Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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I am glad to have the opportunity to speak at this committee. For some time I have been hoping to talk to the Minister of State in a public forum such as this because what I have to talk about is very important to some on the Ballinskelligs side of my constituency. Across the road today we met wonderful people from Conradh na Gaeilge which does great work and is trying to survive. We also met people from the islands. The Minister of State also comes from a county that has islands lying off it. We must support them in whatever way we can to ensure people will remain on them because it is tough going. I know that they do well in the summer, but the winter is long. They point out that since 2007 or 2008 the budget for the islands has been cut by 70%. They are not asking to have it restored all in one year and have made out a programme. Their hope or wish is that from next year, through 2020 and 2021, the Government will at least restore the budget to what it was in 2007 and 2008. As we all know, costs, including the cost of living, have gone through the roof. This is a very reasonable request because the people in question do wonderful work.

I am not a good Irish speaker, but I can understand what is being said, in case anyone thinks I do not. Again, we have to support those who speak the language. They are part of our heritage and trying to do their best. It is very important that the Minister of State remember and fight for them. I know that he is not the senior Minister, but he must tackle the fellows to ensure he will get a slice for the people both he and I represent.

The proposed closure of the post office in Ballinskelligs has frightened the daylights out of the people living there. It is a wonderful community which is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean on three sides. If one were to travel westward, the next stop would be New York. When I hear the Minister of State say that if the post office is not retained in Ballinskelligs - I hope it will be - he will provide supports in post offices in adjoining areas - Cahersiveen and Waterville - I have to remind him of the distances involved. For many living on the islands, it is 22 km one way or a return journey of 44 km, or about 30 miles, which is not on. We have the advantage of having a local shopkeeper who has signalled that he would prepared to tender for the post office contract. One of the early meetings we attended was in respect of Ballylongford post office. I am sorry to say I was notified today that the appeal to have the contract tendered for has been refused by An Post. I hope that will not happen in the case of Ballinskelligs post office for reasons to do with the Gaelic language and culture. There were up to 400 people at the meeting which I attended. What was very interesting about it was that everyone of the many who spoke mostly spoke in Irish. In that context, it would not be fair to take them out of that environment to a place where English is mainly spoken such as Cahersiveen or Waterville. When they go into the post office in Ballinskelligs, they speak in Irish to their neighbours and whoever else is in it at the time. It is totally different. If we cannot save this one post office, we do not have much hope of saving the Irish language and I cannot see where we are going. In the light of the fact that the Minister of State said he was prepared to provide resources in adjoining post offices, I ask him to ensure whatever resources he is prepared to provide be used to support the retention of the post office in Ballinskelligs and that he support any associated appeal. We are very lucky. We have the one person who is interested and has another business that would be run side by side. His name is Nicholas Brown.

I will do everything to support his application. I appeal to the Minister of State to follow this up because I believe he has a role to play in supporting the Irish language.

Peadar Mac Fhlannchadha travelled all the way from Galway to that meeting in the very deepest corner of south Kerry to support the people who were badly upset and completely at sea. If they lose this post office, they will lose their identity as a Gaeltacht Irish-speaking community. I am asking the Minister of State for all the support he can give in the appeal by this community to save its post office.