asked the Minister for Finance if he will state what periodicals and newspapers received grants under the scheme for the encouragement of the publication of journals in the national language, since the scheme's inception; and the total amount received by each paper to date; and also on what ground the payment of any grant whatever to the monthly, Aiséirghe, has been refused.

As the information asked for includes a tabular statement, I propose, with the Deputy's concurrence, to have the reply circulated in the Official Debates.

Following is the reply:—

The following are the particulars of grants paid to periodicals and newspapers which have received financial assistance:—

It is the practice in the administration of this scheme to pay no subsidy to periodicals published wholly in Irish which are political in character. In the light of this practice the application for a grant in respect of Aiséirghe could not be acceded to as that periodical is published under the auspices of “Ailtirí na h-Aiséirghe,” a reputedly political organisation.