asked the Minister for Local Government whether he will take the steps necessary to have the Fanad West electoral division, County Donegal, included in the list of areas to which the 68? per cent. Government water supply scheme grants apply.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Donegal Water Scheme Grants.
The purpose of the preferential grant referred to by the Deputy is to expedite the introduction of water supply and sewerage schemes into the Fíor-Ghaeltacht. The district electoral division of Fanad West is rated as a Breac-Ghaeltacht. Unless, therefore, the inclusion of portion of this district electoral division is required on purely engineering grounds to complete a regional water scheme designed primarily to benefit some neighbouring Fíor-Ghaeltacht there would appear to be no case for preferential treatment in its regard.
Is the Minister aware that it is hoped that this portion of the peninsula will constitute part of the regional scheme which will serve the Fíor-Ghaeltacht area? Is he further aware that the real Fíor-Ghaeltacht of the Fanad peninsula is actually contained within Fanad West? That is the reason I ask for Fanad West to be included.
As the Deputy knows, neither he nor I can do anything to turn the Breac-Ghaeltacht into the Fíor-Ghaeltacht.
It is the Fíor-Ghaeltacht.
Unfortunately it is not classified as such and has not been down through the years.
For what purpose?
For the purpose of the Gaeltacht Commission set up in 1926.
It has a Fíor-Ghaeltacht school.
The area is not classified as Fíor-Ghaeltacht, but if it can be proved for engineering purposes that it is necessary to give a supply to this particular Breac-Ghaeltacht area to which the Deputy refers——
It is not Breac-Ghaeltacht. It is known everywhere as a Fíor-Ghaeltacht area.
But officially down through the years this is the Breac-Ghaeltacht and unfortunately neither he nor I can do anything to transfer the Breac-Ghaeltacht into the Fíor-Ghaeltacht.
It has already been done.