asked the Minister for Finance if he has concluded his investigation of the existing condition of island dwellers; and, if so, if he will indicate the result.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Conditions of Island Dwellers.
3.
The conditions on inhabited islands were investigated by an inter-departmental committee as a result of which the Government approved, in August, 1961, of various measures, particulars of which were given in my reply to a question tabled by the Deputy on 6th December, 1961. Since then, the Gaeltacht bottled gas scheme has been extended to non-Gaeltacht islands which have little prospect of getting electricity; telephone facilities will be available shortly on four additional islands namely Inishmeane, County Donegal, Achillbeg, County Mayo, Inishturk, County Galway and Long Island, County Cork. Exchequer aid has been made available to extend the quay at Kilronan on Inishmore in the Aran Islands and improvements in landing facilities at other islands are under consideration; more help is being given for island roads; State scholarships have been made available for children in certain Gaeltacht islands; and local authorities have been asked to pay particular attention to island housing.
Will the Minister not agree now that it is five years since he said in this House that we should sit down and have a look at Gaeltacht problems? It appears from his answer that he has not completed his examination. Would he not agree that one of the main difficulties confronting the smallholders on the islands is that they have to sell their butter at 2/6d. per lb. which, the Minister will agree, is an entirely uneconomic price and, if so, would he not accept the assertion of the island holders that they are entitled to some subsidy on their production of milk and butter on the islands?
That consideration has not come before me in regard to milk production on the islands but I was referring the Deputy back to the reply given in August, 1961 and I went through all the items that were promised at that time to show that most of them have now been implemented or, are about to be implemented.
Would the Minister not agree that his colleague, the Minister for Agriculture, has indicated that the subsidisation of the dairy industry has cost the Exchequer more than £6 million, while the island small-holders have not benefited by one penny from that sum? Surely the small farmers on the islands are entitled to something more than the uneconomic price of 2/6d. per lb. for butter and are entitled to some share of the money devoted to subsidisation of the dairy industry by this House?
That particular point has not been put before me in regard to the milk production.
I shall be quite satisfied if the Minister considers that point in conjunction with the Minister for Agriculture. Will the Minister give consideration to that point?
Yes, I shall look into it.