Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I do not doubt the commitment of the Minister. I do not doubt that she is working very hard to see a policy produced but we have heard this for a very long time. In 2019 I tabled a motion in the Dáil. By comparison, in Scotland we see the population of the islands rising. We see a policy underpinned by legislation and proper resourcing. Here we have promises. I know the Minister has inherited this but we have promises. In the meantime, 70% of the population of the Gaeltacht islands is made up of Irish speakers. There has been a serious reduction in population over the time that various Governments have ignored them. Over and over, the island communities have told us they do not want charity. They have shown us how to have a resilient life. What they want is a co-ordinated plan with proper resources. I understand Deputy Kerrane has tabled a question on the LEADER programme. This directly affects the policy on the islands.

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