Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy beside Deputy Tully will know, the Department does give supports to groups outside of the Foras na Gaeilge application process, such as Baile Átha Cliath le Gaeilge and Gaillimh le Gaeilge. It might be helpful if I can take the details of some of the projects the Deputy is talking about in Cavan and Monaghan and have my officials in the Department have a look at them.

The Deputy is correct with regard to people who want to rear their children through the medium of Irish or who want to school them through the medium of Irish. I would say it is probably easier, and Deputy Ó Snodaigh is smiling at me. One thing that is easier for me to mention trí mheán na Gaeilge ná trí mheán an Bhéarla is an easpa muiníne, the lack of confidence people have. We were all brought up going to school for eight years in primary school and for five years in secondary school. When I was put into the job I have, my biggest difficulty, and most people's biggest difficulty, is their confidence in Irish. It is in all of us only sometimes you have to dig it out a bit more than you have to dig out other things. I thank Deputy Ó Snodaigh and the committee for digging it out of me. The lack of confidence that most of our peers in our age group have is the saddest thing that confronts the Irish language.

If the Deputy has specific projects in Cavan and Monaghan that she wants me to look at, I will certainly do that.

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