asked the Taoiseach if in view of the large discrepancy between the Gaeltacht population figures as defined in the report of Coimisiún na Gaeltachta and as defined by Ordú na Limistéirí Gaeltachta, 1956, given in a reply of 25th May, he will state what basis of calculation was used in each case.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Gaeltacht Population Figures.
3.
As was stated in the reply referred to by the Deputy, the basic population data used in the compilation of the figures given were those obtained at the Censuses of Population 1926 to 1956. The differences to which he refers are due to the fact that the Fíor Ghaeltacht as defined by Coimisiún na Gaeltachta and the Gaeltacht areas as defined by Ordú na Limistéirí Gaeltachta 1956 are not coterminous.
The former area comprises the district electoral divisions in which at an inquiry in 1925 80 per cent. of the population or more was returned as Irish speakers. This inquiry was carried out by the Garda Síochána in those areas in which the 1911 Census indicated that considerable numbers of Irish speakers might be located and the list of district electoral divisions in question is given in Table II of the Second Appendix to the Report of Coimisiún na Gaeltachta.
The Gaeltacht areas as defined by Ordú na Limistéirí Gaeltachta, 1956, comprise the district electoral divisions and parts of district electoral divisions listed in the Schedule to that Order.
Surely the Parliamentary Secretary appreciates that there must be something wrong when Coimisiún na Gaeltachta gives the Irish-speaking population of County Waterford for 1956 as 5,065 and Ordú na Limistéirí Gaeltachta gives the population in 1956 as 948? That is a substantial difference for a whole county.