soláthraíodh an bhliain sin ná 1,000 tonna ceilpe; 2,000 tonna slata mara; agus 600 tonna feamna. Táthar ag leanúint i mbliana arís den rialra a cuireadh i bhfeidhm maidir le ceannach na ceilpe d'fhonn an cheilp is fearr is féidir do bheith ar fáil mar abhar leasacháin. Tá abhar leasacháin dá fháil don tír seo in ionad na feamna a dhíolaimid thar lear. Beidh £10 an tonna mar bharr-phraghas arís ar an gceilp a ceannófar i mbliana.

Tá laghdú de £3,715 ar an soláthar fé mhírcheann E 4 le haghaidh Tionnscail an Chairrgín. Ní bhaineann an soláthar ach leis an gcairrgín a chuireann an Fhó-Roinn ar an margadh mar abhar bídh. Is beag glaoch a bhí ar an gcairrgín sin le tamall anuas agus sin fé ndear gan ach soláthar beag do bheith á dhéanamh i mbliana. Ní rómhaith an margadh atá, ann fé láthair don ghnáth-chairrgín ach oiread. Dá bhrí sin, níl ar aigne praghsanna do réir grádála do choimeád ach leanfar den rialra a cuireadh i bhfeidhm ar shilte eile d'fhonn gan ligean d'ísliú caighdáin do theacht ar chairrgín na tíre seo.

Tá méadú de £1.328 ar an soláthar fé mhírcheann F 1 le haghaidh tuarastal an Taisc-Ionaid. Sé fé ndear san ná soláthar bheith ann d'Ofigeach Sinnsearach Fóirne agus Fó-Oifigeach Fóirne de bhreis ar a raibh ann an bhliain roimhe agus costas an bhónais bhreise a bheidh le n-íoc i mbliana. Gníomhaíonn an tOifigeach Sinnsearach Fóirne mar Bhainisteoir Brégán chomh maith le féachaint i ndiaidh a ghnáth-dhualgas sa TaiscIonad. Baineann an Fó-Oifigeach Fóirne breise atá ar an bhfoirinn le hoifigeach atá ar iasacht ag Roinn eile Rialtais. Tá soláthar breise á dhéanamh an bhliain seo d'Fhógránacht fé mhírcheann F 2. Tá laghdu ar an soláthar atá á dhéanamh fé mhírcheann F 3 d'Iolchostais an Taisc-Ionaid. Baineann an laghdú le costais iompair agus abhair phacála.

Níl aon difríocht sa tsoláthar fé Mhírcheann G do Sheirbhísí Ilghnéitheacha. Táobh amuigh de mhionroinn (5) a bhaineann leis an Seirbhís Bháid idir Oileán Chléire agus Dún na Séad i gCo. Chorcaighe, níl sna soláthair ach comharthaí.

Tá méadú beag ar an soláthar fé mhírcheann H 1 le haghaidh tuarastal na fóirne tuaithe teach-sholáthair. Baineann an méadú nach mór ar fad le costas an bhónais bhreise a bheidh le n-íoc i mbliana. Tá laghduithe ar na soláthair fé mhírcheann H 2 do chostais taistil na fóirne sin; fé mhírcheann H 3 do dheontais teach-sholáthair fé Achta na dTithe (Gaeltacht); agus fé mhírcheann H 4 do chostais chothabhála agus deisiúcháin i leith na dtithe cómhnaithe a ligtear ar cíos do Mhúinteoirí sa bhFíor-Ghaeltacht.

Bunaítear mór-mhéid na Leithreasaí-I-gCabhair fé na mionranna (1) go dtí (4) den mhírcheann I ar an soláthar a rinneadh sa mheastachán so do chaiteachas maidir le habhair agus ceannacháin. Meastar, dá réir sin, go mbeidh laghdú de £35,750 ar an teachtisteach ó na Tionnscail Tuaithe. In a choinne sin, áfach, meastar ná beidh ach laghdú de £7,940 air idir páigh na n-oibrithe agus coimisiún díolacháin— rud a fhágann gur laghdú de £27,810 a taspántar i nglan-mhéid na bhFáltas sin. Meastar gur tuairim is £57,000 a híocfar an bhliain seo mar pháigh oibre. Bhí an meastachán de £63,825 ró-árd anuraidh, ós rud é nár híocadh an bhliain sin ach tuairim is £51,711. Tá an pháigh oibre ag dul i méid gach bliain ó 1935 anuas. Sa bhliain sin do híocadh £9,802. Do híocadh £18,766 sa bhliain 1938 agus £26,391 an bhliain dá éis sin.

Chomh maith leis sin tháinig méadú ar na díolacháin ó bhliain go chéile. Sa bhliain 1935 díoladh luach £34,432; sa bhliain 1938, £46,183; agus sa bhliain dá éis sin, £84,543. Dob é méid na ndíolachán anuraidh ná tuairim is £196,800, gan ar díoladh de bhréidín baile do chur san áireamh.

Do díoladh luach £37,718 de bhréidín baile sa cheithre mhí ón uair a tosnaíodh ar é dhíol um Nollaig, 1943, agus do díoladh luach tuairim is £70,630 de anuraidh.

Tá laghdú de £1,507 ar a meastar a bheidh le fáil as Ceilp agus Feamain do dhíol ach baineann an laghdú sin ar fad le laghdú ar na costais iompair a bheidh le n-aisíoc.

Tá laghdú de £4,765 ar a meastar a bheidh le fáil as Cairrgín Bídh do dhíol. Níl glaoch ró-mhaith ar an gcairrgín seo le tamall anuas, agus ní bhfuarathas anuraidh ach tuairim is an méid atá á sholáthar anois.

Is beag an difríocht a bhaineann leis na soláthair fé na mionranna eile den mhírcheann do Leithreasaí-i-gCabhair. Bainid le hAisíoca i leith Iasachtaí, le Cíosa ar Thithe Comhnaíthe do Mhúinteoirí sa bhFíor-Ghaeltacht agus le Fáltais Ilghnéitheacha.

Cé go bhfuil laghdú ar mhéid an mheastacháin i mbliana, ní mór a thuigsint ná fuil aon lagú ar an obair atáthar ag iarraidh a dhéanamh ar mhaithe le muintir na Gaeltachta.

Micheál Og Mac Pháidin

A Chinn Chomhairle, is doiligh dom mo bheannacht a thabhairt don Mheastachán seo agus é laghdaithe mar tá sé. Níl amhras nach dtig maitheas agus tairbhe as an méid airgid a chaitear ar Sheirbhísí na Gaeltachta. Ach nuair a chímid na milliúin atáthar a chaitheamh gan suim, gan áird agus gan mórán tairbhe ar nitheanna eile níl iongantas go mbeinn ag éagaoin ar laghdú an mheastacháin seo. Tá fhios againn go bhfuil an Fhó-Roinn seo ag riar do na ceanntair is boichte sa tír— Muintir na Gaeltachta—agus níor chóir go mbeadh Rialtas na tíre truaighlithe nó ceachardha leo. Níl aon locht agam ar na hoifigigh atá i mbun na hoibre. Tá gach duine acu ar a dhícheall agus oibríonn siad go cneasta, dúthrachtach. Ní beag an chuspóir a chuir siad rompu—bláth agus rath a chur ar an Ghaeltacht, cosg a chur leis an imirce, an teanga a dhaingniú ann, teas agus téagar a thabhairt isteach sna tithe bochta, saol ur-nuadh a thabhairt do na daoine seo a bhí fá chruatan agus fá leatrom ó rugadh iad, caoi a thabhairt do lánúnacha óga pósadh agus dul i gcionn tighe dóibh fhéin—sin an clár oibre atá ag an Fhó-Roinn. Tá tús maith déanta ag na hoifigigh cheana féin ach beidh sé blianta go fóil go bhfeictear toradh a gcuid saothair.

Ni fheicimse dóigh ar bith eile leis an Ghaeltacht a shábháil ach tionnscail a chur ar bun a fhóirfeas do gach ceanntar a bhfuil an Ghaeilge beo mar ghnáth-chaint ag na daoine. Is fearr seo go mór na an "brúgh" nó oibreacha fóirthine. Ach mar duairt mé cheana féin tá níos mó airgid agus níos mó uirnís de dhíth má táthar le tarrtháil cheart a thabhairt ar iomlán na Gaeltachta. Anois an t-am leis an obair seo a dhéanamh. Tá an Ghaeltacht ag éirí níos lú gach bliain atá ag dul tharainn. Níl níos mó ná deich bparáistí sa tír uilig a dtig linn a rá go bhfuil an Ghaeilge beo ar bhéal na ndaoine. Dá mbeadh an méid sin féin faoi chúram Seirbhísí na Gaeltachta nár mhaith an chéim ar aghaidh é? Chuirfí stad leis an mheath, chuirfí na daoine óga le ceird, d'fhanfadh siad i mbun a muintire sa bhaile agus ní bheadh an giodar orthu ag imeacht go tíortha eile. Molaim mar sin obair na Fó-Roinne. Tá siad ar an chosán ceart ach go bhfuil an cosán sin cumhang fá láthair de dhíobháil airgid. Leanadh siad den obair agus leathnaíodh siad amach é ar fud na Gaeltachta. Is féidir, ar ndóigh, tionnscal éigin d'fháil a fhóireas do gach ceanntar.

Tá fhios againn uilig anois gur coinníodh barraíocht de na tionnscail seo sna cathracha agus sna bailte móra. Nach bhfeiceamaid Baile Átha Cliath ag spréadh amach mar aillse mhór ar chorp na tíre—aillse atá ag diúl fuil agus feoil aosa óig na tuaithe. B'fhearr go mór d'ár muinntir dá mbeadh na tionscail seo scaptha thail as i bhfus ar fud na hEireann ach go háithrid sa Ghaektacht. An sin thiocfadh a rá go raibh na Rialtas i ndáiríre fá leas muintire na tuaithe agus Gaeil na Gaeltachta.

Is maith liom a admháil go bhfuil obair mhór déanta ag an Roinn sa taobh ó dheas de Thír Chonaill. Ansion tá suas le trí chéad fíodóir ag obair faoi stiúradh Seirbhísí na Gaeltachta Tá na fíodóirí seo ag obair sa bhaile agus ag déanamh obair a gcuid gabhál tas beag chomh maith. Ar feadh blianta an chogaidh d'fhigh na fíodóirí seo níos mó ná milliún go leith slat de bháinín do mhuintir na tíre seo nuair nach rabh fáil air ó aon cheann eile. Ba cheart sin a choinneáil i gcuimhne do mhuintir na Gaeltachta. Tá muintir Thír Chonaill ag leanstan den tionnscal seo na holla mar is é is fearr fhóireas dóibh agus táim ag iarraidh ar an Rialtas gach cuidiú agus treoir a thabhairt dóibh leis an tionnscal seo a choinneáil buan-tseasmhach. Táim ag iarraidh ar an Rialtas réiteach a dhéanamh anois sa chruth go mbeidh margadh don bháinín nuair a bheas an cogadh thart agus éadach eile fairsing sa tír.

Chím go bhfuil obair an mhuilinn olla ag dul ar aghaidh go láidir i dTír Chonaill ar na mallaibh. Bhí leithscéal an chogaidh againn é a bheith chomh fada ar an bhealach ach d'fhéadfaí an muileann seo a bheith againn sul ar thosaigh an cogadh. Táimid ag caint air ó 1936. Tá súil agam nach mbeidh sé i bfhad anois go mbeidh na hinnill agus an gléasra uilig in ordú agus an muileann faoi lánréim-seoil. Ba chóir go mbeadh an muileann seo ina chrann taca láidir ag tionnscal na holla i nGaeltacht Thír Chonaill sna blianta atá amach romhainn.

Cormac Ua Breisleáin

Ba mhaith liom cúpla focal a rádh fán Bhóta seo atá iontach tábhachtach ag an mhórchuid de mhuintir na Gaeltachta. Tá an cogadh anois ins an seiseadh bliain ach mar sin fhéin tá na Tionnscail a chuir Seirbhísí na Gaeltachta ar bun ag dul chun cinn go fíor-mhaith agus i bhfad níos fearr ná mheas go leor daoine i dtús ama. Tá ainm mór ag earraí na Gaeltachta indiu—chan amháin in Eirinn ach in Albain agus i Sasain agus tá cuma air go mbeidh margadh fairsing le fáil dóibh i ndiaidh an chogaidh. Ghním comhgháirdeachas le oifigigh na Roinne ar a shon sin agus fosta le lucht oibre na Gaeltachta a bhfuil eolas a gceirde go maith acu.

Is beag toighthe a tógadh sa Ghaeltacht ó thoisigh an cogadh ach támuid ag súil go gcuirfear tús leis an obair gan mhoill arís. Tá súil agam fosta go ndéanfaidh an Roinn a ndícheall le abhar tógála mar adhmad agus rl. a chur ar fáil do scéim na dtoightheach agus tá fhíos agam nach mbíonn sin furust a dhéanamh nó tuigim i gceart na deacrachtaí atá sa chosán acu.

Anois focal nó beirt fá dheontais na dtoightheach. Mholfhaim don Roinn na deontais seo a dhéanamh cuid mhaith níos mó nó mar bhí siad roimh an chogadh nó tá fhios againn uilig go dtánaig árdú mór ar luach na n-abhar tógála agus gur bheag an cuidiú na sean-deontais anois.

Beidh níos mó cuairteoirí ag teacht ar a laethe saoire go dtí an Ghaeltacht ná mar bhí ariamh agus ós rud é gur mhaith le muintir na Gaeltachta deagh-óstas a thabhairt dóibh tá mé cinnte go bhfuighidh siad an cuidiú céanna ón Roinn le toighthe breághtha folláine a thógáil go díreach mar fuair siad roimh an chogadh.

Mr. B. Brady

The remarks I have to make on this Estimate will be confined to the question of the homespun industry. The Minister, in submitting the Estimate, gave us very little information as to the plans he has in mind for the future of this industry. The Emergency Powers Order under which homespun is produced and marketed has been in operation for some 18 months, and at the conference at which the question of putting that Order into operation was discussed the representatives of the homespun producers were led to believe that not only would the Department purchase the material, but that they would also assist the producers in various ways. We were given to understand that the spinners and weavers would be classified, that instruction would be given in dyeing the materials, that finer wool would be introduced, and that expert advice would be available at every stage of manufacture. I regret to say that very little, if any, effort has been made to do anything along these lines. The Department seem to be quite content with attending at the various marketing centres, purchasing the materials, and allowing producers to carry on producing whatever type of cloth they think fit themselves. It is generally recognised by everybody with any experience of it that there is no industry that has proved such a boon to the people in the congested districts in the Gaeltacht as this industry. It was providential that we had in Donegal, and to a lesser extent elsewhere, people who carried on that tradition and who retained the craft of spinning and weaving, and were able through the difficult years that we have passed through to produce cloths that, to some extent at all events, met the deficiency in our supplies. Consequently, it would not be too much to expect from the Department whose special function it is to cater for the people in these areas that they would give more practical assistance in the way of further development of the industry than is being done at the moment.

When speaking on this Vote last year I enumerated some of the disabilities under which the producers labour. I am afraid that my suggestions on that occasion fell on deaf ears. At the risk of repeating myself, I will again draw the Minister's attention to some of the suggestions that were made. They are suggestions that are made by people in the homespun industry; people who know it inside out and people who are anxious for the further development and maintenance of the industry in these areas. Complaint has been made that individual producers have to purchase dyes, for instance, at black market prices. Dyes that, ordinarily, in prewar days cost 1d. or 2d. or some small figure per ounce cannot be purchased now for less than half-a-crown. The oil used for processing the wool is being purchased in the Gaeltacht at 3/6 per pint, and the cards used for the hand processing of the wool cannot be got for less than 19/6 per pair.

We complain about the price of the finished article, but, if the cost of production were brought down, it would be a great assistance to the people in the Gaeltacht, because the present prices of materials represent a considerable addition to their cost of production. They suggest that if it were possible for the Department to purchase dyes for resale to the producers, to get oil at market prices and to provide for the manufacture of cards and their sale to the producers at reasonable prices, the costs of production would be reduced considerably. These articles could be distributed by the officials who have to go round to the different centres to purchase cloth, and there is no reason why we could not have distributing centres for such articles as these.

There is a good deal of dissatisfaction, too, with the system of purchasing cloth. The producers feel that they have no say whatever in the price, that they are at the mercy of an official who examines their web of cloth and fixes a price without giving any indication of how he arrives at it, and which they have to take or leave. I can quote one instance which will show why there is so much dissatisfaction. A producer brought his cloth to centre A. The official examined the 40 or 50 yards in the web and offered 4/6 per yard for it. The producer felt that it was a very low price, that the cloth was worth more, and decided not to sell but to bring it home. He got somebody else in the district to bring the cloth a fortnight later to centre B, where the same official examined it. It was entered in a different name from that of the original producer. He offered 6/- per yard on that occasion. I think the Minister will agree that a system under which that can occur is one which should be inquired into. I have heard of several such cases but in the case which I have mentioned I am prepared to give dates and the names of the parties concerned. I am quite satisfied that I have been correctly informed with regard to that case and I feel that something should be done to remedy such a state of affairs.

There does not seem to be very much attempt on the part of the officials dealing with these matters down the country to keep producers informed as to the designs, type and texture of cloth, and so on, required. The producers are left to carry on on their own lines. If the cloth they produce is not considered satisfactory by the officials, they get a low price, that being the only indication they get that the cloth they are manufacturing is not the right type. Gaeltarra Eireann have a complete monopoly of the purchase of this material and they ought to endeavour to be scrupulously fair to the producers. I can assure the Minister and the Department that the producers are only too anxious to meet the Department's wishes in every respect, so far as the improvement and the development of the industry are concerned, because they realise that practically their very existence depends on the success of the homespun industry; and it should be possible, with the expert staff at the disposal of the Department, to give greater help in the way of advice to the producer as to what the Department requires of them, of supplying them with designs, and so on, than has been given up to the present.

The producers of the handspun material, as distinct from the material woven from machine spun yarn, are anxious to secure, and are organising a movement at present to secure, for their special article a special stamp. This matter has been raised with the Minister and his predecessors several times and there is nothing new that one can say about it. The Department has the example of the Harris tweed manufacturers to guide them. The special mark which they suggest should be adopted would have the effect of distinguishing their material, material made in their homes from native wool, from the material made from machine spun yarns.

If the industry is to be kept going as a cottage industry, something along those lines will have to be adopted. The Minister will agree that any attempt at developing it on factory lines, taking it out of the people's homes, would be fatal for the industry. There is none of the suggestions which I have offered which cannot be carried out with very little effort on the part of the Department. They have their staffs in the districts concerned, and there is no reason why they should not help the people in the way I suggest.

Having offered that criticism, I want to express my appreciation of the way in which the officials have met me. I had occasion many times during the past year to approach the Minister and officials of the Department to make representations with regard to various matters connected with the industry, and I always found both the Minister and his officials very anxious to meet, so far as they could, anyone interested in the industry. If the Minister is able to keep down the costs of production, this industry will continue. The Department's aim should be to continue it, and, if the Department is able to keep it alive, to enable it to continue after the emergency, and to establish a market for it in the post-war years, they will have to a very large extent solved the problem of the uneconomic holder in the Donegal Gaeltacht.

Mr. Dillon

I want to make one observation with regard to the position of homespun hand-woven material. The Minister ought to have it taken off the coupons at once. My experience, and I think the experience of most retail distributors in Ireland, is that, for the last four or five years people have largely been constrained to purchase tweeds owing to the scarcity of other woollen materials.

The natural trend of fashion is to change. We may expect that supplies of alternative coatings will shortly be coming on the market. It would be most desirable to give the homespun industry the added advantage of being coupon free, at least during the early stages of the acute competition which it will have to meet when alternative cloths become available. Already, the Minister for Supplies has made the coupon charge for these cloths lower than the coupon charge for analogous cloths, but that advantage will not be sufficient during the next year or two.

I am particularly anxious that this should be done for this reason. I had always hoped that the hand-woven, handspun cloth should be developed on the same lines as the Harris tweed, and that, if so developed, it would capture for itself a foreign market, because it is on the foreign market that the ultimate destiny of this industry will depend. We cannot hope to find for that cloth the luxury foreign market on which it will ultimately depend in the period immediately after the war. We cannot hope to find that market for about 18 months or two years after the war, but we have got to keep the industry going in the meantime. We may reasonably anticipate that, even though the emergency were over to-morrow, woollen cloths in general will remain rationed, and so we might very well carry the homespun industry over what might otherwise be a very lean period indeed. In parts of the country there are surplus coupons, and the concession that I suggest is not going to be a very material one. It will be of some help, and it will have the added advantage that shopkeepers will try to sell the homespun textiles because at present, unless you have coupons to surrender if you are a shopkeeper, you cannot get supplies of cloth. There are some shopkeepers who have not got very large quantities of coupons at their disposal and rather than let their shelves go bare they would buy these hand-woven tweeds and enter eagerly into the task of selling them. If they have not an inducement of that kind they are going to find themselves up against the natural inclination of people to turn to something new. In that situation shopkeepers will naturally purchase the merchandise which is most readily sold.

I have always regarded the hand-woven material made from machine yarn as a menace to the really valuable cottage industry in this country. The hand-woven textile made from machine yarns has no future what ever. Modern technique can produce a much more attractive fabric on a machine loom from machine-made yarns than the hand weaver can ever hope to do. The beauty of the hand-woven, hand-spun cloth is that once a piece of it is made by the people in West Donegal or in Connemara—once the web of cloth is made from that material—no one can ever reproduce it. The individuality that is incorporated in the homespun yarn is such that no living creature can ever repeat it. That gives it an exclusive character which always has a value in the luxury market. If you are going to supply people with aniline dyed yarns, machine spun, then you can get 40 webs of the same cloth. One web might be better woven than another. You might get these webs from Leeds or from Pennsylvania. In West Donegal and Connemara the home dyes are manufactured from flowers which the people have traditionally used. With these they dye the hand-spun yarns which are used in the manufacture of first-class hand-woven textiles. I have seen a piece of cloth woven in Connemara by a Connemara woman, spun by herself from her own wool, and dyed by herself from dyes that she herself made. These cloths were woven by herself in her own kitchen, and I declare to the House that I would be prepared to prove anywhere in the world that the garment manufactured from that yarn was equal to the product of any Paris fashion house. It was superior to most of them, and had a distinctive colouring that no aniline dye could ever reproduce. There was the additional advantage that a lady wearing a costume made from that web cloth could be quite certain that she would never meet a neighbour wearing one like it. Deputy Brady or myself might not be able to distinguish the difference between the two costumes, but no woman would fall into the error of imagining that any imitation was the same cloth.

If we can cling fast to that, there is a future for that tweed in this country. But if we are seduced from it by any consideration, or if we are deterred from pursuing it by any passing difficulty, I solemnly assure the House that the hand-woven industry will disappear out of the country. I know that in West Donegal and in Connemara, if we can keep up the pressure, we can produce a textile as good and better than any put on the Paris market. With regard to Deputy Brady's speech, I know that it will look well in the columns of the Derry Journal. The people have the ability to do the job right, but they want to have pressure put on them. My advice to the inspectors of the Department is to put on the pressure. Perhaps I would not be so frank if I were still a member for West Donegal, but in the long run the people of West Donegal will realise that I am their real friend when I say: “Let the Department inspectors who are competent to handle this business be ruthless in driving out of the industry the fraudulent weaver that tries to get top price for second-rate material.” There is no room in this trade for defective material. Remember that one piece of defective material, bearing the trade-mark of the homespun industry, will destroy the reputation of 100 pieces bearing that trade-mark. Deputy Brady has spoken here on behalf of the gentleman who was first offered 4/6 and then 6/- a yard for a web of cloth. If I were the inspector I would not have bought it from him on the first or on the second occasion.

The only hope for the industry is to insist that every piece of handspun, hand-woven cloth coming out of the Gaeltacht is of top quality. I say that we can do it, and it is a most grievous fault that you should not lay too heavily on these people. Unless you lean upon them they will destroy themselves and destroy the industry. Seventy per cent. of them will do the job scrupulously and well, but their best efforts will be destroyed by the unscrupulous remaining 30 per cent. The only way to prevent that is to lean on them. All those who are competent and conscientious will not find the burden unduly heavy, while those who are otherwise will find it so heavy that they will be driven out of the industry altogether.

The sooner they are, the better we will all be. The Taoiseach himself has said that he finds he can do his work better if he has an occasional goad applied to him. Everyone who is doing a routine job, day after day, week after week, year after year, finds he is slipping up unless he has somebody on his tail to ginger him up every now and again. The weavers in West Donegal, Connemara and Kerry are no different from anybody else in requiring that occasional pressure, that occasional reminder that quality must be maintained, and the Department should not scruple to apply it. They will get a good deal of abuse when they do it; but those who really desire to serve the interest of the weavers in the West will applaud their exertions and will do their best to assist them in supporting the burden of abuse which proper pressure will bring down upon their heads.

The future of this industry lies in the American market. I know that market fairly well, for I worked in it. The future of this industry lies in the salons of dressmakers like Schiaparelli and Molyneux in Paris. There is no place whatever for it in the department stores and the mass purchasing markets. Our object must be to get it into the most fashionable and exclusive distributing centres in the world and, to do that, we must have quality of surpassing excellence. If we can secure that, I do not doubt that we shall be able to get the other market in time. There are two dangerous years ahead of us. We can help the industry if we take the coupon off. We cannot cause any considerable inconvenience and it will give a new impetus of popularity to these materials in the domestic market during these two difficult years. Thereafter, in my judgment, if this industry is properly managed, it will not give two hoots about the domestic market for it will be firmly placed in a far larger market where better products are available and where a recurring demand will perennially appear.

Gearóid Mac Phárthaláin

Ní hé an droch-fhocal atá agamsa le caitheamh le Roinn Seirbhísí na Gaeltachta. Rinneadar go maith le linn an chogaidh in ainneoin na mbac agus na ndeacrachtaí a bhí rómpu de bhárr an chogaidh. Murach an réiteach a rinneadh roimhe ní éireodh leo chomh maith is a d'éirigh. Fágann sé sin go bhfuil dream fad-bhreathnaitheach ag stiúradh na Fó-Roinne. Ba mhaith liom tionnscal an bhréidin a fheiceál ag déanamh níos mó dul chun cinn i gConamara ná mar atá. Tá a fhios agam nach féidir tada a dhéanamh faoi láthair cheal uirlísí is eile ach nuair a bheas an cogadh agus an coimheascar thart tá súil agam go gcuideoidh an Roinn leis na sean-nósanna a bhaineas leis an taobhtíre sin a chur in oiriúin do riachtanais mhargaidh an lae inniu. Tuigtear dhom go bhfuil níos mó breidín dá dhéanamh le tamall ná mar is féidir a dhíol in Eirinn. Béidir gur chóir cuid dé a chur anonn go Sasana. Tá chuile shórt dá leithé id sin gann ann anois is dá bhfaigheadh sé greim ar an margadh roimh dheireadh an chogaidh bheadh seans go gcoinneodh sé é ina dhiaidh.

Is mór an leas atá na hionaid chniotála a dhéanamh sna háiteacha a bhfuil siad. Is é an chuid is fearr de gurb iad na cailíní atá ag fáil saothrú sa mbaile, gan iallach orthu dul thar lear. Is fearr deich scilleacha a mbaile ná punt i gcéin. Rud eile de, tá cuid mhaith den obair ar féidir a dhéanamh ar an teallach. Ba mhaith liom tuilleadh ionad acu a bheith ann ach tá a fhios agam nach féidir meaisiní a fháil fáoi láthair. Tá na cailíní ag saothrú airgid mhaith ar an obair seo.

Fuaireas casaoid le gairid ó lucht na slat mara i Rinn an Mhaoil. Dúradh liom gur fágadh ar a lámha iad agus gur lobh siad. D'iarrfainn ar an Roinn an locht sin a cheartú.

Ba mhaith liom tuairisc a fháil ón Aire cén dul chun cinn atá déanta in úsáidí nua a sholáthar le haghaidh na feamainne. Ba mhaith liom fios a bheith agam an féidir leis na heolaithe beathú maith le haghaidh na gcearc is na mbeithíoch a dhéanamh aisti.

Táim sásta leis an gcaoi a rinne na hoifigigh obair na Roinne agus molaim iad.

Seán Mac Cárthaigh

A Leas-Chinn Chomhairle, is soiléir do gach éinne go bhfuil tionnscail speisialta ná Gaeltachta go mór fé réim is fé cháil mar ba cheart ar fud na tíre ar fad agus i dtíortha thar lear; agus dá bhrí sin go bhfuilid ag méadú i gcumhacht agus i líon go sásúil. Go deimhin is dóigh liom gur fíor a rá go bhfuil gach uile rud is féidir leis an Roinn do cheapadh mar mhaithe leis an nGaeltacht do chur i bhfeidhm i láthair na huaire i ngach saghas slí á dhéanamh.

Mar aon leis sin, taobh amuigh den tsean-Ghaeltacht cois fairrge atá poinntí láidre cile dhá suíomh agus dhá socrú acu i gceart-lár na tíre, agus is maith agus is tábhachtach an ghluaiseaeht é sin; ach molaim ina theannta san pé ní is féidir a dhéanamh ar imeallaibh agus ar mhalaibh na Gaeltachta. Nuair a bhíonn talamh le roinnt ann é do thabhairt dos na daoinibh go bhfuil an Ghaeilge acu ón gcliabhán, nómar ghnáth-teanga ina saol, i dtreo is go mbeidh an Ghaeltacht ag leathnú amach in ionnad a bheith ag laghdú ón mbrú isteach má bhíonn daoine nach bhfuil an Ghaeilge acu ag breith a mbéasa féin go dtí doirse na Gaeltachta.

Is mór an truagh é leis ná féadfaí beart éigin do cheapadh chun áiteanna cosúil leis na Blaoscaoidí do choimeád beo mar sheod iarthair ag an Náisiún; mar tá an scoil dúnta ann, agus fé mar aduairt údar "An t-Oileánach" beannacht Dé lena anam, má imíonn siad san, ní thiocfaidh a leithéid go bráth ar an saol so arís.

Risteárd Ua Maolchatha

Ba mhaith liom ceist do chur ar an Aire. Cuireadh an obair seo ar siúl toisc go raibh ceanntracha ann ina raibh an Ghaeilge a labhairt go nádúrtha ó roimh aimsir Chonchubhair Mhic Neasa. Tá daoine ann atá ag labhairt na teangan náisiúnta, go bhfuil meoin agus aigne istigh inti atá ag teastáil go géar uainn anois. Tá sí ag meath go tiugh ins na ceanntracha san. Mura mbeadh iad do bheith ann, ní chuirfí an obair seo ar siúl in aon chor.

Deich mbliana ó shoin, sa mbliain 1935, nuair a bhí an t-áireamh talmhaíochta dhá dhéanamh ag na Gárdaí, deineadh áireamh ar mhéid na dtithe fán dtuaith go raibh an Ghaeilge ag na sean-daoine, an méid tithe acu san go raibh Gaeilge ag na páistí go coitianta i rith an lae, an méid go raibh Béarla ag na páistí go coitianta i rith an lae. Nuair a fhéachaimid ar an áireamh san agus nuair a fhéachaimid ar an áireamh a chuireann an tAire Oideachais amach ag taspáint an méid páistí atá ag teacht ar scoil agus an Ghaeilge acu, is uafásach an meath atá tagtha ar an nGaeilge i rith na deicb mbliana sin.

Sé an cheist gur mhaith liom a chur ar an Aire ná an dtugtar aon chúram in aon chor ón a Roinn féin don Ghaeilge, an ndeintear aon áireamh nó aon scrúdú ar cé acu atá an Ghaeilge beo go foill sna ceanntracha go bhfuil an obair ar siúl ann. Mar aduairt an Teachta Mac Cárthaigh, tá an Ghaeilge ag meath go tiugh ins na ceanntracha san agus mura mbíonn sí dá labhairt iontu, ní leor an méid oibre atá ar siúl i mBaile Átha Cliath ná i gCiarraidhe.

Ba mhaith liom a fhiafraí den Aire an bhfuil sé ag tabhairt aire don taobh sin den cheist nó an féidir aon eolas fháil ón Aire i dtaobh na ceiste sin. Ní fheadar an féidir an t-áireamh céanna do chur ar siúl i mbliana, mar a cuireadh ar siúl deich mbliana ó shoin, chun na figiúirí do chur i gcompráid lena chéile agus a fháil amach conas atá an scéal anois sna ceanntracha san. Is mór agus is tábhachtach an cheist í agus ní dóigh liom go bhfuil an Roinn ag tabhairt aire di.

Mr. McMenamin

I should like to hear from the Minister an explanation of some of the figures connected with this Estimate. Under the sub-heading covering Appropriations-in-Aid there are certain receipts indicated, arising from the sales of products of rural industries. There is a deduction for workers' wages amounting to £57,000, and for agents' commission amounting to £7,700. Then we have receipts from the sales of homespuns, after deducting amounts representing (a) workers' wages £307, and (b) agents' commission £943. I would like to know, with regard to rural industries, if the sum of £7,700 by way of commission was paid to one man or to a number of men and, if so, what was the number. I understood that the Department distributed these goods. On what basis is this amount allocated? What commission is paid to this man or these men, the agents for rural industries who drew over £7,000? What is the explanation with regard to the homespuns, where the workers got £307 and the agents' commission was £943? The workers who produce goods worth £47,500 drew in wages, according to this account, £307 and the agents' commission was £943.

Last year the total receipts from sales was £57,460, and the amount estimated for 1945-46 is £47,500, a drop of £10,000. One would expect a progressive increase in the sales of these goods. I would like to know what is the explanation of the decline for the coming year. Is it due to a fall in the price of wool, or a lower production in the quantity of goods? It strikes me that the paying of £7,700 by way of commission on goods like these should be avoided as far as possible. Nobody should get that amount of money. Certainly, if one man got it, as distributing agent, it seems an abnormal amount, where the State is putting up money in order to do something for the poorer districts of this country. The Minister may have a valid explanation of that. I hope the £7,700 did not go into the pocket of one man who acted as agent for the distribution of these goods. I understood these goods were distributed by the Central Marketing Board, for which there is a special heading here. All the officers come under subhead F.1.

I regret to see the static position with regard to the sale of kelp and carrageen. Certainly, in these days when food, particularly of the nature of carrageen, seems to be greatly restricted, when imports of all kinds are cut off and there is scarcely anything of that kind at home, one would expect a considerable increase in the production and marketing of that article. One would also expect, in view of the serious position of fertilisers for our agricultural industry, that there would be a marked increase from year to year in the collection and production of kelp.

With regard to carrageen, I have been urging for years that an energetic effort should be made to market it for animal feeding. The grading of it need not be of to high a standard, and it would not require the handling and picking and grading that would be needed for human use. In these days, when there is a complete lack of linseed meal for feeding calves, and a scarcity of maize meal, considerations of that type are important. I would like to knew from the Minister how it is that a success was not made of that industry. What is the reason? Was it tried, and, if so, and it did not succeed, what is the explanation why it did not succeed? Under war conditions one would have thought that there would be a marked demand for articles of this kind.

Very strict supervision should be kept of the account to see that agents do not make excessive profits out of the work of these people, and it would be well to know that the State is making an effort to provide for the people of these districts by bringing work into the homes in the poorer areas. The total sum for agents under the two heads I have referred to is practically £9,000. That amount is given by way of commission. I sincerely hope somebody has not got in a "quick one," and got an agency for the sale of these goods and made excessive profits at the expense of the people. If that amount was not paid in commission it would go back to the workers.

We have also to consider freights and postage and the carriage of goods. The figure is abnormal. I think in cases of this kind the Government should be in a strong position to make representations to the railway companies. I believe the State should make representations in this particular instance to get special facilities for carrying these products from the place of production to the points of marketing.

They do the very same things in regard to the carriage of fish, they charge the full rates. Where the State is making an effort, in a semicharitable way, to assist these districts, the railway company should not be allowed to draw the fat out of it, simply because the State is behind it and they know they can get the money. I do not think we should allow that. The Minister should take his courage in his hands and make strong representations to them and, if he does not succeed, he should put transport of his own on the road, taking power to do that it necessary, against the railway companies. Every halfpenny of this money that can be sent back to those districts should be sent back. We see here the big commission fees and the big amount charged by the railway companies for freight. Those charges seem very excessive indeed. In my opinion there should be special facilities and special rates for the carriage of these goods.

Where there is a huge turnover of this kind, the commission should be cut down to a nominal sum that would give a man a reasonable income, assuming that he is in no other line. To give a man practically £9,000 out of these products seems unjustifiable. It is all right saying that there is £140,000 or £180,000 concerned between the two items, but that is no justification for one man cornering the commission and making over £8,000 out of it. That is an unjustifiable sum, in relation to the nature of the goods that have been sold and the reason for the production. The House should take the utmost care to see that every penny voted for this purpose goes to the right place. It is a very special purpose, to help the poor people in those districts, to keep the work at home in their cottages and in their districts, so that every penny should go to them as far as possible, since that was the purpose for which it was voted.

Seán Ó Maoláin

Níl aon mheas ag aon Teachta ar Choimisiún na Talún ná ar an lucht foraoiseachta ach tá roinnt mholtá tugtha do Sheirbhísí na Gaeltachta ag na Teachtaí. Mar sin níl aon ghá agam an-chosaint do dhéanamh ar an bhFó-Roinn. Cé go bhfuil laghdú beag i mbliana sa mheastachán tá sé socraithe againn níos mó do chaitheamh i mbliana ná mar dheineamar cheana. Is dócha go bhfuil an Teachta Mac Pháidín anshásta leis an méid sin. Is dócha gurb é sin an chuid is tábhachtaí den cheist. Ní féidir linn obair thógainte tithe do thosnú arís toise ná fuil ar ár gcumas ná ar chumas an Rialtais ábhar tógainte tithe d'fháil.

Maidir leis na rudaí eile atá in easnamh ar lucht bréidín baile i gcontae na Dhún-na-nGall, go bhfuil na praghsanna ró-árd ann, ba cheart fhios do bheith ag Teachtaí go bhfuil an cogadh, agus gach gátar a bhaineann leis an gcogadh, ag cur in ár gcoinnibh agus níl ar ár gcumas na rudaí sin d'fháil agus iad d'fháil ar phraghas beag. Táimid ar intinn níos mó do dhéanamh maidir le bréidín baile, más féidir, chun an gnó do choimeád béo nuair a bheidh an cogadh thart. Mar aduairt an Teachta Diolún, ámh, ba cheart do na daoine i nDún na nGall comhoibriú linn chun ábhar maith do chur ar fáil.

Mar aduairt cheana, táimid ag cuimhneamh ar scéim nua chun cuidiú leis an obair seo ach nílimid socraithe ina thaobh fós.

Maidir lena nduairt an Teachta Diolún i dtaobh na gcúpón, déanfad an cheist sin do scrúdú. Maidir leis an margadh thar lear, aontaím leis ar fad. Is féidir linn an rud sin do dhéanamh agus an margadh sin d'fháil dúinn fhéin ach an stuf ceart do chur ar fáil agus den chéad uair ariamh aontaím ar fad leis an Teachta Diolún.

Ní féidir linn a lán do dhéanamh i gConamara maidir le baill éadaigh do dhéanamh. Tá daoine i nDún na nGall oilte ar an obair. Ní mar sin atá an scéal i gConamara.

Maidir le na slata mara, tá siad go léir ceannaithe againn anois agus ós rud é go bhfuil an t-airgead ag muintir Chonamara, is cuma dóibh cad a bheidh ar na slata mara.

Maidir lena ndúradh i dtaobh na hoibre atá á dhéanamh i gColáiste na Gaillimhe, is ag an Roinn Tionn-scail atá an t-eolas sin. Ní féidir linn an cheist sin do fhreagairt.

Chuir an Teachta O Maolchatha ceist chugam cionnas atá an Ghaeilge sa Ghaeltacht anois. N'fheadar. Ach, is é mo thuairim nach bhfuil sí chomh maith anois ann agus a bhí sí deich mbliana ó shoin, agus is truagh é.

Liam Mac Coscair

Níl sí chomh maith?

Seán O Maoláinn

Ach, chomh fada agus is féidir linn cabhrú leis an obair atá á dhéanamh chun an Ghaeilge do choimeád beo agus do leathnú tá gach is féidir á dhéanamh ag Seirbhísí na Gaeltachta.

Some people think that there are three different dialects in Irish, the Northern, the Western and the Southern. I have always found it quite as difficult to understand Donegal men talking in English as in Irish, so I suppose there is not much to the argument, but my Southern ears do not grasp them quite readily. With regard to the point that Deputy McMenamin made, the amount of commission, £943, relates to a total expenditure of £40,000 on homespun and the commission of £7,700 relates to total sales amounting to £196,000, which, I think, puts a different colour on the story. Actually, the workers are getting the benefit. They are getting the major portion and the commission is a really minor percentage.

Vote put and agreed to.

Progress reported; the Committee to sit again.