Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 118: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he has received representations on the proposed withdrawal of supports to Gaeltacht households supporting students attending Irish language courses; his position with regard to this scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34111/09]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I confirm that representations have been made to me on this matter by CONCOS, the Irish summer colleges' representative body, and by householders in the Gaeltacht who accommodate Irish students while attending such colleges. On 2 September 2009 I addressed a meeting of college representatives and householders from around the Gaeltacht on the subject. As I indicated, the recommendations in the report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes represent a set of options for consideration in the context of the 2010 budget and will fall to be examined by Government at the appropriate time. Issues relating to the Gaeltacht and the Irish language will also fall to be considered by the Cabinet Committee on Irish and the Gaeltacht in the context of its work in the preparation of the 20 year strategy for Irish.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Abolition of this scheme would be the greatest national scandal. There are three Gaeltacht areas in my constituency of Mayo to which people and families from Dublin and all over the country come to learn and to speak Irish. This provides an income for many people in those areas. This year, but for the Irish colleges, there would have been little tourism in the Gaeltacht.

I want the Minister to assure the people involved in this scheme that the grant will be available to them next year. They need to know this now to plan for next year. These people have already endured cutbacks this year by the Department of Education and Science in terms of grant aid. The Minister and his Department are responsible for promotion of the Irish language. The Minister already referred to the Irish language strategy.

I disagree with the Minister's remarks on the McCarthy report. It is a Government report. It was paid for by Government.

John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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It is an independent report.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Officials in the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs recommend the abolition of some of these schemes. Will the Minister reassure the people involved in the Gaeltacht and promotion of the Irish language that this scheme will continue next year and that the necessary grant aid will be available? It is only right that it should continue. There is no point in being hypocritical in terms of promoting the Irish language if at the same time we introduce measures that take people away from the Gaeltacht.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I am delighted to hear the Deputy supports this scheme.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I do.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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My grandfather, Sean Ó Cuív, proposed setting up the first Irish college in Baile na Gharraí in 1903. I, too, was involved in setting up an Irish college. The Irish colleges benefit the Irish language. Some 95% of people surveyed stated they are favourably disposed towards the language. I attribute much of this to the generations of people who have had positive experiences learning the language in the Gaeltacht. The Irish language has brought Gaeltacht and non-Gaeltacht areas together. I have often remarked that many people here have an attachment to Gaeltacht areas be it in Donegal, Mayo, Kerry or Galway. It is good to note that the numbers of people visiting the Gaeltacht are holding up despite the downturn in the economy. The only significant drop has been in Donegal.

Everybody, including the media and the Opposition, agrees that cutbacks are necessary but no one will state in what areas these cutbacks should be made. The Government will have to make hard choices and will have to make cutbacks. However, in making those hard choices I will reflect on the support Deputy Ring has shown today for the Irish colleges. I take from the Deputy's support that regardless of what cuts are imposed by my Department he would not wish to see any in this area.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I confirm to the House and to the people involved-----

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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The normal procedure is that the Minister answers questions posed by the Opposition.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I support the Minister and I call on him to announce this week that the necessary grant aid will be provided next year to allow the people involved to make their plans. More important, has the Minister made representations to the Department of Finance to ensure that funding will be in place for next year?

I know from where savings can be made. Do not go ahead with NAMA and take some of the money being given to the banks and invest it in the Gaeltacht areas. That is a simple solution.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I wish it were. Obviously, the Deputy has not listened to what I had to say. If we were to do anything as foolish as allow the collapse of the banking system there would be no Irish colleges and so on.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I disagree with the Minister.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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We can have that debate another day.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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NAMA is the cause of the problem.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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On the specific question, I cannot give any assurances on any of the programmes ahead of the budget.

On discussions, the Cabinet and not the Department of Finance will decide the allocations to Ministers. We will have detailed collective discussions in terms of arriving at a budget that is acceptable and ensures savings. I again thank the Deputy for his support for this scheme. When making choices, we will note that this scheme is one the Deputy values highly.

Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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Táimid uilig ar an taobh seo den Teach ag tabhairt tacaíocht don Aire maidir leis na coláistí Gaeilge.