Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I have always been treated with courtesy and my experience has always been a good one. I ask that Virgin Media keep doing what it is doing. I agree with many of the comments made by the members. Virgin Media is good at getting out on the ground, even to a small town like Bailieborough in County Cavan one evening at the start of the pandemic. It means a great deal to people in more rural parts of the country that it is not just Dublin-centric or urban-centric. Many people live in the rural parts of our island and the coverage by Virgin Media is greatly appreciated. I compliment Mr. Farrell and his staff. I have great admiration for what they do.

Turning to Mr. Esslemont and TG4, we have seen a significant rise in the number of Gaelscoileanna across the country, especially at primary level. We have one in County Cavan and four in County Monaghan. Coláiste Oiriall secondary school is also in Monaghan. TG4 is obviously hugely important in ensuring that young people feel their language and culture have relevance. Will Mr. Esslemont give us an insight into the creation of content to nurture an appreciation of the language among young people? I watch some of TG4's output, even though I am not a fluent Irish speaker. I would love to be, though. I have a little one who is only four years old, and I have put on TG4 in the mornings since she was very small. She does not go to a Gaelscoil, but being aware of the language and hearing it spoken are important. I can only imagine the importance of TG4 for those children who have that wonderful opportunity to go to a Gaelscoil. Will Mr. Esslemont tell us about the work TG4 does in nurturing the language among young people? Is there a case for having a national radio station to promote the Irish language to young people in popular culture terms?