asked the Minister for Education if he will state the newspapers, periodicals, etc., which are in receipt of grants from his Department, and the annual sum paid in each case.
Questions— Oral Answers. - Grants to Newspapers and Periodicals.
Provision is made in the Votes of the Department of Education for the payment of grants to periodicals published wholly in Irish and to newspapers publishing current news in Irish. The publications in question and the grants payable are, as far as provincial periodicals go:—
Periodicals—Inniu: £148 10s. per weekly issue; Feasta: £150 per monthly issue; Comhar: £150 per monthly issue; An tUltach: £15 per monthly issue; Ar Aghaidh: £15 per monthly issue; Tír na nOg: a grant per monthly issue which shall not exceed £136 or the difference between the cost of production and receipts, whichever is the lesser; Galvia: £130 in respect of annual edition.
Newspapers—A sum of £304 is provided for grants to newspapers, published in the Gaeltacht or in adjoining areas, which circulate in the Gaeltacht and publish at least two columns of current news in Irish weekly. No grant is paid in respect of the first one and a half columns; a rate of 30/- per column is paid in respect of matter exceeding one and a half but not exceeding three columns and the rate per column in respect of the excess over three columns is 40/-. Three newspapers, The Derry People, The People's Press and The Connacht Tribune, are at present participating in the scheme and the amount of the grant in each case depends on the extent to which matter in Irish is published.
Are the grants paid to periodicals or newspapers, irrespective of whether or not they show a loss?
Yes.
They are paid even if the periodicals and newspapers are flourishing profit-making concerns?
I do not know that any of the periodicals are making any substantial profit. I doubt if any of them are making any profit. The position with regard to each periodical is reviewed from time to time. I think they want all the encouragement they can get at the moment.