Results 2,721-2,740 of 10,432 for speaker:Niamh Smyth

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (3 Oct 2018)

Niamh Smyth: 262. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will address concerns raised regarding reports that the Christmas bonus is to be cut in 2018; if she will clarify the matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40283/18]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Data (3 Oct 2018)

Niamh Smyth: 263. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of social welfare payments paid out by type of payment in a post office in tabular form (details supplied); the amount of each payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40285/18]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Mid-Year Review of Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Discussion (3 Oct 2018)

Niamh Smyth: I thank the Minister for her presentation. I will use my time to ask questions and get answers, if that is okay - no speeches. Perhaps the first question is for the Minister of State, Deputy McHugh. On the first item, Bliain na Gaeilge, I note-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Mid-Year Review of Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Discussion (3 Oct 2018)

Niamh Smyth: This is still on the expenditure of €178 million on Bliain na Gaeilge.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Mid-Year Review of Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Discussion (3 Oct 2018)

Niamh Smyth: Section A. I am just after reading it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Mid-Year Review of Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Discussion (3 Oct 2018)

Niamh Smyth: The objective is to protect and support the Irish language in Gaeltacht communities. Does the Minister of State have any idea of the number of Gaelscoileanna that were set up this year, considering it is Bliain na Gaeilge? As for promotion of the Irish language, does he have any idea whether many Irish language primary schools have been set up, given the year that is in it? This is really...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Mid-Year Review of Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Discussion (3 Oct 2018)

Niamh Smyth: It is important. It is pointless to spend money on promoting the Irish language while seeing a post office closing in those areas. It is a place where people can engage with the language every day.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Mid-Year Review of Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Discussion (3 Oct 2018)

Niamh Smyth: It should be given special status.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Mid-Year Review of Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Discussion (3 Oct 2018)

Niamh Smyth: This is Bliain na Gaeilge so will new schools be established?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Mid-Year Review of Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Discussion (3 Oct 2018)

Niamh Smyth: The local authorities have a role to play in this. They were designated to do something to promote the Irish language.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Mid-Year Review of Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Discussion (3 Oct 2018)

Niamh Smyth: What tools is the Minister of State putting in place to measure the success of Bliain na Gaeilge?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Mid-Year Review of Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Discussion (3 Oct 2018)

Niamh Smyth: Are there any specific measures for the end of Bliain na Gaeilge to see how the language has been promoted? How many more schools, for example, have come about as a result of this? Is there a measurement?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Mid-Year Review of Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Discussion (3 Oct 2018)

Niamh Smyth: I am only using that as an example and I am sure the Minister of State has his own examples.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Mid-Year Review of Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Discussion (3 Oct 2018)

Niamh Smyth: It is a pilot scheme, so what measures are being put in place to see that this is being effective?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Mid-Year Review of Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Discussion (3 Oct 2018)

Niamh Smyth: There is constant monitoring.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Mid-Year Review of Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Discussion (3 Oct 2018)

Niamh Smyth: Go raibh maith agat. We are now moving on. Tá brón orm, tá an Teachta Canney ag iarraidh teacht isteach.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Mid-Year Review of Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Discussion (3 Oct 2018)

Niamh Smyth: I congratulate the Minister of State. I am passionate and, like Deputy Canney, I have been trying with the language. I was up in Donegal last year at the Gaeltacht at Oideas Gael-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Mid-Year Review of Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Discussion (3 Oct 2018)

Niamh Smyth: If anything, it gave me a love of the language again even though I am not proficient. In Cavan, we look at Monaghan with envy. It has four primary schools, namely, those in Clones, Monaghan town, Castleblayney and Carrickmacross. There is also the fabulous Coláiste Oiriall secondary school in Monaghan town. We have just one primary school, namely, that in Cavan town. Perhaps the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Mid-Year Review of Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Discussion (3 Oct 2018)

Niamh Smyth: I thank the Minister of State. We are almost at the conclusion of our meeting. We still have programme D. We have the Minister's speech on it, so perhaps we could just note that and if any members have questions, we could email them to her directly. Would that be acceptable?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Mid-Year Review of Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Discussion (3 Oct 2018)

Niamh Smyth: Is that agreed? Agreed. I thank everybody for attending.