Denis Naughten
Question:156 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs his proposals to rationalise Gaeltacht and Irish language schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8381/03]
Written Answers - Irish Language.
Irish language schemes in the Gaeltacht are continually kept under review with a view to making them more effective and suitable for today's needs. Among the schemes in regard to which reviews have been completed or commenced since 2000 are: the Irish summer colleges scheme; Scéim Labhairt na Gaeilge; Gaeltacht summer camps; and the Gaeltacht Irish language assistants scheme.
In addition, a new Housing (Gaeltacht) (Amendment) Act relevant to Gaeltacht housing grants was enacted in 2001. Furthermore, the Gaeltacht roads scheme was extended in 2000 to include strategic roads in the Gaeltacht and a new strategic plan for Gaeltacht piers is also being implemented.
The Deputy will also be aware from my reply to Questions Nos. 108, 116, 126, 137, 139 and 141 that I have initiated a process designed to bring greater cohesion across local and community development programmes generally. Separately, I will be specifically looking at how such programmes and schemes operate in the Gaeltacht with a view to achieving better coherence and more efficient delivery of these services to Gaeltacht communities.
In order to advise me on the actions necessary to give practical implementation to proposals contained in the report of Coimisiún na Gaeltachta 2002, I established an advisory committee last October whose recommendations will form the basis of action plans which will have deliver able targets and will be aimed at strengthening the Irish language in the Gaeltacht.
In the context of Irish language policy in general, I refer the Deputy to my reply to today's Questions Nos. 125 and 143.