Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 12 Dec 2000

Vol. 528 No. 1

Written Answers. - Gaeltacht Areas.

John V. Farrelly

Question:

339 Mr. Farrelly asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands the number of counties to which her Department's Gaeltacht roads scheme applies; the areas in the counties involved; the amount of moneys allocated for road repairs for each of the past three years in each of the Gaeltacht areas; the amounts she has allocated for roads in the Gaeltacht areas of County Meath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29199/00]

Minister of State at the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands (Éamon Ó Cuív)

There are seven counties namely Donegal, Mayo, Galway, Kerry, Cork, Waterford and Meath in which there are designated Gaeltacht Areas. The Gaeltacht areas are those areas which are defined by the Gaeltacht Areas Act, 1956 to 1982.

I am supplying a table to the Deputy which indicates the amounts sanctioned on a county by county basis in the years 1998, 1999, and so far this year, under subhead E of my Department's Vote in respect of roads.

Contae	1998	1999	2000*
	£	£	£
Dún na nGall	323,000	788,300	1,632,580
Maigh Eo	132,800	555,010	1,378,435
Gaillimh	642,400	1,178,850	1,972,150
Ciarraí	116,845	313,850	994,750
Corcaigh	107,800	49,750	552,200
Port Láirge	42,340	20,761	14,900
An Mhí	28,000	47,000	0
Iomlán	1,393,185	2,953,521	6,545,015

*The figure for 2000 includes the additional funding of £5 million which I secured during the year for the improvement of strategic Gaeltacht roads.

As regards provision of funding for the improvement of roads in the Meath and Waterford Gaeltacht, I should point out that I together with officials of my Department recently met with officials of Meath and Waterford County Council in relation to the preparation of a programme of works for the year 2001 and subsequent years for the improvement of strategic Gaeltacht roads and also to have initial discussions on other schemes such as scéim na mbóithre áise administered by my Department.

I hope to be in a position to announce details of the strategic Gaeltacht roads to be funded in 2001 in the different Gaeltacht areas including Meath by early in 2001.

Michael Ring

Question:

340 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive a Gaeltacht house grant; and if payment can issue before Christmas. [29244/00]

Minister of State at the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands (Éamon Ó Cuív)

An application under the Housing (Gaeltacht) Acts for a house improvement grant was received in my Department in this case in May 1999.

Following an examination of the case the application was refused because the Irish language was not the normal spoken language of the household in question.