Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 12 Jun 1963

Vol. 203 No. 7

Committee on Finance. - Vóta 40—Roinn na Gaeltachta.

Aire na Gaeltachta (Micheál Ó Móráin)

Tairgim.

Go ndeonófar suim nach mó ná £436,660 chun slánuithe na suime is gá chun íoctha an mhuirir a thiocfaidh chun bheith iníoctha i rith na bliana dar críoch an 31 Márta, 1964, le haghaidh Tuarastal agus Costas Roinn na Gaeltachta maille le deontais le haghaidh Tithe agus Ildeontais-i-gCabhair.

Taispeánann an caiteachas a meastar don bhliain seo méadú de £15,710 ar an soláthar a rinneadh don bhliain seo caite. Tá méadú sa soláthar a moltar le haghaidh tithe Gaeltachta, scéimeanna feabhsúcháin, seirbhísí iompair, coláistí Gaeilge agus taispeántais drámaíochta Gaeilge agus tá soláthar nua á dhéanamh chun cabhrú le daltaí Gaeltachta a théann ar chúrsaí oiliúna áirithe.

Faoi Fho-Mhírcheann C déantar soláthar de £191,250 le haghaidh deontas faoi Achtanna na dTithe (Gaeltacht). Is méadú é sin de £6,200 ar an soláthar a rinneadh anuraidh. Sa bhliain airgeadais 1962/63 críochnaíodh 129 tithe nua, feabhsaíodh 261 tithe, cuireadh soláthar uisce i 221 tithe, cuireadh saoráidí séarachais i 220 tithe, cuireadh seomraí folcaidh feistithe le córas uisce te i 237 tithe, feabhsaíodh an córas sláintíochta i 9 tithe agus rinneadh méadú speisialta ar 36 tithe. Fuarthas os cionn 1,700 iarratais nua i rith na bliana. Tá an caiteachas faoi Achtanna na dTithe (Gaeltacht) ag dul i méid ó bhliain go bliain agus sa bhliain 1962/63 caitheadh £181,111 gcomparáid le caiteachas de £160,035 sa bhliain 1961/62 agus caiteachas de £136,000 sa bhliain roimhe sin. Meastar go mbeidh an caiteachas níos mó fós i mbliana agus tá mé ag lorg £191,250 chuige. Áirítear san iomlán sin suim £17,000 a meastar a caithfear i mbliana ar bhrúnna agus seallaí saoire.

Ó tháinig an scéim sin i bhfeidhm ceadaíodh deontais i gcás 7 mbrúnna agus tá 3 iarratais faoi bhreithniú i láthair na huaire. I gcás na seallaí ceadaíodh deontais i 20 cás go dtí seo agus tá 15 iarratais faoi bhreithniú.

As Fo-mhírcheann D a cuirtear airgead ar fáil le haghaidh na scéimeanna feabhsúcháin sa Ghaeltacht. Bunaítear na meastacháin sna cúrsaí seo ar na meastacháin a gheibhtear óna heagrais éagsúla, go háirithe na húdaráis áitiúla agus na Ranna eile Stáit, ar a mbíonn cúram feidhmithe na scéimeanna sin. D'ainneoin dícheall na n-eagras sin is annamh a cuirtear na scéimeanna seo uilig a gcrích laistigh den am a bhíonn measta dóibh toisc go mbíonn rudaí i gceist i bhfeidhmiú na scéimeanna seo nach bhfuil smacht iomlán ag lucht a riartha orthu, mar shampla—an aimsir, ganntanas foirne teicniúla, deacrachtaí teidil, cearta slí, etc., a chuireann moill ar an obair. Beidh rudaí do-sheachanta den tsort seo ann i gcónaí agus dá bhrí sin d'fhonn an meastachán a bheith chomh gairid agus is féidir don chaiteachas is dócha a tharlóidh, socraíodh ar shuim £22,000 a bhaint den fho-mhírcheann. Fágann sé sin gur suim £118,000 glan a bheidh ar fáil i gcóir na bliana d'ainneoin gur £140,000 an costas measta do na scéimeanna uilig. Ní fhágann sé sin, ámh, go bhfuil baol ar bith ann go gcaithfear aon cheann de na scéimeanna a fhágáil gan críoch-nú cheal airgid. Airgead ar bith a fágfar gan caitheamh i rith na bliana faoi ghné amháin den fho-mhírcheann féadfar é a aistriú chun a chaite faoi ghné eile, más gá sin.

Ba mhaith liom cur síos gairid a dhéanamh ar na scéimeanna san ord ina bhfuil tagairt dóibh i Leabhar na Meastachán:

Suim £45,000 a meastar a caithfear i mbliana ar scéim na mbóthar. Is méadú de £5,000 é sin ar an soláthar a bhí ann anuraidh. Den mhéadú sin, tá tuim speisialta de £3,000 á sholáthar le haghaidh na mbóthar ar na hoileáin de dhroim cinneadh Rialtais ina thaobh sin ar mholadh Choiste Eadar-Roinne na nOileán. Níor íocadh ach tuairim £33,000 as an soláthar de £40,000 a bhí ann anuraidh le haghaidh bóithre. An droch-aimsir a tharla i rith an gheimhridh seo caite ba mhó ba chúis leis an laghdú sin.

Suim £20,000 a meastar a caithfear i mbliana ar scéimeanna uisce-shol-áthair agus séarachais, is é sin, méadú £5,000 ar sholáthar na bliana seo caite. Os deontais 25 faoin gcéad den chostas atá á n-íoc ag an Roinn i leith furmhór na scéimeanna seo chaithfeadh na húdaráis áitiúla obair ab fhiú £80,000 san iomlán a chur i gcrích i rith na bliana sna cúrsaí seo sara mbeidís i dteideal deontais £20,000 san iomlán.

Tá méadú de cheithre mhíle punt, sé sin, ó £14,000 go dtí £18,000, sa soláthar atá á dhéanamh le haghaidh muir-oibreacha i mbliana. Is é cúis leis sin ná an feabhsú atá beartaithe a dhéanamh ar shaoráidí calaíochta i gCill Rónáin, áit a bhfuil i gceist faid a chur leis an bpiara ar chostas tuairim £50,000. Meastar go mbeifear in ann tús a chur leis an réamh-obair sin i mbliana agus tá soláthar chuige sin á dhéanamh. Leanfar, dar ndóigh, den ghnáth-obair fheabhsúcháin i gcás mion-oibreacha mara. Is í Oifig na nOibreacha Poiblí a dhéanann na mion-oibreacha mara de ghnáth thar ceann na Roinne agus is í an Oifig sin freisin a dhéanfaidh an obair i gCill Rónáin.

Faoi scéim na dtithe gloine tá conradh déanta chun trealamh téacháin a chur isteach i 25 tithe i gCo. Dhún na nGall, agus tá mé ag súil go gcríochnófar an obair sin i mbliana. Tógadh 194 tithe faoin scéim seo go nuige seo agus tá córas téacháin curtha nó á chur isteach i 78 díobh. Maidir leis na tithe a ndearnadh damáiste mór stoirme dóibh i gConamara agus i dTuar Mhic Éadaigh, tá socraithe idir láimh chun iad a atógáil agus tá beartaithe dul ar aghaidh anois chomh tapaidh agus is féidir é leis an obair sin. Ní féidir liom a rá go cinnte cén fhaid eile a thógfaidh atógáil na dtithe ach déanfar gach dícheall é a chur i gcrích i mbliana chun go mbeidh siad réidh le haghaidh séasúir fáis na bliana seo chugainn.

Suim £1,000 a meastar a chaithfear ar na deontais i leith cránacha agus síolta a dháiltear faoin scéim seo. Meastar go mbeidh timpeall 50 cráin ag teastáil i mbliana agus is cránacha de chaighdeán níos airde fós ná iad sin a dáileadh go dtí seo a dáilfear. Ó thús na scéime dáileadh 450 cráin san iomlán agus, de réir gach tuairisc, d'eirigh go maith lena bhfurmhór mór.

Chífear go bhfuil méadú £2,000 as soláthar atá á dhéanamh le haghaidh scéimeanna talmhaíochta eile faoin bhfo-mhírcheann. Is é faoi ndear sin ná an t-éileamh méadaithe a bhí ar an scéim a tionscnaíodh chun talamh féaraigh a fheabhsú sa Ghaeltacht le cúpla bliain anuas, agus fós socruithe bheith déanta chun téarmaí chuid B de Scéim Chonamara de Thionscadal na Talún a leathnú go dtí na limistéirí Gaeltachta uilig amhail ón lú Márta, 1963. Tá scéim maoth-thorthaí na Roinne leasaithe freisin i gcaoi is gur féidir leis an Roinn anois deontais suas go dtí £500 a íoc in aon chontae in aon bhliain áirithe i leith fás aon sórt maoth-thorthaí nó glasraí. Maidir leis an scéim chun talamh féaraigh sa Ghaeltacht a fheabhsú, íocann an Roinn deontais caoga faoin gcéad den chostas i leith leasú saorga a thabhairt, i gcomhréir le tástáil ithreach, le haghaidh plásán ó acra amháin go dtí trí acra an ceann. Tá an-éileamh ar an scéim agus cheana féin feabhsaíodh 1,078 plásáin darb achar 2,363 acraí.

Ba léir dom le tamall anuas go raibh géar-ghá leis na foirgintí feirme sa Ghaeltacht a fheabhsú agus nach raibh muintir na Gaeltachta ag baint mórán tairbhe as an scéim atá ag an Roinn Talmhaíochta de bhrí, is dócha, nach leor dóibh an chabhair a tugtar faoin scéim sin. Tar éis an scéal a scrúdú i gcomhar leis an Roinn Talmhaíochta, tá socrú á dhéanamh anois chun scéim foirgintí feirme na Roinne sin a oibriú sna limistéirí Gaeltachta ar théarmaí speisialta. Beidh deontais 50 faoin gcéad níos airde ná na gnáth-dheontais a íoctar faoin scéim le fáil ag Gaeilgeoirí sna ceantracha sin agus íocfaidh Roinn na Gaeltachta an t-airgead breise a bheidh i gceist. Tá súil agam go dtiocfaidh tairbhe don Ghaeltacht as an socrú sin.

Tá soláthar £15,000 á dhéanamh le haghaidh meánscoileanna i mbliana. Ó cuireadh tús leis an scéim sa bhliain 1958 tógadh nó leathnaíodh 8 meánscoileanna sna limistéirí Gaeltachta le cabhair ón Roinn. Cuireadh deontais os cionn £37,500 san iomlán ar fáil i leith na n-oibreacha sin.

Tá soláthar £10,000 á dhéanamh arís i mbliana le haghaidh hallaí siamsa. Faoin scéim seo tugtar deontas de 80 faoin gcéad den chostas nó £5,000, pé acu is lú, mar chabhair chun halla siamsa a thógáil, a fheabhsú, a leathnú nó a fheistiú. Iocadh deontais arbh fhiú £12,255 iad san iomlán faoin scéim seo ó cuireadh tús léi sa bhliain 1960/61 agus fuair 6 hallaí tairbhe na ndeontas sin. Tógadh ceithre hallaí nua faoin scéim.

Faoi Fho-Mhírcheann E den mheas-tachán tá soláthar chun deontais bheaga a thabhairt le haghaidh imeach-taí cultúrtha agus sóisialacha, mar shampla deontais le haghaidh feiseanna, féilte drámaíochta nó d'fhonn scoláireachtaí Gaeltachta a bhronnadh ag feiseanna agus cabhair a thabhairt do choistí áitiúla sa Ghaeltacht chun oirnéisí ceoil agus a leithéid a chean-nach.

Már chúnamh breise do dhaltaí meánscoile sna limistéirí Gaeltachta ceapadh scéim sa bhliain 1961 faoina dtugtar deontais bhliantúla, suas go dtí £500 in aghaidh na scoile, chun cabhrú le húdaráis meánscoile sna lim-istéirí Gaeltachta seirbhís iompair a chur ar fáil do dhaltaí lae. Ceapadh i mbliana nár mhiste buntáistí na scéime sin a thabhairt freisin do dhaltaí Gaeltachta a dhéanann freastal ar chúrsaí lae sna gairmscoileanna agus tá sé sin déanta anois. Tá soláthar £4,000 á dhéanamh ina leith sin i bhFó-mhírcheann F agus soláthar £5,000 á dhéanamh d'fhonn cóir iompair a chur ar fáil do dhaltaí meánscoile sa Ghaeltacht. Tá soláthar sa scéim freisin faoina bhféadfar teacht i gcabhair i gcásanna áirithe ar dhaltaí ó na limistéirí Gaeltachta a mbíonn orthu freastal ar mheánscoil nó ar cheardscoil atá gairid dóibh ach nach bhfuil suite sna limistéirí Gaeltachta.

Déantar soláthar £1,000 faoin bhFo-Mhírcheann seo chomh maith i leith seirbhísí tarchuir idir Oileán Cléire agus Dún na Séad. Is ar choth-abháil an bháid, ar leis an Roinn é, a chaithfear an t-airgead seo.

Níl aon athrú ó anuraidh ar an soláthar £48,000 i gcás an deontais £5 agus ní dóigh liom gur gá éinní speisialta a rá ina thaobh.

Déantar soláthar £10,000 faoi Fho-Mhírcheann H le cabhrú chun foir-gintí a thógáil, a shealbhú, a oiriúnú agus a fheistiú mar choláistí Gaeilge. Go dtí seo tá £12,053 caite ag an Roinn faoin scéim agus má leantar ar aghaidh leis na tograí atá beartaithe i gcóir na bliana seo caithfear an £10,000 atá á sholáthar sa mheas-tachán seo.

Tá suim £100,000 á cur ar fáil mar dheontas-i-gcabhair do Ghaeltarra Éireann arís i mbliana. Cuirtear an t-airgead seo ar fáil chun caiteachas reatha an Bhoird a shlánú, agus ní miste a rá go gcaitear é chun riaradh ar ghnóthaí de shaghas scéimeanna printíseachta agus tréineála agus forbartha agus, freisin, chun freastal ar aon uireasa a tharlaíonn sna gnáth-chúrsaí trádála.

Mar a foráltar san Acht is féidir airgead a chur ar fáil don Bhord ón bPríomh-Chiste le haghaidh cuspóirí caipitil agus sa bhliain seo caite cuireadh £30,000 ar fáil chuige sin. Ar ndóigh, aisíocann an Bord an t-airgead sin agus ús air. Ón uair a bunaíodh an Bord tugadh iomlán de £180,000 ar airleacan dó, agus tá an t-iomlán a bhí dlite go dtí deireadh Márta seo caite aisíoctha cheana, sé sin, £25,603 idir bun-airgead agus ús.

Níor foilsíodh cuntais an Bhoird don bhliain airgeadais seo caite go fóill ach tuigtear dom go dtáinig feabhas ar chúrsaí gnótha an Bhoird i gcaitheamh na bliana agus ar an bhfostaíocht sna tionscail atá á reach-táil acu. Leagfar Tuarascáil agus Cuntais an Bhoird faoi bhráid gach Tí den Oireachtas a luaithe is féidir agus beidh gach eolas faoi imeachtaí an Bhoird i rith na bliana seo caite le fáil iontu siúd.

Tugtar cabhair airgid faoi Fho-Mhírcheann L ar mhaithe leis an drámaíocht Ghaeilge. Tá an soláthar méadaithe i mbliana ó £3,500 go dtí £5,000 chun deontas reachtála £1,500 a chur ar fáil don Amharclann nua i nGaoth Dobhair. Tá cúnamh á thabhairt cheana do Thaibhdhearc na Gaillimhe agus do chumainn bheaga drámaíochta sna limistéirí Gaeltachta.

Baineann £25,000 den soláthar £40,000 faoi Fho-Mhírcheann M leis an scéim faoina dtugtar cúnamh do choistí áitiúla chun scoláireachtaí saoire sa Ghaeltacht a thabhairt do pháistí ó áiteanna lasmuigh den Ghaeltacht. Ó thosaigh an Roinn ag tabhairt cabhrach den sórt seo sa bhliain 1957, tá forás mór tagtha ar obair na gcoistí sin. Táthar tar éis na scéime a leathnú ó thaobh daltaí meánscoile dhe tríd an teorainn uasta aoise a ardú ó 14 bliana go dtí 18 bliana. Dá dhroim sin uile cuireadh 4,724 páistí ó 96 coistí áitiúla chun na Gaeltachta sa bhliain 1962/63 i gcomparáid le 333 páistí ó cheithre coistí sa bhliain 1957. D'íoc an Roinn deontais arbh fhiú £21,934 iad faoin scéim sa bhliain 1962/63. Deontas £5 a íocfar i leith gach páiste i mbliana.

Leasaíodh an scéim roinnt i mbliana d'fhonn líon na gcoistí áitiúla a mhéadú, dá mbéidir é. Meastar go bhfuil bua ar leith leis na coistí áitiúla sa mhéid go bhfuilid in ann súil a choimeád ar feadh na bliana uile ar na páistí a bheidh le cur chun na Gaeltachta nó a bheidh tar éis tréimhse a chaitheamh sa Ghaeltacht. Tugann sé sin deis dóibh léachtaí agus a leithéid a shocrú dóibh i dtreo go mbainfidh na páistí an tairbhe is mó is féidir as tréimhse sa Ghaeltacht nó nach gcaillfidh siad tairbhe na dtréimhsí a bheidh caite acu sa Ghaeltacht. Measaim nach mbeidh gluaiseacht seo na scoláir-eachtaí Gaeltachta socair ar an bhforas ceart go dtí go mbeidh coistí iontaofa áitiúla bunaithe ar fud na tíre uile. Is é beartas na Roinne bunú agus neartú na gcoistí sin a chur chun cinn ar gach bealach is féidir.

Tá san áireamh faoin bhFo-Mhírcheann seo freisin soláthar le haghaidh scéim faoina gcuirtear páistí chuig scoileanna Gaeltachta—gach páiste ar feadh téarma scoile amháin. Íocann an Roinn deontas nach mó ná £19 le haghaidh gach páiste—is é sin, tuairim leath an chostais—agus meastar go mbeidh timpeall £15,000 ag teastáil le haghaidh na scéime sin i mbliana. Cuireadh 455 páistí chun na Gaeltachta faoin scéim sin i rith na bliana 1962 agus d'íoc an Roinn suim £8,637 mar dheontas ina leith. Reachtáiltear an scéim seo i gcomhar le Gael Linn. Admhaítear go forleathan gur scéim an-tairbheach í agus ba mhaith liom an deis seo a ghlacadh le Gael Linn a mholadh as a fheabhas a rinne siad an scéim a eagrú agus a fheidhmiú.

Tá soláthar £1,000 á dhéanamh faoi Fho-Mhírcheann N i ndáil le scéim nua trína gcuirfear cúnamh airgid ar fáil do bhuachaillí as na limistéirí Gaeltachta a bheidh ag freastal ar chúrsaí printíseachta tamall ó bhaile. Tá ganntanas mór ceardaithe de bhunadh na Gaeltachta féin ar fud na limistéirí Gaeltachta. Féadfar a locht sin a chur ar a dheacra atá sé don ghnáth-bhuachaill sa Ghaeltacht deis a fháil cois baile chun cúrsa printíseachta a dhéanamh agus ar a chos-tasaí a bheadh sé air cúrsa a dhéanamh in aon áit eile. Ar an ábhar sin, tá socraithe ag an Roinn, i gcomhairle leis an Roinn Oideachais agus leis na Coistí Gairm-Oideachais sna contaethe Gaeltachta, go gcuirfear liúntaisí cothaithe ar fáil ar choinníollacha áirithe d'fhonn cabhrú le buachaillí Gaeltachta a mheidh orthu cónaí as baile i ndáil le cúrsa printíseachta. Liúntas nach rachaidh thar £100 a bheidh i gceist don chéad bhliain phrintíseachta agus £50, ar a mhéid, don dara bliain. Ní bheidh aon liúntas iníoctha i leith bliana i ndiaidh an dara bliain. Tá súil agam go rachaidh an scéim nua seo go mór chun tairbhe do bhuachaillí na Gaeltachta, agus ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghabháil leis na Coistí Gairm-Oideachais sna contaetha Gaeltachta mar gheall ar an gcúnamh mór atá á thabhairt acu in oibriú na scéime.

Le críoch a chur leis an ráiteas seo ba mhaith liom a rá go bhfuil an Roinn ag brath go mór ar Ranna eile Stáit, ar údaráis áitiúla agus ar chumainn deontacha chun na scéimeanna éagsúla a chur i gcrích. Tá an comhoibriú sin á fháil go fial ag an Roinn uathu agus tá mo bhuíochas féin agus buíochas mo Roinne tuillte acu uile. Beidh mé toilteanach i gcónaí aon mholtaí a thiocfaidh chugam agus a measfar a rachadh chun leasa don Ghaeilge agus don Ghaeltacht a bhreithniú chomh báúil agus is féidir é. I bhfeidhmiú scéimeanna na Roinne tugtar tús áite do na ceantair Fíor-Ghaeltachta agus do na daoine a labhrann an Ghaeilge de ghnáth agus a choinníonn beo bríomhar í mar theanga urlabhra. Is deimhin liom go dtiocfaidh an Dáil liom sa bheartas sin.

Mr. Dillon

We are all concerned with the welfare of this Department but I am bound to say that the Minister's account of it today is not a very exciting document. I remember with nostalgia the Connemara Scheme which I inaugurated when I was Minister for Agriculture and for which we had high hopes. In that plan we had great hopes of expanding production in a variety of directions in the Gaeltacht and associating with these plans effective plans for marketing the increased output. I cannot see any reference to such plans here, although I notice that there are proceeding in Glencolumbkille in West Donegal, projects on those lines in which intensive production on the small farms of that part of the Gaeltacht is being promoted and the Irish Sugar Company is providing a guaranteed outlet for the increased production.

I see here that Scéim na Muc is labouring along. I always believed, and still believe, that there is a very wide scope for the expansion of pig production in the Gaeltacht but the key to increased production is a guaranteed market. If you produce pigs in a remote part of the Gaeltacht, to get them to the factory can present a serious problem. I cannot imagine why the Minister, who was himself a director of the Castlebar Bacon Factory when out of office, and who is intimately associated with the problems of that factory and the difficulties they have traditionally had to get supplies adequate to keep themselves at maximum efficiency, does not see how urgently necessary it is, not only from the point of view of the Gaeltacht but from the point of view of a factory such as that, to bring the two elements together and get the pigs produced in the Gaeltacht and transported to the factories.

I remember at one stage we had a system under the Pigs and Bacon Board that if there were a glut at any particular fair, you got in touch with the Board and they sent buyers down who would mark the pigs with a stamp and the pigs were then brought to the factory and slaughtered and when weighed and graded, the vendor would get the price of his pig. If it was made known in Carna and every other small town in the Gaeltacht in different parts of Donegal and Kerry that people who brought pigs in on a particular day would be met by a lorry which would take the pigs to the factory and that the price would be sent back to them when the pigs were graded, if it were not practicable to pay for them by hand at the assembly point, the production of pigs in the Gaeltacht would be greatly stimulated. That is a form of production which can be almost indefinitely expanded without much regard to the actual acreage in the ownership of the producer. I believe on that head very considerable progress could be made in expanding production in the Gaeltacht.

I remember also under the Connemara Scheme that we had planned for widespread fertiliser operations on the mountains in the Gaeltacht in order to increase the sheep-grazing capacity. I understand that since then some scheme was operated in the Department of Agriculture to stripe and fence the mountains. That may simplify the problem of adequate fertilising of the mountain grazing. There are many great difficulties in getting it done. In my time, all these grazings were commonage and it was extraordinarily difficult to find any equitable basis under which it could be done, unless you were prepared to do it free, gratis and for nothing; otherwise, half the owners would make a contribution and the other half would not. Whether the striping of these commonages and the fencing would simplify that, I am not quite sure, but I am certain that if the mountain grazing of sheep in the Gaeltacht were effectively fertilised —it would have to be done from the air—you could increase the carrying capacity of those mountains by almost 50 to 100 per cent. Sooner or later it will be done. I do not see why we should not do it. The people in the Gaeltacht ought not to wait for someone to come from Germany or somewhere else but should do it themselves for the commercial advantage to be derived from it.

Sheep are a type of livestock singularly suited to the Gaeltacht. In our time, we now have the immense advantage that they yield a very valuable crop, not only in the lambs but in the wool. There was a time when the wool was practically not worth the trouble of shearing it. Now it is half the value of the sheep. I feel that pigs and sheep could make a very material contribution to the prosperity of the people living in the Gaeltacht, if proper marketing facilities were provided and if the carrying capacity of the mountains were expanded as I suggest.

I heartily congratulate the Department on the plan to enable children to spend a period in the Gaeltacht living in the people's homes. That is an admirable plan. It is one of the best ways of spreading a knowledge of the language and of preserving the language in the Gaeltacht itself.

I am not so enthusiastic about the building of motels and establishments of that kind. I believe that if you proceed on those lines, the probable result will be that the language will disappear altogether. Hostels are mentioned here and holiday chalets. I do not know what "holiday chalets" mean. Are they annexes to people's houses?

Mr. Moran

No.

Mr. Dillon

What is a holiday chalet?

Mr. Moran

An ordinary chalet, a separate construction that can be let to anybody.

Mr. Dillon

And they are rented out?

Mr. Moran

Yes.

Mr. Dillon

They are not like an additional room to an existing dwelling?

Mr. Moran

No.

Mr. Dillon

I am all in favour of the scheme under which children are facilitated to stay with families in the Gaeltacht. I believe it results in the children learning Irish. It means that the language of the home is left intact and it brings a very useful income into the home.

It is common practice to send children au pair to France or Germany and to receive a child back from France or Germany in a home here. Everyone knows it is the best way for a child to pick up a language. In so far as the Irish language is concerned, it has the added advantage that it brings a very welcome income into the homes of the people living in the Gaeltacht. It justifies them in the expense to which they go to improve their houses or to make their homes more acceptable and more alluring to the children who desire accommodation. It tends generally to raise the standard of accommodation throughout the Gaeltacht and that is excellent. I am all for that scheme.

Hostels and chalets I look upon with rather a jaundiced eye. What are they for? Are they simply for the purpose of bringing a miscellaneous tourist influx into the area? I doubt if many people will benefit in the area from the hostels and chalets. Why should we build hostels and chalets in the Gaeltacht? There are some excellent hotels there. People who want to go there as tourists can find hotel accommodation there and enjoy it. Why should we build hostels and chalets in the Gaeltacht any more than in Arklow and Rosslare? I do not understand the purpose of that scheme. If it is for the purpose of bringing in a miscellaneous horde of trippers, I do not think anybody would benefit from it, the people in the Gaeltacht, the language or the trippers.

In so far as we encourage children and students to live in the homes of the people as their paying guests, I think that is excellent and should be helped in every possible way. There is one interesting development here which I think is good and will give great service not only to the Gaeltacht but to the whole country. The Minister speaks of secondary schools in the Gaeltacht. That is excellent. Then he says:

As additional assistance to secondary school pupils in the Gaeltacht areas a scheme was introduced in 1961 under which annual grants of up to £500 per school are paid to help the school authorities in those areas to provide a transport service for their day-pupils. It was felt that the benefits of the scheme should be extended to Gaeltacht children who attend day courses in vocational schools and that has now been done.

That is a most excellent departure.

I suggest the Minister might set a headline for the whole country. I have been reading the proposals of the Minister for Education about his composite schools, and so on. I always believe that in rural Ireland the natural social unit is the parish. I think we are passing out of the period when there was any justification for the system of having a multitude of small inadequate schools scattered over a rural parish in Ireland.

Now that the Minister has decided to provide transport on this scale for secondary and vocational schools in the Gaeltacht parishes, he ought to urge on the Minister for Education that in certain parishes, as a pioneer scheme, we should invite the management to accept a scheme whereunder we could group together in one centre in the parish a primary school, a secondary school and, ideally, a technical school. Adequate transport should be provided to bring the children into all three types of school. Let us put an end to the inadequate one-teacher or two-teacher school located in a remote area in a futile effort to bring teaching facilities within walking distance of every house in the parish.

It would be much better to bring adequate teaching facilities within driving distance of every home in the parish and to go around, as they do in every parish in America, collecting all the children in the morning, bringing them to school, then collecting them in the afternoon and bringing them home. It is not necessary to bring them all to their own halldoor. There can be shelters of the simplest possible kind along the road at which the children can assemble at a pre-arranged hour, be collected and deposited at the national school, secondary school or technical school, as the case may be.

I suggest that if the Minister had an additional centre in that kind of parish, it would have a multiplicity of advantages. When you take the parochial primary school, the secondary and technical schools, between them there would be perhaps ten or 12 teachers serving these schools which creates an academic atmosphere and an exchange and interplay between the teachers in the various schools which is greatly to the advantage of the teacher. You can afford to instal all sorts of amenities in a central school of that kind, catering for all the children of the parish, which you cannot even contemplate if you are building seven or eight two-teacher schools in the same parish. The children have what seems to me the very material advantage that all the children from the one parish are all educated together in an atmosphere of parochial cohesion and association which I think is eminently desirable from the purely sociological aspect of the situation.

One is almost afraid to suggest the sort of amenities that might be made available and would be quite conceivable in a set-up of that kind. If you take a parish like Gortahork or a scattered parish like Clifden and had all the educational facilities in Clifden—or, take Carna and have all the educational facilities there—with buses bringing the children from all parts of the parish; if you had locally the primary, secondary and vocational schools catering for the whole parish and associated with them the entertainment hall which is mentioned here and for which a grant is available, you would have a valuable social centre in that area. Instead of the very primitive accommodation available elsewhere in the smaller schools, you could imagine very comprehensive and adequate sanitary accommodation and playing facilities and perhaps swimming pools.

An odd thing is that even though children are living at the seashore, very often swimming in a pool has much more attraction for them than swimming in the sea. To most of us who live in cities and towns it seems grotesque that if you go to the seashore you should go to a swimming pool when you have the whole Atlantic Ocean to go to. But that is the way with children. They can have diving boards and games of one kind or another which do not appeal to adults and which are not possible in the sea but which are quite easily provided in pools.

I have often been astonished when bringing my own family to the seaside, to find my son, when he was a child, and his friends heading off to the swimming pool rather than going to the sea where I thought they would naturally enjoy themselves more.

I believe, if the Minister showed an example of this kind in the Gaeltacht and demonstrated how useful it would be, that it would spread all over the country to the great advantage of the country as a whole. He might be able to show the Minister for Education that the plan he was prepared to sponsor in the Gaeltacht was an effective means of making truly available to all the children of the parish the best we had to offer in primary, secondary and vocational education. I think it tremendously important, if we are to do that, that we should make it available to them all. It is a terrible hardship to accept the philosophy of the Minister for Education that in the general question of education the best can be the enemy of the good. I think it is utterly wrong to say that we are setting out on a programme which is designed to provide what I would regard as the minimum educational facilities for certain areas and deny them to others. Why not set out on a programme to say that in every parish in Ireland we propose to organise educational facilities so as to ensure that the best we have to offer in primary, secondary and vocational education will be available to every child in the parish?

The Minister has an opportunity in the Gaeltacht as part of the Gaeltacht scheme, to set out as his objective that there shall be in every parish in the Gaeltacht effectively accessible to every child the best we have to offer in education, primary, secondary and vocational. It can be done, but to do it, you must have transport and you must have one centre, but how could we better spend money in the Gaeltacht; how could the Minister better discharge his duties as Minister for the Gaeltacht than if he had it to say: "I embarked on a programme the ultimate end of which is effectively to make available to every child in every parish in the Gaeltacht the best we can offer in primary, secondary and vocational education?" I suggest that by a very slight adaptation of the plans he has already in hands, he could do not only great service to the Gaeltacht but to the country as a whole.

I have already mentioned my admiration for the holiday scholarship scheme in the Gaeltacht. Those are the right lines on which to proceed. I should like to hear in greater detail from the Minister about the hostel and chalet scheme because I do not understand that. But in so far as I can grasp it, it seems to have relatively little to recommend it. I think all I have said about bringing children to the Gaeltacht relates to what the Minister had to say on pages 7 and 8 of his speech as contained in the document which he was kind enough to circulate for our perusal. I should like him to know, as I am sure he is aware, that he has the best wishes of everybody in the House for the success of the Gaeltacht administration and the Department. I do not underestimate the difficulties they have to face but they must be venturesome, as we say in the west. I urge the Minister never to allow his Department to sink to a pedestrian approach to the problems of the Gaeltacht. There is no greater treasure in our keeping than the language. Preservation of the Gaeltacht is a matter of the greatest difficulty and delicacy and there is no more fatal approach to it than the attempt to turn the Fíor-Ghael-tacht into a kind of museum and give the people the impression that the concern of the Oireachtas is to imprison them in the Gaeltacht and leave them there for ever more.

On the contrary, our whole approach should be to convince the people that they have in their keeping an inestimable treasure for which the rest of us are deeply indebted to them and we are prepared, far from turning them into museum pieces, to make the Gaeltacht an example which the whole country will ultimately follow. I suggest that in the educational sphere the Minister has a very special opportunity to do just that. Also, in regard to the intensive user of small farms the Minister has a great opportunity. I wish the enterprise launched at Glencolumb-kille every success and trust it will be all it is promised to be but I am not sufficiently experienced in matters of horticultural production to pronounce for or against it.

I am certain there is great scope in the Gaeltacht area for the expansion of pig and sheep production. I believe the expansion of pig production is indissolubly linked with permanent and effective marketing, which is eminently practicable for the Department of the Gaeltacht. I believe the expansion of sheep is very largely dependent on the ability of the Department of the Gaeltacht, in consultation with the Department of Agriculture, effectively to fertilise the hill grazing.

I do not think I could conclude without echoing the Minister's tribute to Gael Linn. I am a passionate believer in the value of voluntary effort. I am perfectly certain the schemes to which Gael Linn have put their hands in the Gaeltacht are of incalculable value. The more independent Gael Linn is, the better it will function. But I am glad the Minister has availed of his statement to pay a tribute to its work. I would like to be associated with that tribute so that Gael Linn and all who work for it may know their activities are watched from this House with attention and admiration. While we appreciate their desire, and endorse it, to remain independent, fully flexible and free, they should always feel that if at any time they wish to turn to the Oireachtas for assistance and encouragement, they can be assured it will always be available from every side of the House.

Mr. Geoghegan

Molaim an tAire as ucht an Mheastacháin seo.

Mr. Dillon

Sin é é i gcómhnaí—"molaim".

Mr. Geoghegan

Ní mholaim cuid de na rudaí adúirt an Teachta. Chuir sé áthas orm a chloisint faoin deontas le haghaidh feabhsú an phiara i gCill Rónáin in Oileán Árainn. Bhí sé sin de dhíth, go mór mhór mar gheall ar an méid bád a thagann isteach is a théann amach ón gcladach ansin. Mar a bhí sé, ní rabhthas in ann fanacht ansin ar chor ar bith oíche stoirmiúil. Maidir leis na deontaisí tithe, go dtí le goirid bhí moill mhór ar na deon-taisí seo i nGaeltacht Chonamara, ach creidim go bhfuil feabhas tagtha ar an cheist anois agus nach fada nó go mbeidh deireadh leis an mhoill. Go deimhin, tig liom a rá go bhfuil sé beagnach socraithe cheana féin. Go dtí seo, bhí ar iarrathóirí fanacht chomh fada le sé mí sul a bhfuaradar freagra fiú amháin. B'fhéidir go raibh cuid aca sásta fanacht mar sin, ach bhí mí-fhoidhne ar a lán aca.

Molaim freisin scéim dheontas na mbóthar sa Ghaeltacht. Tá feabhas mór tagtha ar na bóithre aon áit a bhfuil na deontaisí le fáil. Tá súil agam nach mbeidh aon mhoill sa cheist as seo amach.

Rinne an tAire tagairt dona tithe gloine i gConamara agus i dTúr Mhic Éide a briseadh le linn stoirme cúpla bliain ó shoin, agus tá áthas mór orm go bhfuil an cheist seo socraithe faoi dheireadh agus go mbeidh deis curtha ar na tithe gloine seo. Bhí droch-chaoi ar na tithe seo tar éis na stoirme agus is sásamh mór do na daoine sna h-áiteanna sin go bhfuil deisiú dhá chur ortha.

Bhí scoil amháin i ngach paróiste ag teastáil ón Teachta Ó Diolún. Do mhol sé go mbeadh córas iompair le fáil ag chuile ghasúr go dtí an scoil sin ó gach áird den pharóiste. Cibé scéim atá ar intinn ag an Aire, ní cheapaim go mbeidh sé in ann é sin a dhéanamh. Tá paróistí ann a bhfuil 25 míle ar leithead agus 20 míle ar fhaid, agus níl a fhios agam conas a bheadh sé in ann na gasúir a thabhairt go dtí an scoil i bparóiste den tsaghas sin. Is dóigh liom go bhfuil an scéal níos fearr mar atá sé anois—scoil anseo agus ansiúd ar fud an pharóiste agus beirt mhúinteoir ar a laghad i ngach ceann díobh. Go mór mhór, bheadh sé níos fearr do na gasúir. Ar aon nós, molaim an Meastachán agus molaim an tAire agus a chuid oifigeach.

Mr. Jones

Deir an tAire in a ráiteas:

I bhfeidhmiú scéimeanna na Roinne tugtar tús áite do na ceantair Fíor-Ghaeltachta agus do na daoine a labhrann an Ghaeilge de ghnáth agus a choinníonn beo bríomhair í mar theanga urlabhra.

An é dearcadh na Roinne nach mbraitheann aithbheochaint na teanga mar ghná theanga ar aon limistéir, ach ar na háiteanna ina ndéantar úsáid den teanga mar ghná theanga i gcúrsaí an lae? In mo cheantar féin in iarthar Luimneach le blianta anuas tá an Ghaeilge dá húsáid mar ghná-theanga ach níl Gaeltacht curtha ar bun ann. Tá scéimeanna ag an Roinn Talmhaíochta agus ag Coimisiún na Talún chun teaghlaigh ó Ghaeltacht Chonamara agus Chiarraí a thabhairt go dtí Contae na Midhe, agus bunaíodh ansin limistéar ar a tugadh Gaeltacht air. Tá le tuiscint againn ón méid sin gur Gaeltacht í áit ina bhfuil na daoine ag úsáid na teanga mar ghnáth-urlabhra.

Sé tá ag cur as do na daoine in iarthar Luimneach nach dtuigeann siad cad chuige nach bhfaghann siad an chabhair chéanna as ucht an obair dhian a chuireadar isteach le blianta anuas le feabhas a chur ar an nGaeilge agus chun an teanga a thabhairt thar n-ais mar ghnáth-urlabhra, go háirithe faoi chúram Arus Íde Naofa. Cén fáth nach bhfuil an chabhair chéanna le fáil acu siúd atá dhá fáil ag daoine i limistéirí eile? Goilleann sé sin go mór ar an dtinreamh ar na scoileanna sin, ar an líon dalta i rith an tsamh-raidh.

Bunaíodh na scoileanna seo chun seans a thabhairt do dhaltaí óga agus araoile le teacht le chéile chun an Ghaeilge a chleachtadh ar gach slí agus ansan í a labhairt ar pháirc na h-imeartha, ag dul ag snámh dóibh nó ag freastal ar chéilithe agus cuir-meacha cheoil. I rith an tréimhse sin bíonn oidí i mbun na leanaí agus cabh-raíonn siad ar gach slí leo agus féachann siad chuige gurab í an Ghaeilge a bhíonn dhá h-úsáid i gcónaí aca.

Anois tá cumainn ann go bhfuil deagh-obair á déanamh aca ar son na Gaeilge—cuir i gcás, Gael Linn agus Coiste na bPáistí. Cuireann na cumainn sin agus Cumann Lúith-Chleas Gaedheal scoláireachtaí ar fáil do pháistí. Fé scéim atá i réim fé láthair tá £5 sa bhreis le fáil ag páiste a théann don Ghaeltacht gur Gaeltacht é ó thaobh limistéir geograife dhe ach níl an deontas sin le fáil maidir le páiste a théann chuig scoil fé stiúradh Aras Íde. Mar sin, tá laghdú ag teacht ar an méid páistí a théann ansin. Tugann Cumann Lúith-Chleas Gaedheal £2 le h-aghaidh mí a chaitheann an leanbh sa Ghaeltacht ach ós rud é go bhfuil deontas £5 dhá fháil ó Roinn na Gaeltachta maidir le páiste a théann go dtí an Ghaeltacht ní h-íonadh é go dtéann na páistí treasna na Sionainne nó go dtí Baile Mhúirne, nó don Daingean nó áit eile mar sin. Nílim ag fáil locht ar an méid atá á dhéanamh ach fé mar a chítear dom, ní Cothrom na Féinne é dona daoine atá ag obair ar son na teangan chomh dúthrachtach is atá siad le blianta anuas.

Bhíos ag caint leis an Aire an bhliain so caite agus chuireas an cheist seo faoina bhráid. B'fhéidir nach féidir aon rud a dhéanamh fé láthair ach cuirim ós cóir an Aire arís é i mbliana le súil go n-abrófar rud éigin mar gheall air i dtuarascáil Choimisiún na Gaeilge atá beagnach réidh anois. Sílim go bhfuil sé réidh ach nach bhfuil sé aistrithe b'fhéidir. Tá súil agam go molfaidh an Coimisiún go mba chóir an deontas céanna a thúirt d'aon dream atá ag obair ar son na teangan pé áit sa tír ina bhfuilid ag obair. Dá ndeintí é sin bheadh tairbhe níos fearr le fáil maidir leis an dteangain.

Is oth liomsa agus is oth lena lán daoine nach bhfuil úsáid na teangan chómh bríomhar agus chómh leathan ar fuair na tíre agus by chóir agus nach ag dul i méid atá Gaeltachta na tíre. Is léir gur ag dul i laghad atá an Ghaeltacht ó thaobh na daoine óga atá in ann slí maireachtála d'fháil ann. Dá bhrí sin, aon rud is féidir leis an Aire a dhéanamh chun cabhair a thúirt do dhreamanna atá ag obair ar son na teangan, pé áit sa tír ina bhfuilid, ba chóir dó é a dhéanamh. Má tugtar cabhair dóibh beidh buntáiste an-mhór le fáil maidir le sábháil na teangan agus a leathnú ar fuair na tíre.

Rinne an tAire tagairt d'imeachtaí cultúra. Iarraim ar an Aire an chabhair chéanna a thabhairt do dhaoine atá ag obair in aon áit sa tír chun feiseanna agus imeachtaí den tsaghas sin a bhunú a tugtar dóibh siúd atá ag obair i limi-stéirí Gaeltachta. Má deintear é sin beidh níos mó measa ar ghluaiseachtaí den tsort seo. Bheadh spiorad níos fearr ann dá dtuigfeadh na daoine atá i bhfeighil gluaiseachtaí den chineál sin go bhfuil an Roinn toilteanach roint airgid a thabhairt dóibh chun cabhrú leo.

Bhí tráth ann nuair a bhí feiseanna go flúirseach ar fuaid na tíre ach is beag áit anois ina gcuirtear ar siúl mar ghnáth-rud i saol na ndaoine. Tá fleadhanna ceoil ann gan dabht agus is maith an rud é sin. Tá súil agam nach fíor cuid de na rudaí a chloistear anois a bhíonn ar siúl ag fleadhanna ceoil seachas cultúr na Gaeilge.

Mr. Moran

Fleadh speisialta a bhí san Muileann Cearr.

Mr. Jones

Tá súil agam go mbeidh a mhalairt de scéal i n-áiteacha eile ar fuaid na tíre. B'fhéidir go raibh an iomad cainte agus nach raibh an scéal chomh h-olc agus a deirtear. Más mian linn an Ghaeilge a shábháil, tá dhá ruda le déanamh—labhairt na teangan mar ghnáth-chaint na ndaoine a spreagadh in áit a bhfuil Gaeltacht ann, beag nó mór, ina bhfuil daoine atá toilteanach í a h-úsáid mar ghnáth-theangain agus an tarna rud, an Ghaeltacht féin a shábháil. Brathann sé sin ar shlí maireachtála a thabhairt dona daoine sa Ghaeltacht, Tá a lán cainte á déanamh maidir leis na deacrachtaí a bhaineann leis sin, Bhí cruinniú ar siúl i n-Iarthar na hÉireann mar ar pléadh an cheist seo. Tá a lán daoine nach bhfuil sásta leis an scéal mar atá sé fé láthair i n-Iarthar na tíre agus sa Ghaeltacht. Más mian linn go bhfanfadh na daoine sa Ghaeltacht tá níos mó le déanamh againn seachas na scéimeanna atá ann faoi Roinn na Gaeltachta dá fheabhas iad. Sé an chúis is mó go bhfuil laghdú ag teacht ar líon na Gaeltachta nach bhfuil an t-aos óg toilteanach fanúint ann má cheapann siad go bhfuil saol níos sonnasaí ar fáil i n-áiteacha eile. Sin é an rud is mó a chuireann isteach ar cheist na Gaeltachta.

Iarraim arís ar an Aire an chabhair chéanna a thabhairt do dhaoine atá ag obair ar son na teangan pé áit ina bhfuil siad ag obair ós rud é go bhfuil siad ag spreagadh an aosa óig chun an Ghaeilge a labhairt.

Mr. Moran

Tá mé faoi chomaoin ag na Teachtaí a bhí ag caint ar an Meastachán seo as ucht an éisteacht a fuair mé faoina scéimeanna éagsúla atá á stiúrú ag Roinn na Gaeltachta. I gcoitinne, bíonn na Teachtaí báidhiúil as na scéimeanna uilig atá ar siúl faoin Roinn agus is maith an rud é sin toisc go bhfuil cabhair gach duine sa Teach ag teastáil chun an teanga a chur chun cinn agus an Ghaeltacht a choimeád beo. Cé go bhfuil dul ar aghaidh á dhéanamh ag an Roinn, ní féidir a rá go bhfuil an Ghaeltacht ná an Ghaeilge sábháilte go fóill. Is obair dheacair, fhada í seo agus beidh cabhair gach éinne ag teastáil.

Is eol dom go bhfuil Coimisiún ag plé le ceist athbheochan na Gaeilge le tamall maith agus tuigtear dom go mbeidh tuarascáil ag teacht uatha go luath. Beidh sé de chúram ar Roinn na Gaeltachta an tuarascáil sin a scrúdú i rith na bliana agus tá súil agam go mbeidh ar mo chumas tairiscintí in a leith a thabhairt isteach sa Dáil i mbliana.

Beidh suim fé leith ag na Teachtaí a thagann as na Gaeltachta treasna na tíre ins an tuarascáil seo agus, ar ndóigh, ag na daoine uilig atá suim aca san Ghaeltacht agus ins an teangain, agus táimid go léir ag súil leis an dtuarascáil seo a fheiceál. Sílim go ndearna an Coimisiún seo staidéar speisialta faoin Ghaeltacht agus na deacrachtaí atá san Ghaeltacht ón taobh econamaíochta dhe agus uile. Táimíd uilig ag brath ar an dtuarascáil seo chun a fheiceál an féidir linn tada eile a dhéanamh chun cúnamh a thabhairt do mhuintir na Gaeltachta. Tá a fhios ag gach duine anois an tábhacht atá ag baint leis an Gaeltacht ó thaobh an náisiúin agus táim cinnte go mbeidh gach Teachta toilteanach aon chabhair is féidir a thabhairt chun aon tógraí a thagas ón Choimisiún seo a chur i bhfeidhm agus a chur chun cinn.

Sílim go bhfuil mí-thuiscint ar an Teachta Ó Diolún i dtaobh cuid desna scéimeanna atá á riaradh faoin Roinn agus tiubhraidh mé aon eolas atá agam faoina rudaí sin go bhfuil mí-thuiscint ag an Teachta in a dtaobh. Ach, ar dtús, chuala mé go bhfuil spéis fé leith ag an Teachta Mac Eoin san obair ar son na Gaeilge atá á déanamh ag Cumann Arus Íde in iarthar Luimní. Is mór agam freisin an obair atá ar siúl ag na daoine dúthrachta sin ach ní ceist domsa mar Aire na Gaeltachta sin. Ní cuid desna limistéirí Gaeltachta na háiteacha atá i gceist aige. Aontaím leis, ámh, san méid a dúirt sé agus tá siúl agam go mbeidh ar mo chumas an cheist a scrúdú a thuille nuair a bheidh tuarascáil an Choimisiúin ar fáil. Tá súil agam go mbeidh an tuarascáil sin agam i gceann cupla seachtaine nó i gceann míosa agus is dócha go mbeidh an tuarascáil seo cló-bhuailte agus ag an pobal i gceann míosa nó mar sin.

Deputy Dillon seems to be under a misapprehension about the reasons for the provision of hostels or chalets under Roinn na Gaeltachta. The purpose of the hostels, of course, has been fundamentally educational, to make provision for students in the Gaeltacht. It may relieve whatever apprehension the Deputy may have when I tell him that there is one of these hostels in Galway used by the Carna nuns in connection with their secondary school. They use this hostel to accommodate students attending Irish courses in the summer and to accommodate secondary students during the remainder of the year. There are two in Cork also to accommodate students attending Irish colleges there and there is one being operated in Kerry which is owned by Gael Linn, and that is also for the purpose of students attending the Gaeltacht to learn Irish. The idea of providing these hostels has been solely for the purpose of accommodating students who go to the Gaeltacht to learn Irish or to perfect their knowledge of the language and that is the purpose of the grants under this scheme.

The purpose of providing chalets is a different one again. The provision of chalets for the people in the Gaeltacht was, one, for the purpose of increasing the income of the individual owner of the chalet and, two, to provide much-needed accommodation in the Gaeltacht for a family, a father and mother and their children, to go there and learn the Irish language or to perfect their knowledge of it. Some of these Gaeltacht areas have one asset, and one asset only; they are near the sea and, in some cases, they have very pretty scenery; otherwise, they are in very isolated regions. It is not correct to state, as Deputy Dillon seems to think, that there is plenty of hotel accommodation. Even where there is, it is out of the economic reach for the most part of the ordinary man in the street. In these days parents are anxious to spend their holidays in the Gaeltacht to give their children an opportunity of absorbing the atmosphere of the Gaeltacht and acquiring a blas.

I expected the chalet scheme to make greater strides; I had thought it would be more widely availed of. Those that have been erected have proved a tremendous addition to the incomes of those concerned. I hope to bring home the benefits of this scheme more forcibly to those who have been so far slow to avail of it. In addition to the rents, there is also a potential market for the output of the small farmer since those occupying the chalets need fuel, vegetables, milk and so on. It is not contemplated that these chalets should provide an attraction for the foreign tourist. The idea is to fill a gap. I have had several inquiries since I became concerned from people who have assured me they would be most anxious to go to the Gaeltacht for their holidays but are prevented from doing so because of lack of accommodation. It is to fill that gap this scheme was devised.

There is another scheme under which people get special help to add an extra room or make extra accommodation available for those who go to the Gaeltacht under the different schemes to which I referred earlier. There is need for more accommodation in the form of chalets and my only regret is that people have been so slow in availing of the very generous grant provisions. May I say that I find the people in the Gaeltacht areas not good at catching on to new ideas unless there is some progressive local leader, such as the local priest, teacher, or some such person. Their lack of initiative militates against them and against the development we should all like to see in the Gaeltacht. I hope the stiúir-theoirí working in these areas now will succeed in arousing the people to the advantages that are there for them and that we shall see in the future greater results and much quicker development than has been the case so far.

Mr. Dillon

Is there any standard accommodation laid down for these chalets?

Mr. Moran

There is a special plan and any variation from that must be approved by my Department.

Deputy Dillon welcomed our efforts towards providing secondary education for children in isolated Gaeltacht areas. This started as a pilot scheme and we have been extending it all the time. I subscribe to the view that there is nothing more important than education for the advancement of the people in these areas. Because of their isolated locations, children were left without any hope of secondary education, unless parents were fortunate enough to be able to send children outside. As everybody knows, most of the people are very poor. The land is the poorest in the country. Because of the isolation factor, it is nearly impossible to induce industry into these areas. Special treatment in the line of educational facilities and scholarships is most important. We have made a start. We hope to intensify our efforts in the future.

Some matters may have been mentioned with which I have not dealt in my reply. I shall, of course, read the debate and any points that have not been dealt with will be specifically pursued. The general position is that the new schemes introduced have been achieving reasonable success. In their own way, they have brought considerable benefit to the people of the Gaeltacht. With a little more encouragement, I think the people will take better advantage of these schemes.

Finally, I am grateful to the House for the favourable way in which they invariably treat the Estimate for this particular branch of my responsibility.

Vote put and agreed to.

Progress reported; Committee to sit again.