asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to have the Fanad Gaeltacht, County Donegal, included in the free school-meals scheme.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - School-meals Scheme.
Special legislation would be necessary to provide school meals in the Fanad Gaeltacht and I am not prepared to introduce such legislation to deal with one area. If it is decided in the future to extend the scope of the Acts, consideration will be given to the inclusion of the Fanad Gaeltacht.
Is the Minister aware that this is just one of a number of areas and that adjoining the Fanad peninsula is the Rosguill peninsula? Both of these are Fíor-Ghaeltacht areas and neither of them is included. Will the Minister not see that they are included in the scheme?
If it is decided to extend this scheme Fanad, Rosguill and the other districts will be given consideration.
Could I further ask the Minister are all Fíor-Ghaeltacht areas in the country supposed to be included under this scheme? Is it not a scheme to cater for all Gaeltacht areas and are not the two I have mentioned Fíor-Ghaeltacht areas that are not now being catered for?
The areas were scheduled when the Act was passed but whether or not Fanad is a Fíor-Ghaeltacht area I do not know.
It is, and so is Rosguill.