Táim buíoch díot as ucht an t-am a thabhairt dom chun an t-ábhar seo a phlé agus táim buioch den Aire Stáit a tháinig anseo chun freagra a thabhairt. Tá fhios agam go bhfuil eolas ag an Aire Stáit ar Bhéal Átha an Ghaorthaidh atá i lár Ghaeltacht Mhúscraí. Tá suim mhór ag muintir na háite sa Ghaeilge agus tá Coláiste na Mumhan — an chéad choláiste Gaeilge in Éirinn i lár an bhaile. Is í an fhadhb ná go bhfuil réamhmhonarcha folamh le blianta fada anuas agus tá an-chuid daoine ón gceantar taréis imeacht go dtí bailte móra timpeall na háite cosúil le Magh Chromtha agus Beanntraí agus go dtí bailte móra ar nós Corcaigh agus Baile Átha Cliath chomh maith. Tá siad imithe chomh maith go Sasana agus go dtí áiteanna eile ar fud an domhain ag lorg obair. Ach caithfimid obair a chur ar fáil i mBéal Átha an Ghaorthaidh féin agus dá bhrí sin bhéinn buíoch den Aire dá mbeadh sé in ann airgead nó cabhair éigin a thabhairt d'Údarás na Gaeltachta chun tionscal éigin a chur isteach sa réamhmhonarcha.
I am grateful for the opportunity to raise this subject and I am particularly pleased that the Minister is here to reply.
Ballingeary is the heart of the Muskerry Gaeltacht in my constituency. Situated in the village is the first all-Irish college established in the State to which pupils come from all over the country. I am sure many people in this House learnt Irish there in the past.
There is a great interest in the language in the area but, unfortunately, all too many of the younger people in the locality are forced to leave Ballingeary in search of employment. Many of them are fortunate to have found employment in relatively nearby larger towns like Macroom and Bantry. Some have found employment in the Gaeltacht area of Ballyvourney where there has been considerable success in attracting industry.
I would like the Minister to investigate with Údarás na Gaeltachta the reasons it has proved particularly difficult over many years to secure an industry for this vacant advance factory. If the Irish language is to have a future in the locality we have to provide employment opportunities for the young people of the area. Unfortunately and regrettably all too many of them have been forced to emigrate in recent years. A large number of them would be anxious to return to Ballingeary if suitable employment was available in the locality. I would be grateful for any assistance the Minister can give to Údarás na Gaeltachta which has been working diligently in this area in recent years.
I accept also that there is a problem in Ballingeary relative to the other industrial sites in the Muskerry Gaeltacht, because the infrastructure is not as good. Ballyvourney is located on a national primary route whereas Ballingeary is on a poor secondary road. That is a disadvantage, but in an age of high-tech industries it is not necessary to have national primary routes in every location to attract industry. I am sure there are industries which would be particularly suited to areas like Ballingeary if we could muster sufficient energy over a concerted period to show the area off to prospective industrialists.
I would be grateful for any assistance the Minister can give in this regard.