asked the Minister for the Gaeltacht if he is aware that in the Gibbstown-Navan area of County Meath there exists a large Irish-speaking community who should qualify for the usual Gaeltacht grants given to Gaeltacht colonies in the south and west; if he is aware that a very well-attended Irish-speaking college operates in Gibbstown during the summer months; and if it is his intention to give this Irish-speaking community the same rights as exist in other Gaeltacht areas, and thus help to spread and foster the language in this new Irish-speaking area.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Meath Gaeltacht Grants.
40.
Ní áirítear na ceantracha atá i gceist ag an Teachta mar límistéirí faoi Ordú na Límistéirí Gaeltachta, 1956. Is oth liom dá bhrí sin, nach féidir tairbhe na scéimeanna éagsúla a ceapadh chun sochair na límistéirí a háiritear faoin Ordú a thabhairt do na ceantracha sin. Níl ar intinn agam faoi láthair an tOrdú sin a leasú.
I should like to ask the Minister to give a translation of his reply in English for those who cannot speak the Irish language.
Willingly. As the areas mentioned by the Deputy are not included in the Gaeltacht Areas Order, 1956, I regret they do not qualify for the benefits of the various schemes devised for the benefit of the Gaeltacht areas included in the Order. I do not intend at present to amend the Order.
Is the Minister aware that while we are spending millions of pounds trying to save the Gaeltacht in the west of Ireland, here on the eastern seaboard, we have 50 to 60 Irish-speaking families brought in there by different Governments who have a complete knowledge of the Irish language and is it fair that these people should be neglected and disregarded for the purpose of preserving the Gaeltacht in the west? I think the eastern seaboard is much more important——
Equally important.
——and they are just as much entitled to the services given in the west.
Perhaps the Deputy is not adverting to the amount of public expenditure already incurred in the placing of these Gaeltacht families where they now are. There is at least one of the Gaeltacht services available to them, that is, the £5 scheme. If the Deputy will take these matters into consideration, he will find that they are not being neglected as he suggested.