Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 30 Apr 1946

Vol. 100 No. 16

Committee on Finance. - Vote 54—Gaeltacht Services.

An tAire Tailte (Seán Ó Maoláin)

Tairgim:—

Go ndeontar suim ná raghaidh thar £4,640 chun slánaithe na suime is gá chun íoctha an Mhuirir a thiocías chun bheith iníoctha i rith na bliana dar críoch an 31ú lá de Mhárta, 1947, chun Tuarastal agus Costas i dtaobh Seirbhísí na Gaeltachta, ar a n-'áiritear Deontais um Thógáil Tithe agus Bréidíní Baile do cheannach agus do dhíol.

That a sum not exceeding £4,640 be granted to complete the sum necessary to defray the Charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending the 31st day of March, 1947, for Salaries and Expenses in connection with Gaeltacht Services, including Housing Grants and the purchase and sale of Homespuns.

Tá £2,680 níos mó ná mar a hiarradh anuraidh á iarraidh sa mheastachán so. Is mó de £4,303 an caiteachas iomlán a bhfuil soláthar á dhéanamh dó agus is mó de £21,623 na fáltais a meastar a gheofar. Ní thaspánann an meastachán aon laghdaithe taobh amuigh de na mírchinn a bhaineas le Sníomhachán agus Bréidín Baile.

Tá £1,100 de mhéadú ar chostas an Cheann-Ionaid, agus sé is mó faoi ndear é sin ná costas breise an bhónais agus gnáth bhreisithe ar thuarastail. Tá sa tsoláthar tuairim is £3,400 a bhaineas le foirinn atá ar iasacht ag Ranna eile Rialtais.

Tá £1,886 de mhéadú ar thuarastail na dTionnscal Tuaithe faoi mhírcheann D (1) toisc soláthar a bheith á dhéanamh do phostanna mar Mhaoirseoirí Bréidín Baile agus mar Mhaor Cumrathóra. Baineann na méadaithe beaga faoi mhírchinn D (2) agus D (3) le costas breise an bhónais éigeandála.

Tá £100 de mhéadú sa tsoláthar do chostais taistil faoi mhírcheann D (4). Sé faoi ndear an méadú de £3,410 faoi mhírcheann D (5) ná soláthar atá á dhéanamh chun maisíní nua agus áiseanna do mhaisíní chur ar fáil don Tionnscail Cniotála. Níl ach roinnt bheag á háireamh sa tsoláthar don ghléasra a bheas ag teastáil do na planndaí sníomhacháin agus snasála i gCill Chártha. Loirgeofar tuille soláthair dóibh más gá é. Ní rabhmar in ann na maisíní sa Tionnscal Cniotála a choimeád i gcóir cheart le linn an chogaidh agus sin é faoi ndear an soláthar bheith chomh mór anois.

Soláthraítear abhair do na Tionnscail Tuaithe faoi na mírchinn D (6), D (8), D (9) agus D (11). Taspánann na mírchinn sin le chéile go bhfuil £13,175 de mhéadú sa tsoláthar atá á dhéanamh. Tá méadaithe ar gach mírcheann taobh amuigh den mhírcheann do Shníomhachán, agus sé faoi ndear an laghdú Shníomhachán ná athmheas a deineadh ar chumas na bplanndaí a bheidh á n-oibriú.

Tá £8,184 de laghdú sa tsoláthar do Bhréidín Baile faoi mhírcheann D. 10. Nílimid ag soláthar don oiread slat i mbliana agus dar soláthraíodh anuraidh agus sin é faoi ndear an laghdú. Táimid ag cur chun an tionnscal seo a fheabhsú anois agus measadh nár mhiste bheith ag brath air go dtiocfadh laghdú éigin ar an dtáirgeacht ag féachaint don bhfeabhsú sin agus do chúrsaí an mhargaidh. Táimid ag cur carda tuaithe in Ard an Rátha d'fhonn rollaí chardálta a chur ar fáil do na sníomhadóirí. Fostófar Maoirseoirí chun cuairteanna a thabhairt ar no sníomhadóirí agus ar na fíodóirí le linn dóibh bheith ag obair faoi scéim na Roinne ach iocfar as an mbréidín a déanfar fé mar a deineadh go dtí seo.

Tá méadú beag faoi mhírcheann E. 1 sa tsoláthar do thuarastail na foirne tuaithe a bhaineas leis na Tionnscail Mara toisc costais breise an bhónais éigeandála. Tá soláthar a dhéanamh do mhéadú beag faoi mhírcheann E. 2 do chostais taistil na foirne sin.

Táimid ag soláthar £7,450 níos mó faoi mhírcheann E. 3 don Tionnscal Ceilpe agus Feamna ach tabharfar faoi ndeara go mbaineann £5,425 den mhéadú sin le costas iompair. Níor cuireadh aon tsoláthar isteach anuraidh i gcóir costais iompair na Ceilpe ná costais farthachta na slat mara. Níorbh fholáir ámh, faoi shocraithe na bliana seo, soláthar a dhéanamh dá leithéid, ach méadú dá réir a bheith ar na Leithreasaí-i-gCabhair. Tá soláthar á dhéanamh i mbliana don mhéid chéanna ceilpe a ndearnadh soláthar di anuraidh .i. míle tonna. Tá soláthraithe á ndéanamh do thrí mhile tona slata mara i mbliana i gcoinne an dá mhíle tonna a ndearnadh soláthar dóibh anuraidh. Níl sa tsoláthar don bhFeamain ach comhartha i gcoinne an sé céad tonna a ndearnadh soláthar dóibh anuraidh. Tuigfear, áfach, go ndéanfar an méid is féidir de na habhair go léir a cheannach do réir mar bheidh éileamh orthu. Ceannaíodh tuairim is ocht gcéad tonna ceilpe agus míle agus cúig chead tonna slata mara anuraidh. Táthar ag leanúint i mbliana arís den nós imeachta a cuireadh i bhfeidhm maidir le ceannach na ceilpe, toise gur mar sin amháin is féidir féachaint chuige go mbeidh togha na ceilpe ar fáil mar abhar leasacháin.

Tá £535 de mhéadú sa tsoláthar faoi mhírcheann E (4) don Tionnscal Cairrgíne. Ní déantar soláthar anseo ach don chairrgín a chuireann an Roinn ar an margadh i bpaicáidí mar abhar bídh. Is oth liom a rá nach mór an glaodhach atá ar na paicáidí sin le tamall anuas agus níltear ag déanamh soláthair ach don mhéid a meastar a bheidh ag teastáil don mhargadh. Is sa mhargadh thar lear a díoltar an chuid is mó den ghnáth-chairrgín agus déantear freastal ar an margadh sin trí ghnóluchta sa tír seo do cheannach agus d'onnmhuiríú na cairrgíne. Ní leanfar i mbliana den nós imeachta a bhí i bhfeidhm anuraidh ar chúrsaí cairrgíne agus, mar sin, is ar na bainteoirí agus ar an lucht deighleála a bhrathfaidh sé caighdeán agus cáil chairrgín na tíre seo a choimeád agus a chosaint.

Tá £1,212 de mhéadú sa tsoláthar faoi mhírcheann F (1) do thuarastail an Taisc-Ionaid. Sé is mó faoi ndear é sin ná méadú ar líon na foirne sna stórlanna maraon le costas breise an bhónais éigeandála. Tá méadú de £500 ar an soláthar d'Fhógránacht faoi mhírcheann F (2) agus tá méadú beag de £155 faoi F (3) d'Iolchostais an Taisc-Ionaid.

Níl aon difríocht sa tsoláthar faoi mhírcheann G do Sheirbhísí Ilghnéitheacha. Níl sna méideanna atá á soláthar faoi na mionranna ach comharthaí taobh amuigh den mhéid faoi mhionroinn (5) a bhaineas leis an Séirbhís Báid idir Oileán Cléire agus Dún na Séad i gContae Chorcaighe.

Baineann an méadú beag faoi mhírcheann H (1) le costas breise an bhónais éigeandála ar thuarastail na fóirne tuaithe atá i mbun cúrsaí tógála. Tá méadú beag ar an soláthar faoi mhírcheann H (2) do chostais taistil na foirne tuaithe sin.

Tá £2,250 de mhéadú sa tsoláthar faoi mhírcheann H (3) do dheontais faoi Achta na dTithe (Gaeltacht). Méadaíodh an soláthar toise go bhfuil súil le méadú do dhul ar an obair a bheas á dhéanamh ar thithe amach anseo. Níor deineadh aon athrú sa tsoláthar faoi mhírcheann H (4) do chostas deisiucháin na dtithe comhnaithe a ligtear ar chíos d'oidí scoile sa bhFíor-Ghaeltacht.

Tá mór-mhéid na bhfáltas a ndéantar soláthar dóibh faoi na mionranna (1) go dtí (3) de mhírcheann i bunaithe ar an soláthar a deineadh, ar thaobh an chaiteachais, d'abhair agus ceannacháin. Meastar, dá réir sin, go mbaileófar tuairim is £275,000 i mbliana as na tionnscail tuaithe go léir. Is méadú de thúairim is £21,300 é sin ar an méid a measadh a baileófaí anuraidh. Meastar gur mó de £6,200 a n-íocfar amach as na fáltais i mbliana mar pháigh oibre agus coimisiún díolacháin. Fágann san gur tuairim is £15,100 a meastar a bheidh de mhéadú sna Leithreasaí-i-gCabhair do na Tionnscail Tuaithe. Meastar gur tuairim is £63,000 a híocfar mar pháigh oibre i mbliana i gcoinne tuairim is £59,000 anuraidh; £26,400 sa bhliain 1939; agus £9,800 sa bhliain 1935.

Tá £6,337 de mhéadú sa mhéid a meastar a gheofar as Ceilp agus Feamain a dhíol ach baineann an chuid is mó den mhéadú sin leis an gcostas iompair a bheas le bailiú sa praghas díolacháin.

Tá méadú beag ar an méid a meastar a gheofar as Cairrgín a dhíol i bpaicáidí mar abhar bídh. Mar adúrt agus mé ag cur síos ar an mírcheann E (4) ní mór an glaodhach atá ar na paicáidí sin le tamall anuas.

Baineann na mionranna eile den mhírcheann le hAisíoca ar Iasachta Tionnscail, le Cíosa ar Thithe Comhnaithe d'Oidí Scoile sa bhFíor-Ghaeltacht agus le Fáltais Ilghnáitheacha. Tá laghdú ar an méid a meastar a gheofar i mbliana ó na hIasachtaí Tionnscail toisc an chuid is mó díobh a bheith glanta.

Mar bhuille scoir, ba mhaith liom a rá nach mór a thuigsint nach féidir tábhacht na hoibre atá á déanamh faoin meastachán seo do mhuintir na Gaeltachta a mheas do réir an méid bheag atá á iarraidh as chiste an Stáit. Taobh amuigh den pháigh oibre a híoctar amach sa Ghaeltacht trí na Tionnscail Tuaithe, íoctar tuairim is an méid chéanna arís trí thuarastail na ndaoine eile atá ar fostú sa Ghaeltacht; trí bhréidín baile, móin agus ceilp agus feamain a cheannach;; agus trí dheontais faoi Achta na dTithe (Gaeltacht).

Micheál Óg Mac Phaidin;

Níl sé i bhfad ó bhí díospóireacht againn san Dáil ar staid na Gaeltachta agus dúradh a lán ar an cheist achrannach seo ar an ócáid sin. Thrácht na cainteoirí ar an imirce a bhí ag bánadh na Gaeltachta; ar shlí-bheatha na ndaoine; ar a dteangaidh dhúchais agus na seoda eile a bhí ina gcúram agus an neamhshuim a bhí acu iontu. Dúradh gurb é an Ghaeltacht an ball ba luachmhaire de náisiún na hÉireann. Rinneadh mion-scrúdú ar an scéal go léir agus tá súil agam go dtiocfaidh maitheas dá bharr. 'Sé mo bharúil féin gur ceist eacnamaíochta ó thús go deireadh ceist chaomhanta na Gaeltachta. Sin an fáth ar mhaith liom beagán a rá ar an Mheastachán seo nó baineann sé go dlúth le slí bheatha na ndaoine seo.

Tá fhios againn go léir nach dtig leo slí bheatha a bhaint amach ar na screabáin bheaga talaimh atá acu. Muirín ar bith atá i muinín an tailimh amháin sna ceantair bhochta seo níl i ndán dóibh ach an ganntanas faoi ocras, anás agus an uile chruatan. Ní thig linn a bheith ag éagaoin orthu faoin imirce. 'Sé Dia É fhéin a d'fhág caoi ag an chuid ba láidre acu imeacht go tíortha eile le cuidiú lena muintir a d'fhan sa bhaile.

Ba é an chéad tárrtháil a tugadh ar na daoine bochta seo an uair a cuireadh iad faoi chúram an C.D.B. tá leith-chéad bliain ó shoin. Rinne an sean-Bhord sin miorúiltí sa Ghaeltacht agus ní thig dearmad a dhéanamh choíche de na fir a bhí ar an Bhord sin, fir nár spáráil iad fhéin le feabhas a chur ar shaol mhuintir na Gaeltachta. Cheannaigh siad an talamh ó na tiarnaí tailimh agus thug locáiste do na tionónta. Thóg siad tithe agus boithigh dóibh. Rinne siad bealaigh mhóra fríd na sléibhte agus rinne siad céibheanna chois cladaigh. Chuir siad tionscail ar bun agus chuir siad feabhas ar na sean-tionscail a bhí acu. Thug siad bádaí, líonta agus gléas iascaireachta do na hiascairí agus d'fhág bun mhaith ar an iascaireacht fá chóstaí an iarthair. Labhraim mar dhuine a chonnaic obair an Bhuird seo agus ní thig liom ach an moladh atá tuillte acu a thabhairt dóibh.

Acht nuair a tharraing ár Rialtas féin obair an Bhuird seo orthu, bhí muid ag dréim le níos mó uathu. Cuireadh Coimisiún ar bun agus moladh siúd agus seo a dhéanamh. D'réir a chéile, le fiche bliain táthar a chur na molta sin i ngníomh. Tá muid ag dul ar aghaidh go mall, righin, fadálach ar nós na seilide agus gach bliain atá ag dul tharainn tá an Gael agus an Ghaeilge ag sleamhnú ón Ghaeltacht. An uile bhliain thig Meastacháin mar seo roimh an Dáil do Sheirbhísí na Gaeltachta ach ní fheicim go bhfuil dul chun cinn mór déanta. Taobh amuigh de chupla ceantar sa Ghaeltacht níl muid ach ag útamáil leis an obair seo. Agus deirtear linn gur obair mhór náisiúnta Gaeil na Gaeltachta a dhaingniú i na ndúiche féin. Admhaím go bhfuil oifigí na Roinne ar a ndícheall ach d'réir mar chémse an obair tá Seirbhísí na Gaeltachta cúnailte creapailte ag an Poinn Airgeadais. Níor chreapail siad na hoifigí a chóirigh Rinn Eanaigh do na heitealláin. Bhí an Roinn Airgeadais fial flaithiúil leo sin agus chuaigh an obair chun cinn gan aon mhoill. Ach ní rabh an dlúthas nó an fiúntas sin le scéimeanna sa Ghaeltacht. Agus deirtear linn gurb í an Ghaeltacht an ball is luachmhaire de náisiún na hÉireann. Is feasach dom fhéin go bhfuil muileann olla ar an bealach le deich mbliana i nGaeltacht Tír Chonaill. D'féadfadh an muileann sin a bheith faoi lán-seoil roimh an chogadh acht cuireadh moill air ó bhliain 30 bliain. Cailleadh na mílte punt ar siocair an neamairt sin mar nach rabh snáth olla le fáil sa tír ar feadh an chogaidh. Agus níl an muileann sin críochnaithe go fóill agus d'réir chosúlachta beidh cogadh eile ann sul a mbeidh sé críochnaithe. Dá mbeadh port Rinn Eannaigh deich mbliana ar an bhealach caidé an callán a thógfaí?

Bhí lúcháir mhór orm fheiceál ar na páipéir an lá fá dheireadh go bhfuil comhlacht ar tí monarcha do bhréagáin luaidhe a chur ar bun i nGaeltacht Chonamara. Tá súil agam nach ndéanfaidh siad aithris ar an Roinn Airgeadais ach go rachaidh siad ar aghaidh go tapaidh leis an mhonarchain seo. Sin an spiorad a bheir misneach agus uchtach do mhuintir na Gaeltachta. Bheir sin in mo cuimhne tionscal ba chóir a bheith ar bun againn i dTír Chonaill. Ba cheart iomlán-úsáide a dhéanamh de na bun-ábhar atá againn sa Ghaeltacht. Níl sárú ar ghaineamh Mhucaise mar ábhar ghloine agus táthar a thabhairt an ghaineamh sin rith an bhealaigh as Gaeltacht Thír Chonaill go Baile Átha Cliath. Nach sa Ghaeltacht ba chóir iomlan an tionscail sin a bheith bunaithe ó thárla gurb ann atá an príomh-ábhar, an ghaineamh speisialta seo. Is maith liom cluinstin go bhfuil Comhaltas Uladh ag cur suirbhéireachta ar bun ar na hábhair atá sa Ghaeltacht leis an inntinn seo.

Níl bun-ábhar sa Ghaeltacht chomh fairsing leis an olainn. Tá na sléibhte ann le hinnilt a thabhairt do na caoirigh. Níl muintir na sliabh gan moltraí olla ó cheann go ceann na bliana. Tá na sníomhnóirí agus na fídóirí i ngach baile agus tá céird na holla leo ó dhúchas. Mar sin do ba cheart don Roinn claonadh leis an seantionscal seo. Tá na mílte muiríneacha ag obair aige. Rinne siad na milliún slat báinín baile don tír ar feadh an chogaidh nuair nach raibh fáil ar éadach ar bith eile. Táim ag iarraidh ar an Roinn aire speisialta a thabhairt don tionscail seo, feabhas a chur ar an éadach más féidir é agus margadh a fháil dó sa bhaile agus i gcéin. Agus impím ar an Roinn Airgeadais gan a bheith chomh doicheallach ceachartha nuair atá siad ag tabhairt deontais nó sínteanais do mhuintir na Gaeltachta.

Mr. Dillon

The Gaeltacht ought to be the most precious possession of our people, because in it is the only, and very slender, chance now of preserving Irish as a living language. If the language ceases to be spoken by those who have it ón chliabháin in the Gaeltacht, it does not matter very much what we may do in the schools; it will be a dead language, and we all know that. The plain fact is that, in the 25 years since this State was founded, the Gaeltacht has been reduced by nearly a half, and is shrinking rapidly. The plain fact is that, in each succeeding generation born in the Gaeltacht, a larger and larger percentage of the young people want to get out. I know it pretty well —the Donegal Gaeltacht in any case, and the Connacht Gaeltacht—and I think it is true to say what drives the young people out of it is their inability to secure work in the Gaeltacht which would provide them with a reasonable standard of living.

Some 30 or 40 years ago, these places were so remote that the people living in them had no intimate contact with the kind of standard of living that people in the Galltacht of this country and in Great Britain ordinarily enjoy and so they were prepared to work terribly hard and live at a very low standard and be content, so long as they were able to scrape three meals a day and maintain a reasonably respectable appearance, based on the very modest resources of their own neighbourhood. The fact is that the various modern methods of communication have brought the rest of the world into such close contact with them that they are no longer prepared to accept that, and they are going as quickly as they can to get, outside the Gaeltacht, that standard of living which appeals to most people and, going outside the Gaeltacht, they change their vernacular from Irish to English.

If they stay away out of the Gaeltacht altogether, that means so many Irish speakers lost to the country. If they come back to the Gaeltacht, in the vast majority of cases, using English as their vernacular, they gradually destroy one small section of the Fior-Ghaeltacht and change it, at best, into a little Breac-Ghaeltacht of its own and, at worst, into an area where Irish is not spoken at all. Frankly, I think it is too late to do anything about it but still, with that apprehension in my mind, I will make a suggestion, even though I have little hope of success.

The only effort that will do any good is to establish, in the existing Gaeltacht areas, what remains of them, some form of occupation and, without any regard at all to economic considerations, stipulate that those who get employment in them will have a certain standard of wages, sufficient, together with the amenity of living at home, to rival the attractions of employment in Dublin, Cork, Birmingham, Manchester or, for those from Donegal, in Glasgow and its environs. I know a good many of the Donegal people who have gone to Glasgow and, when I go down to places like Port Glasgow and meet Irish people living there, it is to me a source of bewilderment what brings them there, what economic considerations could persuade them to exchange West Donegal for Port Glasgow.

Mr. Cafferky

Bread and butter.

Mr. Dillon

Deputy Cafferky says "bread and butter". Deputy Cafferky ought to know. Damn the much bread and butter they got in Port Glasgow when they were on the dole there and, when it suited the employers in the shipyards of Port Glasgow to throw them on the dole, they had no delicacy of feeling about doing so.

Mr. Cafferky

They got a fairly respectable dole when they were put on it.

Mr. Dillon

I suppose they thought they did, but, on the balance, those who have known hardships in the Gaeltacht probably did better in the long run than those who degenerated into the pale, emaciated, miserable creatures who lived for seven or eight years on the dole in Port Glasgow and places like that. Deputy Cafferky, like myself, was born in the Breac-Ghaeltacht and grew up amongst people who, in my childhood, whatever about his, were all Irish speakers—the Kilmovee area of County Mayo. When he says "bread and butter" he is probably saying in his own way what I am saying in another way. They were drawn into those places like Port Glasgow because they felt they would get more luxury there than in the Gaeltacht. I think they may be wrong, but they believe there is more money to be got in big centres of employment, such as the industrial cities of Great Britain. I believe if there were employment centres established in the Gaeltacht which paid a minimum wage it is possible, though by no means certain, that a great many of them would never go away at all.

I am a convinced free trader, but I do not believe in restrictive practices in industry from the purely economic point of view, and it may sound inconsistent for me to advocate this in regard to the Gaeltacht, but consistency is the bugbear of mediocre minds. In the Gaeltacht we are thinking, not only of economic considerations, but of the preservation of a very precious and imponderable asset, an asset that cannot be valued in terms of money because, were we to lose it, the expenditure of money would never buy it back again.

I think it is practicable to establish the kind of industry I have in mind and I am led to that conviction by a personal experience. Seventy years ago, in the parish of Foxford, the problem arose of employing the people, giving them a source of revenue other than they could hope to extract from their miserable holdings. The reasons making that course necessary and urgent were not quite the same as those affecting the Gaeltacht at the present time, but they were there. One of the ladies was a relative of mine. Neither of them had any industrial experience, but they made up their minds that something must be done, and against the advice of all prudent advisers these two old ladies took a house that was at their disposal and started, of all things, with woollens, neither of them having the faintest notion how to spin, never mind how to weave. Unfortunately for their enterprise Foxford Woollen Mills enjoyed no protection of any kind and the market was largely built up by these old ladies, pottering around themselves in the early stages to sell the produce of what is now a great industry. It did achieve in Foxford the purpose for which it was set up. It did provide an alternative source of income for the young girls of that area and prevented other people who provided that enterprise in a different way having any success in their nefarious purpose.

I believe that example is the only method whereby we can provide in the Gaeltacht a counter attraction sufficient to deter those with Irish from leaving the Gaeltacht, and destroying that unique source by which the language may be made to live again. An enterprise such as I have in mind would be one with two or three industrial processes, to supply commodities in demand here, the manufacture of which would employ a large number of men. What these commodities would be is a matter we have to consider very carefully.

I do not know what the labour content in the manufacture of artificial manure is. Supposing that the labour content of that industry were satisfactory, and calculated to provide employment necessary for our purpose, I think we should estimate the level of wages that it would be necessary to pay to provide a fair counter attraction in the way of industrial employment in the Gaeltacht, and to pay that rate of wages. We should then ascertain the true cost of the product produced by labour paid at that rate, and also ascertain a third thing, the price at which it might properly be sold to the section of the community that would use that product. Supposing it was superphosphate of lime, having ascertained the rate of wages we proposed to pay, and on that basis having ascertained the true cost of superphosphate, we should then ascertain the world price, and not one penny more, and charge that price for the product to our farmers. The difference between that price and the price of the product of our commodity would have to be made up by the Treasury, and voted by this House as expenditure, not on the production of artificial manure, but on the preservation of the Gaeltacht as a permanent and desirable part of the life of this country.

I am as certain as I am standing here that, unless we can provide industries, we can make up our minds, if we do not shoulder such expenditure, that in the lifetime of many people here the Gaeltacht will disappear. There is not a Deputy from that area who has not seen large areas of it disappear in his own lifetime. One of the fruitful sources of the destruction of the Gaeltacht has been the preparatory colleges. Wherever they have, instead of raising the children—I draw distinction between those run by religious communities and the colleges——

An Ceann Comhairle

There is no money provided for that.

Mr. Dillon

I suppose there is none for the promotion of industry. In the preparatory colleges we believed we could send down large groups of English-speaking people, and by getting them to live in the centre of the Gaeltacht, make them into Irish speakers. What actually happened was that instead of making them Irish speakers they made the Irish speakers into English speakers. Look at Tourmakeady. Twenty years ago one-fifth, or more likely one-third of the people there, would have some difficulty in carrying on a practical conversation in English. Their natural vernacular was Irish. Naturally if one went to live with them one would have to learn Irish if one wanted to stay there for a time. Ask any of the people where English came from, and they will tell you it was from the preparatory colleges. I know that there are people of goodwill who imagine, and who allow themselves to be persuaded, because they hear nothing but Irish spoken in and about institutions of that kind, that all the occupants continue to speak Irish when moving about the country. I had abundant visual proof that nothing is further from the truth.

The Chair has been patient in allowing me to mention that matter. I want to point out that were we to establish industries of the kind I have envisaged here, instantly we would be told that there was some defect in the fellows in the Gaeltacht, that they could not be got to work in a factory, and that some key men should be got in, in order to make the industries work. If that is done it would only expedite the destruction of the Gaeltacht. If you are going to establish industries in which anybody who speaks Irish will only be allowed to carry a hod, but that to get one of the good jobs you must come from Dublin or Cork, you simply convert the whole district into an area where English is spoken with a Cork accent. We have got to face whatever difficulites there may be about lack of industrial experience in the people of the Gaeltacht until these industries are slowly and deliberately built up. It is not going to be easy. It may be very difficult indeed to establish firstly industries that will have a high labour content, and secondly, to find real Irish speakers competent to train personnel for these industries. If we want to do it we can do it. In regard to the Gaeltacht, I always feel that there has been very frequently a ready willingness to scatter money broadly, to dole it out to everybody, fistfuls of money. But where there is a job to be done which would be useful, which is tedious, difficult, discouraging and calculated to excite criticism and disparagement, that has very rarely been embarked upon, although that is the only kind of job that is going to do valuable work for the Gaeltacht.

So much for that. The other thing is this: that there has always been a great deal of potential employment in the Gaeltacht of a kind peculiarly suited to the social life which is an integral part of the Gaeltacht. I have never seen that readiness on the part of the Department of Industry and Commerce to recognise it and encourage it in the way they ought. I do not say that they have been antagonistic. I do not think they have, but I think they have been rather impatient: that it was something that was beneath the dignity of mighty men who dealt in millions, who built mighty factories and talked to big shots in the industrial world. As regards the production of knitted socks, has there been in the last three or four years when production was very urgent and necessary, any genuine attempt made to allot the bulk of that work to the knitters in Donegal, Connemara and Kerry? I venture to say that there has not been. Does this House know that knitting yarn coming into this country was seized, that all the good knitting yarn was sent to the factories, and that any woman who was making her living from knitting was told that she could use the article which was produced from domestic wool or do without: that her quota of botany yarn was so small that it was not worth the Department's while to segregate it. It is true that it would have created a considerable administrative problem because the individual woman knitter in Donegal may, pre-war, have used 200 lbs. of knitting wool in the 12 months, while the total quota coming into the country was perhaps 5 per cent. That would mean the giving to each individual woman 10 lbs., 7 lbs., or 3 lbs. of wool.

The Department said that the administrative cost of doing that would be out of all proportion, and that what they would do was to take all the imported yarn and pass it over to the manufacturers who were using machines and then dole out the domestic yarn to the knitters. If the Department were asked why it was giving all the imported yarn to the factories it would answer: "Oh, well, the machines cannot use the domestic product; it breaks the machines," but they never went and asked the woman knitter if it broke her needles. If they had done so she would have told them that it did. She would also have told them that the people who buy hand-knitted garments are very much more choosey about a hand-finished article than the woman who pays 6/11 for a ready-made jumper to wear about the kitchen.

The poor woman down the country whose market was for the choosiest customers in the country was told to knit garments out of the home produced wool, and that when it broke she could tie knots on it. The Department might, with perfect propriety, have said that the bulk of this yarn coming in was small, but that the first charge upon it would be the Gaeltacht knitters, and that if anything was left over the factories could have it. That was not done. Then came the period when, with perfect propriety, we announced that we were prepared to send to suffering Europe a share of whatever we had, and amongst the commodities which we felt able to send was a quantity of knitted socks. The prime consideration was to send clothing that would be warm. How far have the services of the knitters in the Gaeltacht been availed of in that connection?

I still get letters from women in West Donegal—I am sure that Deputy McFadden has received many more letters than I have to the same effect— complaining that they cannot get a supply of wool, although one can see wool selling at 1/9 in two-ounce hanks in Dublin. One sees, too, that the factories have plenty of knitted goods. One sees knitted socks being offered by the factories. One hears of the factories being told to turn over their whole production for a given period to the production of knitted socks for export to the afflicted countries of Europe. Would it not have been legitimate if it was our purpose, our excellent purpose, to send knitted garments to those who are cold and destitute in Europe, to send a share of that wool to the women in the Gaeltacht and have it knitted to that end? Would it have been wrong, or in any way dishonourable, if on that task we had sought no monetary profit, but had chosen to use the wool for the preservation of the Gaeltacht? I feel that by losing money, by giving this product away, as well as gladly giving away whatever it cost, we could feel that we were recouping ourselves by providing those living in the Gaeltacht with an income that they otherwise might not have enjoyed.

I know, of course, that there are housing schemes for the Gaeltacht and that money is distributed in households there where the children talk Irish. Some of those plans are good and some bad. The only thing that is valuable is, what will keep the people in the Gaeltacht. If I knew that I could succeed by doing so, I would spend almost any sum of money. I would invest a great deal with the very slender hope that remains to us, and I still think it is worth a gamble.

If we do not make that effort I am perfectly certain that there will be no need for a Gaeltacht Estimate, as such, in ten years' time. The Gaeltacht that we know now can simply be incorporated with the congested areas. For my part, I would save the Gaeltacht at any cost if I could. If members of the House have any other alternative to offer I would be glad to hear of it. If they have not, are they prepared to help in getting down now to do that which it will be too late to do in ten years' time?

Gearúid Mac Pharthaláin

Is beag difir atá idir na Teachtaí a chuireann suim sa Ghaeltacht anseo, idir an Teachta Mac Pháidín agus mé féin. Bhíos buíoch de nuair a chuala uaidh go bhfuil áthas air féin agus a dheamhéinn ag muintir Chonamara nuair a bhí sé ag tagairt don rud a raibh scéal faoi ar an bpáipéar, sé sin, an mhonarcha atá le bheith ag déanamh na mbréagán luaidhe. Níl ansin fós ach scéal, do réir chosúlachta, ach tá súil agam go dtiocfaidh sé i ngníomh. Tá cuid mhaith den fhírinne sa méid adúirt an Teachta Diolúin i dtaobh sábháil na Gaeilge, ach tá baol ann don Ghaeilge sna cineálacha déantús agus monarchan is féidir a chur ar bun.

Tá a fhios agam nach bhfuil sé mar príomh-dhualgas ar Fho-roinn Seirbhísí na Gaeltacht an Ghaeilge a shábháil, ach coinnítear é sin i gcuimhne i gcomhnaí nuair a bhíos tionscail á gcur ar bun. Is minic a chuala mé ráite é: "Má bhíonn an iomarca daoine le chéile i monarchain nó a leithéid, tagann an Béarla isteach do réir a chéile." Chonnaic muid é sin i dtráchtáil taobh amuigh de mhonarchain. Cuirim i gcás anois na teagascóirí iascaireachta a chuir Bord na gCeanntar Cumhang amach chun forbairt a dhéanamh ar thionscal na scadán agus no ronnach. Tá fhios agam áiteacha a bhfuil an Béarla anois níos láidre iontai ná an Ghaeilge de bharr an tionscail sin. Cuireadh go dtí na háiteacha sin duine b'fhéidir a raibh ceárd na hiascaireachta ar fheabhas aige agus gan an Ghaeilge ar fheabhas aige. San am chéanna, níl againn ach an dá rogha; slí bheatha a sholáthar san áit a bhfuil na Gaeilgeoirí, nó cuid mhaith acu a thabhairt amach as an áit.

Tá mise ar an tuairim go mbeadh scéal na Gaeilge i bhfad níos fearr dá mbeadh cuid mhaith talamh ag muintir na Gaeltachta agus go mbeidís i ndon slí maireachtála a bhaint amach ar an talamh agus go mbeidís i ndon a muirighin a thógáil as an talmhaíocht. Sin é an saghas ruda is fábharaí don Ghaeilge. Is fearr é ná aon déantús in aon mhonarcha. Dúirt an tAire Tailte ar Mheastachán eile—nó thuigeas, ar aon chuma, as an méid adúirt sé—nach féidir an cheist a réiteach ar an dóigh sin. Tá baint aige sin leis an Meastachán seo agus tá dualgas ar an Aire Tailte feidhm a bhaint as chuile shaghas cúnaimh agus cuidithe a thiocfas i gcabhair ar na daoine bochta seo.

Aontaím leis an Teachta Mac Pháidín gurb iad na déantúis is feiliúnaí iad seo atá bunaithe ar bhunábhair na Gaeltachta fhéin ach, mar adúirt sé, níl mórán bun-ábhair tionscail le fáil ann. Sé an chéad cheann acu agus an ceann is tábhachtaí—an olann—agus tá Fo-Roinn Sheirbhísí na Gaeltachta ag déanamh a dhícheall leis an olann a oibriú ar mhaithe leis an nGaeltacht. Tá ábhar i gConamara ar nós an mharmair, ach tá cuid de na déantúis seo agus ní dóigh liom fhéin go bhfuil sé feiliúnach iad a chur faoi stiúradh na Roinne seo. Tá cuid acu a gcaithfí na heolaithe a thabhairt isteach chun iad a chur ar bun.

Tá súil agam go n-éireodh leis an Roinn sa dea-obair atá beartuithe acu i gCasla. Tá moladh mór ag dul do na daoine a bhfuil an obair seo á sheoladh acu agus tá súil agam go mbeidh barr feabhais ar an scéal.

Is gearr ó fuair mé scéal i dtaobh na cúpóin is gá a thabhairt nuair a díoltar bréidín ag aon taspantás, cuir i gcás, an Taspántas Capailliní Conamara. Tá fhios agam nach é an tAire Tailte a riaras an rud seo, ach b'fhéidir go bhféadfadh sé a chur ina luí ar an Aire Tionscail agus Tráchtála beagán fábhair a thaspáint faoin cheist seo. Ba cheart cead a thabhairt do lucht déanta an bhréidín é a dhíol ag an taspántas, nó ar ocáidí mar é, gan an trioblóid seo na gcúpón a chur ortha, chor ar bith. Os ag cur síos dom ar an gceist sin, ba mhaith liom freisin a rá leis an Aire go bhfuil daoine ann ag déanamh cuid mhaith dá slí maireachtála as díol an bhréidín sna siopaí beaga. Is mór an chailliúint dóibh féin agus do na daoine a bhí ag déanamh an bhréidín sin agus ní fheicim gurb aon mhaitheas é don Roinn Tionnscail agus Tráchtála an tionscal seo a stopadh. Tá súil agam go míneoidh an Roinn an scéal don Aire Tionnscail agus Tráchtála.

Tá obair mhaith á dhéanamh sna hionaid chniotála agus ní fíor a rá go raibh aon cheal fostaíochta iontu le linn na héigeandála. Tá sé ar eolas agam fhéin go ndearna an Roinn a seacht ndícheall leis an bhfostaíocht seo a choinneáil ar bun, mar bhí cuid mhaith á dhéanamh acu sar ar thosaigh an cogadh. Tá fhios agam gur ceannuigh díol mór olann roimh an gcogadh agus mar gheall ar sin bhíodar indon tuille ionaid do chur ar bun.

Ach is obair chruaidh ar chailín i agus dúradh liomsa gur ceart go ndéanfaí socrú le go mbeadh béile maith i lár an lae ag na cailíní seo. Ní bhíonn am acu lena ndóthain a ithe i lár an lae agus éiríonn cuid acu lag sul a mbíonn an lá thart. Ba cheart, dá gcoimeadtaí an obair ar siúl níos fuide sa tráthnóna, más gá seal a thabhairt dóibh i lar an lae. Dúradh liomsa go bhfuil sláinte na gcáilíní seo i gcontúirt mar gheall air sin agus tá súil agam go mbreathnoidh an Roinn isteach sa scéal.

Bhíodh scéim ag an bhFo-Roinn seo suim blianta ó shoin le seolta a cheannach d'fhíodóirí óga agus ba mhaith liom dá dtosófaí ar an scéim sin arís. Tá a fhios agam i dtaobh duine amháin ar a laghad—fear óg a scríobh chugam féin—nuair a bhí an cheárd foghlumtha aige ní raibh sé in ann an seol a fháil. Tá sé ina chomhnaí in áit nach bhfuil aon fhíodóir ann agus dá mbeadh a leithéid sin de scéim ann chabhródh sé go mór le daoine óga mar sin.

Tá ceist eile ann agus sin é ceist na mbád móna. Tá, ar ndóigh, seantrádáil idir Chonamara, Oileáin Arann, agus Contae an Chláir, ach le blianta beaga anuas tá uimhir na mbád laghdaithe go mór agus tá cuid mhaith acu a dteastaionn deasú uathú, ach níl aon airgead ag na unaerí agus ní dóigh liom go gcuirfeadh sé mórán costais ar an Roinn beagán airgid a thabhairt do na daoine sin, agus b'fhéidir go dtúirfaidís iasachta do dhaoine a bhí ag gabháil don ghnó sin le fada le bád nua a cheannach.

Ní dóigh liom go bhfuil aon tuairimí nua agamsa ar an gceist seo na Gaeltachta. Sean-cheist í atá ag éirí arís agus arís eile. Mar aduirt mé i dtosach, ní fheicim go bhfuil le déanamh ach dhá rud-slí maireachtála a thabhairt ann nó na daoine a thabhairt amach as. B'fhearr liomsa na déantúis a bhunú le go mairfeadh cuid mhaith acu astu. Ní féidir a rá anois cé an áit in Éirinn is sabhálta atá an Ghaeilge. Tá daoine ag ceapadh go bhfuil an Ghaeltacht níos sabhailta sna háiteacha iargúlta agus gurb é an iargcultacht a shabháil é. Ní dóigh liom go bhfuil aon áit in Eirinn anois iargúlta. Tá an oiread sin rudaí anois ag cur isteach ar shaol na Gaeltachta—tá bóithre maithe, busanna ag dul isteach, agus an oiread sin caidrimh ag na haiteacha iargúlta leis an saol mór anois nach áit iargúltach níos mó na Gaeltachta. Agus i ngeall air sin b'bhéidir gur shabhálta a bheadh an Ghaeilge i lár na hÉireann ar na tailte bána dá dtúgtaí talamh do mhuintir na Gaeltachta ann ionas go bhféadfaidís slí maireachtala a bhaint amach as as a stuaim féin gan a bheith ag brath ar chúnamh Rialtais ná aon chúnamh eile. Rud eile dhe, táim lán cinnte dhe go gclaífidis go dlúth le chéile dá mbeidís thuas ansin. Tá dream acu cheana a tugadh isteach ann agus tá siad ag déanamh go han-mhaith agus níor chuala me aon duine ag rá go bhfuil baol nó contuirt ar bith ann dá gcuid Ghaeilge. Deirim an méid seo fá cheist an dá theangan—má tá daoine ag ceapadh go bhfuil siad ag sábháil na Gaeilge agus ag cur lucht na Gaeltachta ar an slí cheart le áit ann fhéin a dhéanamh den Ghaeltacht ar nós Indian Reservation, tá siad ag dul amú go mór. Níl fonn ar bith ar lucht na Gaeltacht a bheith cruinuithe in aon National Park ná aon áit mar sin. Teastaíonn Béarla uathú. Foghlaimeoidh siad an Béarla ar mhaithe leo féin. Is é mo thuairim féin má abrann aon dream údarásach sa tír seo gur dearmad an Béarla a choinneáil uatha—má abrann tú aon cheo mar sin le daoine na Gaeltachta—is é a fhreagrós siad:

"Féach na daoine móra seo a thagas chun na Gaeltachta ag foghlaim na Gaeilge agus na postanna móra atá acu; inár n-amadáin, ag coinneáil na Gaeilge slán sábháilte ar mhaithe le daoine a thagas inár mease uair sa bhlian leis an oiread Gaeilge a fhoghluim agus a thiúrfas postanna maithe dhóibh. Tá slí maireachtála ag teastáil uainn chomh maith le daoine eile agus tá Béarla ag teastáil uainn." I ngeall air sin, má théann duine thart sa Ghaeltacht agus má chloiseann sé roinnt Béarla, ní comhartha ar bith é sin go bhfuil an Ghaeilge ag fáil bháis ann ach tá mé fhéin ag ceapadh go bhfuil a lán daoine ag dul amú i dtaoibh cailliúint na Gaeilge sa Ghaeltacht. Tá siad ag breithniú na ceiste seo do réir an mhéid Béarla a chloiseann siad. Dá fheabhas dá bhfuil an Béarla ag lucht na Gaeltachta is ea is fearr don Ghaeilge freisin. Tá, ar ndóigh, go leor leor le déanamh fós leis an mbreathnú ceart, leis an oideachas ceart, a thabhairt do na daoine i dtaoibh na ceiste sin, ní mór a thaspáint dóibh go bhfuil meas ag lucht údaráis na tíre ar an nGaeilge agus go bhfuil brabach éicint le fáil acu féin dá barr.

Ní dóigh liomsa go bhfuil siad ag iompó in aghaidh na Gaeilge ach tá ceisteanna eile ar ndóigh, ag cur isteach orthu. Dá mb'fhéidir, fá choimirce na Roinne Oideachaís nó faoi choimirce éicint eile, siamsa a sholáthar dóibh sa Ghaeltacht, ar nós dramaí agus eile, tá mé ag ceapadh go ndéanfadh sé a lán maitheasa leis na daoine óga a shásamh. Tá mé ag cuimhneamh ar áiteacha a bhfuil an saghas oibre sin a dhéanamh iontu agus sásaíonn sé na daoine óga. Sin taobh amháin de. Tá slí maireachtála ar an taobh eile den scéal ach, ar ndóigh, ní féidir an cheist a shocrú as an talamh sa Ghaeltacht. Fágann sé sin nach bhfuil ann ach tionscail. 'Se mo thuairim gur bocht an scéal é cuairteoirí a bheith ag teacht i mease na ndaoine seo agus a bheith á ngríosadh, mura bhfuil rud fónta a dhéanamh ar a son. Nílim ag rá go bhfuil an scéal níos measa ná mar bhí. Deirim go bhfuil sé níos fearr ná mar bhí, go bhfuil caighdeán marachtála níos áirde acu ná mar bhí, ach má tá an Rialtas sásta airgead a chaitheamh is féidir leo craiceann níos fearr a chur ar an scéal. Má fheiceann na daoine go bhfuil an Rialtas i ndáiríribh, bhéarfaidh siad cúnamh dóibh.

Risteárd Ua Maolchatha

Tá a lán pointe a bhaineas leis an nGaeilge ach ní bheadh sé in ordú cur síos orthu anois. Is fíor, mar dúirt an Teachta MacPháidín, go bhfuil an Ghaeilge ag sleamhnú siar ach do réir an Teachta MacPhárthaláin níl sí chómh lag in a lán áiteanna agus a cheapamar. Pé ar domhan de, ba chóir go mbeadh ár ndóchas as an nGaeltacht lag go leor. Ba cheart dúinn náire a bheith orainn an scéal a bheith mar atá. Ach tá seasmhacht éigin ag baint leis an nGaeilge, agus leanann an tseasmhacht sin tabharfadh sé seans dúinn machnamh éigin a dhéanamh arís ar stad na Gaeilge.

Na rudaí go mba chóir dúinn cur síos orthu ar an meastacháin seo is rudaí iad a bhaineas le maireachtáil na ndaoine a bhíonn ina gcomhnaí san Ghaeltacht. B'fhéidir gur ceart monarchain a chur ar bun anseo agus ansúd mar a dúirt an Teachta Ó Diolúin. B'fhéidir gur ceart cuid de na daoine atá sa Ghaeltacht a aistriú go háiteanna eile agus feirmeacha móra breátha a thabhairt dóibh, ach beidh daoine na gcomhnaí fós sna háiteanna ina labhartar an Ghaeilge go nádúrtha. Gheibheann na daoine seo a maireachtáil as an talamh, as an bhfarraige agus as na déantúisí a dhéanamh ar son na ndaoine seo, atá san Ghaeltacht faoi láthair agus a bheidh ann go ceann 50 blian. Ní dóigh liom go bhfuil aon fhonn ar na daoine seo Béarla a labhairt agus, mar gheall air sin, tá rud seasmhach againn sna háiteanna seo.

Do chaith mé le déanaí deich lá i gCúige Mumhan—an Cúige is measa le tréigean na Gaeilge. Casadh orm daoine i nDún Chaoin, i gcontae Chiarraighe, agus níl tigh san áit sin nach bhfuil an Ghaeilge á labhairt ann agus nach bhfuil fonn ar na daoine Gaeilge a labhairt. Bíonn siad ag obair ó mhaidín go hoíche agus i rith na hoibre sin bíonn siad ag caint. Mura dtagann rud éigin isteach ansin leis an mBéarla a láidriú, leanfadh an Ghaeilge dhá labhairt sa leathpharóiste sin. Tá muintir na háite ag brath ar an talamh agus ar an bhfarraige le maireachtáil a fháil agus chuirfeadh sé náire ort bheith ina measc, na rudaí dob fhéidir linn a dhéanamh chun cúnamh thabhairt dóibh agus nach bhfuil á ndéanamh againn.

Tá ceist na hiascaireachta, cur i gcás. Tá na Blascáodaí trí mhíle amach ó chósta Chiarraighe ach an caladh atá san áit seo, tá sé chómh dona nach féidir leis na hiascairí úsáid a bhaint as. An bóthar a théann suas ansin, tá sé an-árd ar fad. Gach rud a thagann as na Blascaodaí caithfidh sé teacht ar an mbóthar sin. Is ar éigin is féidir le fear siúl ar an mbóthar sin, tar éis ar thárla trí nó ceithre bliain o shoin. Is féidir le bó dul suas ach ní féidir le bó teacht anuas. Ní foláir fanúint leis an taoide agus dul thar na carraigeacha. Chuirfeadh sé náire ort bheith ag féachaint air agus tá sé trí nó ceithre bliana mar sin. Tá an iascaireacht á mhilleadh ansin toisc an caladh a bheith mar sin. Bhí bolard thíos ag an gcaladh chun naomhóg a thabhairt isteach san áit sin. Tháinig storm agus briseadh é agus ní féidir neamhóg a fhágáil ar an gcaladh anois agus ní foláir do dhuine atá tar éis teacht ó na hoileáin an neamhóg a thabhairt tríd an fharraige. Ar chostas cúpla céad punt cuirfí an áit in ordú i dtreo go dtiocfadh leis na daoine dul amach agus teacht isteach.

Mar adúirt an Teachta Mac Phárthaláin agus Teachta Ó Diolúin, ta cuid de an Ranna eile agus níl siad ag déanamh dada ar son na Gaeltachta. B'fhéidir nach ar an Aire atá an milleán in aon chor, ach cuirim dhá cheist air: Cad na thaobh nach socraítear an calagh thíos i nDun Chaoin chun cabhrú leis na daoine a bhíonn ag iascaireacht. Sa leathpharóiste sin tá cuid den talamh is fearr i gCiarraighe, cé go bhfuil sé ar aghaidh na farraige. Na daoine ansin bíonn siad ag obair ó mhaidin go hoíche agus déanann siad a gcuid oibre go sár-mhaith. Tá géar-intleacht agus tuigseannacht na Gaeltachta ag baint leo. Tá a lán bó acu agus tá uachtarlainn i gCeann Trágha. Cad na thaobh nach mbeadh uachtarlainn taistil ann chun an bainne sa bhreis a thabhairt uathu agus é a iompar go dtí Dún Chaoin mar tá á dhéanamh in a lán áiteanna thaobh amuigh den Ghaeltacht? B'fhéidir go gcosnódh sé airgead ach tá an deolchaire ag teacht ón Stát agus ní ceist free trade ná ceist tariffs í seo. Do réir mo thuairime, dhéanfadh sé a lán maitheasa dá raghadh uachtarlainn taistil amach agus an bainne seo a thabhairt isteach. Bheadh na daoine seo i ndon níos mó bó a choimeád.

Ní dhéanann na daoine seo aon ghearán ach bheadh náire ar dhuine a bheith ag feachaint ar rudaí mar atá siad. Cuid de na daoine seo, bhí siad an feadh tamaill i mBaile Átha Cliath agus i gCorcaigh ach b'fhearr leo saol Dhún Chaoin ná an saol a bhí acu sna cathracha seo. Beidh daoine mar sin i gcomhnaí ann agus is féidir i slitibh simplí cabhair do thabhairt dóibh maidir leis an iascaireacht agus leis an talamh. Beidh daoine i gcomhnaí ag imeacht as mar ní féidir na daoine óga go léir a chothú ann. Beidh daoine ag imeacht as go feirmeacha eile agus go n-áiteanna eile chun obair a fháil ach na daoine a fhanann ansin coinneoidh siad an Ghaeilge agus beidh seans ag na daoine óga í a chleachtadh nuair a thagann siad abhaile ar a laethanta saoir.

Seán Ó Maoláin

Cheapas gur socraíodh an Vóta seo a thógáil idir a sé agus a seacht a chlog agus bheinn buíoch den Dáil dá gcuirftí an díospóireacht ar athló anois.

General Mulcahy

Are we to understand that it is not the Minister who is reporting progress, that we are simply adjourning the debate?

Seán Ó Maoláin

Sin é é.

Mr. Cafferky

I move to report progress.

Progress reported; Committee to sit again.