Vol. 438 No. 6
80 Mr. Sheehan asked the Minister for the Marine if he will extend the benefits that inhabitants of Irish-speaking islands presently enjoy to inhabitants of all islands off our coast, and thereby ensure that island people will be treated equally by the State irrespective of the language spoken.
The Inter-Departmental Co-ordinating Committee on island development, which is chaired by the Department of the Marine is currently reviewing and prioritising development strategies for islands and recommending on actions to ensure a co-ordinated approach to all aspects of island development including differing treatment between Gaeltacht and non Gaeltacht islands. I expect a report from the Committee in the spring.
The treatment of non Gaeltacht islands will be considered in the context of the Committee's report.
