asked the Minister for Communications if he has considered a pilot scheme for the establishment of Telefís na Gaeltachta by RTE; and if he will indicate the cost of this proposal.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Telefís na Gaeltachta Proposal.
3.
The Minister for the Gaeltacht has established a working group, representative of the Departments of the Gaeltachta and Communications and of Bord na Gaeilge and RTE to examine various aspects of Irish language television broadcasting including the technical, financial, programming and other implications of providing an all Irish language television service. Pending receipt of the working group's report — which is expected early in the new year — it would be premature to consider a proposal of the kind suggested by the Deputy.
Would the Minister accept that television can have a major influence on the future of the Irish language and that unless a proper balance is obtained it will be impossible to maintain the use of the language at is present level, particularly in the Gaeltachts where at present all they get are programmes which are mainly in English and which have a very bad effect on the use of the language in those areas?
Like the Deputy, I am a great believer in the power of television as regards language, politics and so on. It is an all powerful medium in these respects. I do not think that the print media can compare with it. I fully accept what the Deputy says. RTE's current policy in relation to Irish language programming was set out in Bord na Gaeilge's action plan. The aim is the provision of 20 per cent of home produced programmes in Irish. The siting of the television studio near one of the Gaeltacht areas would be covered by Galway in so far as it could be classed, while being a satellite station, as being a television facility, at least. The objectives of increased resources to meet increased hours of broadcasting of Radio na Gaeltachta, the equipment of researchers and programme staff who have facility in the Irish language, the effecting of an increase in the use of the Irish language in RTE through bilingualism and avoidance of dumping of imported programmes have been met in part but certainly the 20 per cent targeted programmes in Irish has not been met.
Would the Minister indicate if he is a member of this group or if his Department official is involved?
It is the departmental official who is involved. I certainly am not represented. There is no public representative, as such, involved. In so far as I know, it is exclusively a departmental matter.
A final supplementary.
Would the Minister accept that the Bord na Gaeilge recommendation was initiated in 1983 and that in the four year programme they mentioned the use of more Irish on television? We are now well into 1986 and the four year programme has ceased. Would the Minister accept that it is rather late in the day to get committees together to work on a recommendation made in 1983?
I am happy that it is being tackled by this group. The Deputy will be very well aware that there is a notoriously difficult situation as far as the language is concerned. Whether we like it or not, unfortunately programmes in the Irish language do not attract a high viewing audience as other programmes and this is what affects advertising. It is a very big problem and I hope that the group will be able to come up with a satisfactory solution.
Commercial considerations.