Vol. 475 No. 3
8 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht the number of visits he has paid to the Ring Gaeltacht since he became Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht; and the plans, if any, he has to visit it in the near future. [4698/97]
Thug mé cuairt ar Ghaeltacht na Rinne i gContae Phort Láirge ar 14 Aibreán 1994 nuair a d'oscail mé an leathnúchán ar Choláiste na Rinne.
Was that the Minister's only visit to the Ring Gaeltacht in the past four years as Minister?
I do not want to mislead the House, a Cheann Comhairle. I think I was at a wedding as well.
Is the Minister aware this is the most easterly of the native Gaeltachtaí, and that it is a very vibrant Gaeltacht? Is he aware there has been a drop in the number of manufacturing jobs there in recent years? Has he any plans to redress that situation?
We are having quite an extension of the subject matter. This is the responsibility of another Minister.
Has the Minister any input where the provision of Gaeltacht jobs is concerned?
The Minister of State will soon visit the Ring Gaeltacht and we will discuss the social and economic situation there with muintir na háite and interested groups. If an opportunity presents itself for me to visit Ring, I will be delighted to do so. There are many places I would visit but for the fact that I have been so busy with the exciting progress we are making in so many different areas of the Department.
Of all the Gaeltachtaí, the Minister will not visit a more exciting Gaeltacht than Ring. If the Minister wants a good time, if he wants to be entertained, and if he wants to promote it, he should visit it more often.
