Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

At the same time, we have Fianna Fáil stating one thing about water charges, yet every time it is given the opportunity to put its money where its mouth is in this Chamber it refuses to do so. It backs down.

The budget is a clear declaration of priorities. Money goes to what the Government sees as important. From 2008 to 2014, arts, culture and film investment saw a 76% reduction. This year it will see a further 16% reduction.

It is intolerable that we do not have a Minister in the Chamber for all of the speeches of Opposition Deputies. If a Minister needs to leave the Chamber, he or she should have cover. Otherwise, the only representatives of the Government we will have are Fianna Fáil Deputies.

Perhaps the Government sees the new ideas of the creativity sector in the arts as a real threat. Perhaps the contrast between the idealism of 1916 and the pay increases of members of the Government is enough to bury the heritage sector in cuts.

Not only is the Irish language the poor relation in this budget, but it has been treated with sheer contempt by the Government. We were informed that a deal had been done by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael on the Irish language. What happened to this deal? The 20 year strategy on the Irish language, which was launched several years ago with cross-party support, set a target of having 250,000 daily Irish speakers by 2030. That strategy is now in flitters. As matters stand, Irish as a community language in the Gaeltacht will come to an end with this generation. It is shocking that the Government is presiding over this development.

To ascertain the Minister's understanding of the current position with regard to achieving the 2030 target, I recently asked how many people speak the Irish language daily outside the education system. The Fine Gael Minister had no idea what the numbers were. One of the easiest ways to transmit a language is from parent to child. It costs nothing to do so. Outside the Gaeltacht, the Government spends only €20,000 per annum on this area. This is the entire amount the Government spends on supporting families who raise their children in Irish outside the Gaeltacht. This illustrates the priority the Government attaches to the Irish language.

In the years following 2008, funding to the Irish language sector was cut by almost 90%. Last year, against the tide, funding to the sector was cut again and while most sectors secured an increase in expenditure this year, funding for the Irish language has been cut by a further 9%.

The Irish language is a key element of our identity and the linguistic diversity of the globe. It has been a key repository of knowledge, literature, arts and the thinking of this nation for 1,000 years. That it has been flicked off the Cabinet table and thrown into the budget bin is an absolute disgrace.

Ba mhaith liom ceist nó dhó a chur ar an Aire. Cén fáth nach bhfuil an Rialtas seo sásta cothrom na Féinne a thabhairt don Ghaeilge? Cén fáth go bhfuil siad ag baint airgead amach as an mbuiséad sin bliain i ndiaidh bliana? Cén fáth nach bhfuil na daoine atá ina gcónaí sna Gaeltachtaí timpeall na tíre tábhachtach? Nach bhfuil sé tábhachtach postanna a chruthú i nGaillimh, i gCiarraí, i bPort Láirge, i gCorcaigh, i Maigh Eo, i gContae na Mí agus i nDún na nGall? Nach bhfuil sé tábhachtach na pobail sin a chothú as seo amach? Is é an rud is measa ná nach raibh an Rialtas sásta Aire sinsearach le Gaeilge a chur ar an gComh-aireacht. Sa Dáil dheireanach, cheap an Rialtas Aire Stáit nach raibh fiú in ann labhairt as Gaeilge. Caithfidh mé a rá go bhfuil díomá uafásach ar phobal na Gaeilge timpeall na tíre mar gheall ar an gcúlú infheistíochta sa Ghaeilge atá beartaithe sa bhuiséad seo.

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