Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 11 Mar 2004

Vol. 582 No. 2

Adjournment Debate.

School Placement.

Ms O’Sullivan

I welcome the opportunity to raise this very serious matter. I regret the Minister for Education and Science is not here as I understand he is out of the country. While I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Callely, for taking the matter, I am disappointed the Minister for Education and Science or a Minister of State at that Department is not here to reply. I am aware the Minister knows about this matter as I heard him speak about it on radio.

When I submitted notice of this matter on Tuesday, the figure as I knew it was 54 children. I understand now that the number of children who have yet to receive a place is 77. They are all boys. In raising this issue, I seek to ensure that the Minister and his Department are in a position to do something about it before it becomes a real crisis for the young people involved. I also seek to ensure that the Department of Education and Science is willing to intervene, if necessary, to provide places for these boys.

The problem is not that there are not enough places in Limerick schools. It appears that a very small number of schools are selective about their intake when schools should in no way cherry pick the children they take in. A difficulty in Limerick is the absence of particular catchment areas. The entire city and parts of the surrounding county form the catchment for its schools. As there is not a problem with girls, it seems to be the case that certain schools are choosing their pupils and, as a result, making it very difficult for other schools to strike a social and academic balance among their students. The Department should be willing to intervene if necessary.

I attended a meeting last Monday night at which it was decided to approach secondary school principals as a group to try to find a solution. While that may well work, I want a commitment from the Minister that his Department will intervene if it does not. Under section 29 of the Education Act parents may appeal if their children do not obtain a place. While the parents concerned have been doing that, Department officials and education welfare officers also have a role. I wish to be assured that the Minister is aware of that and of the possible need for his officials to intervene.

I spoke to a primary school principal today who told me that seven boys in her school have not been placed for September. A school, which took eight boys from her school last year, has taken none this year. I suspect this is an issue in other parts of the country as well as Limerick. There is a need to rationalise the system to provide clarity for people in the primary school sector, particularly parents and children. They should be informed of the way in which to obtain a second level place.

It is not fair that young people should be made to feel they are not wanted. There is a very serious effect on the young boys concerned. Naturally, they feel that this is somehow the result of a failure on their part, when it is not. The failure is on the part of the system. The Minister for Education and Science is ultimately responsible for ensuring that system works for all children. For that reason I would like him to get involved, rather than leave us to solve the issue at local level. While we will obviously do whatever we can, there may well be a need for ministerial intervention this year.

There is a need for a general examination of the manner in which places are allocated at second level. It is not just a problem for Limerick. I saw that parents in north Dublin queued outside certain schools overnight to get places. In some ways, that system looks fairer. At least, the place in which one lives or one's academic ability at primary school is not at issue. It is about one's willingness to sit up all night to wait for a place. While in some ways that is equitable, it is still not the right way to approach this matter.

There is a need for the Department to examine the issue of transferring from primary to secondary level. When she was Minister, Niamh Bhreathnach abolished entrance examinations and this solved part of the cherry picking problem. From my experience, I think this has started again.

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Science (Mr. Callely)

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter in this House as it affords me the opportunity, on behalf of the Minister for Education and Science, to outline to the House the current position regarding post-primary pupil places in Limerick city.

As a father of two sons and a daughter I can relate to what the Deputy has said about an appropriate mechanism to let people know how the system of school placement works. It was with dismay that I brought to the attention of the principal of the secondary school at which my son is enrolled that the parents of a child had registered him with a number of secondary schools so that they might have a wider choice. If parents did not go outside the normal system, it would allow those who must make the final decision to know the cards they have been dealt.

I concur with the view the Deputy expressed about the media-highlighted queues of parents seeking placement for their children. I do not feel this is the best system and I agree that a better system can be achieved. If the Deputy is not satisfied with my response, I will be happy to provide her with further assistance.

The selection and enrolment of pupils in second level schools is the responsibility of the authorities of the individual school. On the general question of the provision of school places, the main responsibility of the Department of Education and Science is to ensure that sufficient places exist at primary and post-primary level to meet demand in a given area. This may result in some pupils not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice. As schools may not have a place for every applicant, a selection process may be necessary.

As regards the application of fair and objective entrance criteria for entry to second level schools, the Department of Education and Science has agreed with the three post-primary managerial associations that the selection of pupils for enrolment in second level schools should not be based on academic ability and selection on that basis, where used heretofore, must be discontinued. Under section 15(2)(d) of the Education Act 1998, each school is legally obliged to disclose its enrolment policy and the criteria used in selecting pupils for enrolment to inform parents of the selection procedures and to allay fears of discrimination. The principle of the school working in and for the community it serves should be emphasised and emphasis should be placed by post-primary schools on catering, in the first instance, for children from their own communities and catchment areas.

Section 29 of the Education Act 1998 provides parents with an appeal process where the board of management of a school, or a person acting on behalf of the board, refuses enrolment of a student. Where an appeal under section 29 is upheld, the Secretary General of the Department of Education and Science may direct a school to enrol a pupil. No application for an appeal under section 29 of the Education Act 1998 has been lodged with the Department in respect of refusal to enrol in any post-primary school in the Limerick area for the school year 2004-05.

Ms O’Sullivan

I expect that applications have been lodged by now.

Mr. Callely

It would be a pity if it were to come to this. As there are 12 secondary schools, two vocational schools and one comprehensive college in Limerick city, the Department of Education and Science is satisfied that there is sufficient capacity to meet the demand arising from pupils leaving primary schools in the area.

I hope this response has been somewhat helpful. If I can be of further assistance, I will be happy to provide it.

Genetically Modified Foods.

Mr. Mulcahy

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this matter for the Adjournment Debate. This is a matter of the utmost concern to Irish citizens.

A draft Commission decision was taken on this matter last year and came before the EU Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health on 8 December 2003. For some reason, Ireland voted in favour of the introduction of genetically modified sweetcorn. This decision has not been scrutinised by the Dáil. Neither has it come before the Oireachtas committees on agriculture or health. I raised this matter with the Committee on European Affairs, as a result of which a decision was taken this morning that it will be sent for scrutiny to the committees on agriculture and health.

This is a matter of grave public concern. I do not see why Ireland should support genetically modified food. Certain people will say that scientific advice leads them to believe it is safe. However, no scientist or person can give an absolute guarantee that the food is safe or that the food chain will not be contaminated.

A decision was made in England earlier in the week allowing a test on genetically modified maize to be carried out. The regime under which it is to be carried out is extremely protective and the issue of compensation for adjoining landowners was also discussed.

This draft decision will now come up for discussion at the Agriculture Council in April. Ireland has a reputation as a producer of healthy, natural food. Why support this decision? It is not in our interests. Many countries, including Denmark, Greece, France, Luxembourg, Austria and Portugal, opposed this decision last year. They cannot all be wrong.

This is a serious matter and I am not convinced that it has received enough consideration at Government level. Public opinion is completely against this. There may already be GM ingredients in food that we do not know about. I ask the Minister of State to involve himself and his Department in this debate. We do not need to introduce GM foods. There is no compelling reason why Ireland should change from being one of the world's leading natural food producers to being just another country that produces GM food. If GM food and agriculture is introduced in this country, our reputation as a food producer is bound to be sullied.

I am totally against this and will argue against it with as much vigour as I can. I do not believe it formed part of any party's policy at the last general election. The balance of advantage is to exclude GM material from the Irish food chain. Farmers do not need it and consumers do not want it. Those who are pushing it should meet with us to explain why GM food should be introduced into this country.

Mr. Callely

I thank my good friend and colleague, Deputy Mulcahy, for raising this matter. His views are appreciated and I have noted the concerns he has expressed.

At a meeting of the EU standing committee on the food chain and animal health on 8 December 2003, member states were asked to give an opinion on a draft Commission decision authorising the placing on the market of sweetcorn from a genetically modified maize line BT11 under regulation (EC) No. 258/97 of the European Parliament and of the Council. The Irish representative at the meeting voted in favour of the Commission proposal.

This decision was based on the scientific risk assessment undertaken on this product, initially by the Netherlands food assessment body and subsequently by the EU Scientific Committee on Food, which concluded that BT11 sweet maize is as safe for human food use as conventional sweet maize.

Ireland's position also reflected the fact that safeguard measures on labelling and traceability are now in place following the completion of the European legislative framework for GMOs earlier this year. This new legislation ensures full traceability of GMOs throughout the chain from farm to table and provides consumers with comprehensive information by labelling all food and feed consisting of, containing or produced from a GMO.

Deputy Mulcahy may be interested to know that this saga is not yet over. As a qualified majority was not achieved in the vote on 8 December, the matter has recently been referred to the Council for a decision. The Council has three months from the date of the referral to adopt or reject the proposal by qualified majority. If a qualified majority is not achieved, the proposal will revert to the Commission which may make a decision under its own authority.

Mr. Mulcahy

It would be sad if the Commission made a decision.

Mr. Callely

I will ask my officials to bring this debate to the attention of the Commission. Perhaps Deputy Mulcahy would like to take up the matter directly with the Commission.

The three month deadline for a decision by the Council expires at the end of April. In the absence of a health Council in that timescale, it is planned that the Council of Agriculture and Fisheries Ministers will consider the matter at its meeting on 26 and 27 April. Ireland's national position in Council will continue to be based on the scientific risk assessment that BT11 sweet maize is as safe as conventional sweet maize. However, Ireland, as Council President, will be obliged to act in a neutral fashion that will seek to resolve the issue by a qualified majority.

I am satisfied that appropriate arrangements are in place to ensure the safety of authorised GM foods, or foods containing GM ingredients, placed on the market in Ireland. The EU has one of the most rigorous regimes for the assessment of GMOs as well as food and feed derived from GMOs. In this regard only GM foods which, satisfy the highest standards of safety, are allowed on the market.

Crime Levels.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Last year, 17 shootings were recorded by the Garda in Dublin South-Central, even though there were more. So far this year, there have been eight more murders and it is now just March. There were three murders by gun attack last year and already this year there have been four murders, all in the space of a month. The majority of these incidents have been drugs gang related, yet so far only one person has been brought before the courts.

While the Minister's attention has been focused on his war on the rights-based society, immigrants, republicans and the Good Friday Agreement, I am sure the Minister of State will agree that this is an absolutely unacceptable situation. The people of Dublin South-Central deserve better. They deserve the same level of protection and response they would enjoy if they lived in, say, Dublin South-East or Ranelagh.

While this is all happening around us and the people of Dublin South-Central are under virtual siege, the Minister has spent the last number of weeks and months launching unsubstantiated, unfounded and reckless attacks on my party. He has spent an inordinate amount of time in the media and on the airwaves declaring his distaste for my party, yet he does not appear to have given a second thought to the decent people in the communities I represent. It is time the Minister got off his high horse, came down from his ivory tower and addressed the issues that concern the ordinary citizens of this State, and not the mythical republican phantoms he has been chasing around Dublin docklands.

Real crime is being committed each day across the city. Real people are being affected by it. Real lives are being lost and real damage is being done to our communities. What has been the Minister's response? In reply to a question on Tuesday on the matter, he stated the Garda management has adequate resources to investigate these murders. I do not doubt that, but the question is whether they have the resources necessary to prevent them, respond to the incidents and provide security for citizens. In my area they do not.

In Ballyfermot where the latest murder occurred on Sunday evening, there is just one Garda patrol car available at night according to the gardaí on the beat, not the 11 cars to which the Minister referred in reply to a recent parliamentary question. Ballyfermot Garda station was downgraded two years ago, therefore Clondalkin gets first call on resources and personnel. If the 400 or so special branch officers, or the 600 gardaí on traffic duty, were reassigned to working-class communities to tackle drugs crime, a message would go out that the Government was serious about tackling crime in this State. However, the reality is very different.

The reality is that the Government appears to be more interested in horses and greyhounds than it is in people. The latest budget indicated that the Government gave as much to the horse and greyhound racing fund as it did to all the drugs task forces dotted across the State.

A former Garda Commissioner stated that more than 75% of crime in the city is drugs related. The Garda would know because too often it seems a blind eye is being turned at some of the activities of these criminals because they are Garda informers. They are allowed to ply their poisonous trade openly on the streets and now it appears they can murder at will. The Minister's job is to tackle this scandal, tackle the increase in shootings and tackle inequality, poverty and disadvantage, the underlying conditions that give rise to much of the crime and drug abuse that plague my area.

If there were three drugs related murders in his constituency in a month it would make national headlines for days, if not weeks, and the appropriate response to the problem would be forthcoming immediately. The citizens of Ballyfermot, Crumlin or the south inner city are just as deserving of action to tackle the scourge of drugs and the related regular shootings and murders. I am not calling for a Limerick-type response, with the ERU patrolling the streets of Dublin South-Central. I am seeking that drugs crime in this State and city, and in Dublin South-Central in particular, should be taken seriously and given priority by the Government. It should begin to address seriously the problem in a multi-faceted and multi-agency way. It should provide the resources and urgent attention the problem deserves and consider the possible establishment of a task force to take on this task.

Last week the local community policing forum met. They discussed whether to suspend themselves indefinitely because they cannot get resources from the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform to pay for stationery and normal office requirements. They asked for a co-ordinator for each division, which was refused, and then for a co-ordinator for all three, which was also refused. They cannot get a penny from the State to try to tackle some of the issues the Minister and the Garda should be tackling. This is not good enough.

The Minister must take seriously drugs crime in this city and State. This is not happening because resources are not being made available from within the Garda budget. Unless the matter is dealt with, the problem will continue to worsen.

Mr. Callely

I thank Deputy Ó Snodaigh for raising this important issue and giving me the opportunity, on behalf of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, to update the House on the matter raised.

There have been four murders in the Dublin South-Central division since 1 January this year. There has been a detection in respect of one of these and a person is before the courts. In another case a file is being prepared for the direction of the law officers and investigations are ongoing in respect of the other two murders committed, one of which occurred as recently as last weekend.

With regard to a number of these incidents, the media have used terms such as "gangland murders" and "drugs-related" killings. The Deputy will appreciate that I do not wish to say anything that could jeopardise the proper investigation of any particular incident by ascribing a particular motive to it. Whether these terms are appropriate, I can assure the House that the Garda Síochána subjects all murders and violent crimes to detailed investigations. There is no question of the Garda treating some murders with less seriousness than others because some victims are believed to have been involved in crime.

There seems to be an increasing tendency where some of these crimes are reported to assume, simply because the victim may have had some involvement in criminal activity, that these murders are what would be regarded as organised or gangland crime. While I do not want to comment on any particular case, I will say that that approach can be very misleading. The motives for particular offences can vary substantially and, in some cases, may not be related to a person's involvement or otherwise in crime.

The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform has met the Garda Commissioner and other senior Garda personnel a number of times to discuss crimes which might be put in the category of gangland or organised crime. He is satisfied that the necessary resources, both operational and financial, are being directed towards the containment and detection of such crimes. The Minister has been assured by the Garda authorities that the resources at the disposal of local Garda management to investigate these murders are adequate. It is not considered necessary to set up a taskforce in the Dublin South-Central division.

The Garda authorities have established an operation under the direction of a detective garda superintendent who has initiated a number of different Garda operations specifically aimed at targeting organised criminal gangs in the Dublin metropolitan region. This operational unit is liaising closely with other specialised Garda units and detectives throughout Dublin. The operation is ongoing and has resulted in the arrest and imprisonment of persons and associates connected with these gangs. The Garda authorities have also assured the Minister that the targeting of these criminal gangs is continuing. No doubt, the Deputy will join with me in condemning all those who perpetrate or are beneficiaries of organised crime.

The establishment of specialist Garda units such as the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the Criminal Assets Bureau, the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation and the Garda national drug unit, operating under an Assistant Commissioner in charge of national support services, has enabled the Garda Síochána to tackle organised crime effectively. Other smaller units, including the money laundering investigation unit and a unit dealing with the theft of computer components, have also had successes in combating the activities of organised criminals.

I take this opportunity to pay tribute to the Garda Commissioner, the Deputy Garda Commissioner, his management team and each member of the force for the tremendous work they carry out. Sometimes they take huge personal risks in ensuring that our State remains properly policed. However, the difficulties faced by the Garda in successfully investigating such crimes should not be underestimated. Organised crime, by its very nature, creates a climate of fear, not only for the general public but also for the criminals themselves. There are potentially huge profits involved in organised crime, particularly the evil drugs trade. To these criminals money is power and many are prepared to take whatever action is necessary to protect their positions, including violence and murder in some cases.

The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform has spoken to the Garda Commissioner about this category of crime. He has been informed that the necessary resources have been directed to it and that a continued, proactive and integrated approach is taken by the Garda to the investigation of cases where there is a suspicion of involvement of organised criminals. The Garda Commissioner has assured the Minister that no effort will be spared to solve such crimes and bring those involved to justice.

Deputy Ó Snodaigh made the regrettable remark that the Minister does not care. The Minister has taken a strong position on a number of issues and shown his mettle. Whatever Deputy Ó Snodaigh feels about attacks on his party, that matter should be taken up with the Minister. I have no doubt the Minister would not have made those comments unless he had satisfactory and sufficient evidence available to him via intelligence.

Every murder, whether it is connected with organised crime or not, is fully investigated by the Garda Síochána and, thankfully, it has a considerable track record in this regard.

Cailliúint Postanna.

Mr. McGinley

Tá lúchár orm an dheis a bheith agam an t-ábhar tábhachtach seo a ardú ar an Athló sa Dáil. Seo é an chéad uair a phléamar cúrsaí dífhostaíochta i dTír Chonaill nó sna cheantair Ghaeltachta. Is maith an rud é go bhfuilimid ag plé cúrsaí dífhostaíochta i nDún na nGall sa Dáil mar tá scéal tar éis teacht amach ó mhonarcain Unifi i Leitir Cheannan inniu go bhfuil 120 post eile á chailliúint ansin. Cailleadh 250 post ansin cúpla mí ó shin. Sin 370 post ar fad. Cé go bhfuil an monarcan lonnaithe i Leitir Cheannan, tá go leor de mhuintir na Gaeltachta ó Chloch an Fhialla, mo pharóiste féin agus an Ghaeltacht lár ag obair sa mhonarcain sin agus tá siad ag fáil scéil um thráthnóna go bhfuil sé scór eile acu ag dul chun bóthair.

Léiríonn sé arís an ghéarchéim fostaíoctha atá sa chondae agus go speisialta sa Ghaeltacht. Chuir an phríomh-oifig staidéar tuairisce ar fáil cúpla mí ó shin a bhí bunaithe ar an daonáireamh 2002. Dúirt sé go raibh an ráta dífhostaíochta is airde sa tír — 15.6% — i nDún na nGall. Deireann an oifig go raibh an meán-ráta dífhostaíochta ar fud na tíre faoi 5%. Mar sin, d'fhéadfaí a rá go bhfuil an ráta dífhostaíochta i dTír Chonaill trí huaire an ráta náisiúnta agus b'fhéidir go bhfuil sé níos airde fós sa Ghaeltacht.

Ba mhaith liom tagairt go speisialta don cheantar Gaeltachta agus go h-áirithe na paróistí na Rossa, Gaoith Dóbhair agus Cloch Cheann Fhaola. Is dóigh gurb é an phríomh-ionad fostaíochta a bhí ansin, mar is eol don Aire, ná an eastáit tionsclaíochta Gaoith Dóbhair, nó páirc gnó Ghaoith Dóbhair mar a thugtar air inniu. Le cúpla bliain anuas, tá 1,000 post caillte ansin. Tá 250 cruthaithe agus admhaím agus cuirim fáilte roimhe sin. Fágann sé sin cailliúint de 750 post.

Ní iontas ar bith go mbíonn cruinnithe ag na daoine a chaill a gcuid postanna i nGaoith Dóbhair, na Rossa, Cloch Cheann Fhaola agus ceantair eile Gaeltachta ansin. Bhí cúpla cruinnithe acu le seachtain anuas agus iad ag iarraidh fáil amach cad a bhí in ann dóibh. Níl siad ag iarraidh an ceantar a fhágáil ach níl mórán dóchas acu mar ní fheiceann siad go bhfuil aon fhostaíocht ceart ag teacht isteach chun na 750 postanna a chailliú a dhéanamh suas. Is dóigh go bhfuil freagracht áirithe ar Údarás na Gaeltactha. Tá freagracht cinnte ar Roinn Ghnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta, ar an Rialtas agus, is dóigh, orainn go léir.

Ceann de na rudaí is mó a chuireann isteach ar phostanna agus tionscail a tharraingt go Tír Chonaill agus an iarthar ná an easpa infheistíochta. Chonaic mé tuairisc ón ESRI nuair a rinneadh athbhreithniú ar an phlean forbartha náisiúnta a dúirt go raibh an infheistíocht san iarthar agus i nDún na nGall 41% taobh thiar den ráta a dúradh ag an am, agus go raibh an bhearna idir an infheistíochta san iarthar agus an chuid eile den tír ag éirigh níos measa. Nuair a bhíonn tionsclóirí ag cinneadh cén áit tionscail a chur, dár ndóigh, cuireann rudaí mar sin isteach orthu agus cuidíonn sé leo a n-intinn a dhéanamh suas. Tá sé deacair tionscail a mhealladh nuair nach bhfuil an infheistíocht agus infrastruchtúr ceart ann i bhfoirm bóithre. Níl mé ag caint faoi bhóithre go dtí an chontae, ach taobh istigh den chontae. Aithníom go bhfuil scéim na mbóithre idir láimhe ag an Aire agus cuirim fáilte roimh é sin agus is cuidiú é, ach ní leor é chun an t-easnamh atá ann ar feadh na mblianta a dhéanamh suas. Tá cuid de na monarchan a bhí ag an Údarás ar an eastát tionscail ann le deich mbliana is fiche smál chaite. Tá géarghá do iad a dhéanamh nua aimsirthe. Caithimid na monarchan a athchóiriú agus a aththógáil chun tionscail nua aimsirthe a thabhairt isteach.

Tá cúrsaí traenála á reáchtáil sa chontae. Sílim go bhfuil 300 sa cheanntar Gaeltachta ar chúrsaí traenála i láthair na huaire, cuid acu ag FÁS agus Institiúid Teicneolaíochta Leitir Ceanainn. Nuair a mbeidh na cursaí sin déanta, beidh buíon de daoine óga oilte ansin le na scileanna. Caithfimid an infheistíocht a tharraing isteach, na monarchan a aththógáil agus a athchóiriú agus an fhostaíocht a chur ar fáil. Tá sé de dhualgas orm é seo a phlé anseo go leanúnach go dtí go bhfuil feabhas cheart curtha ar chursaí sa pháirt sin den chontae, go háirithe sa Gaeltacht.

Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (Éamon Ó Cuív)

Ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghlacadh leis an Teachta Mac Fhionnlaíoch as ucht na ceiste seo a ardú. Tuigim go bhfuil imní air, mar atá ar mo chomhleacaithe sa Dáilcheantar céanna, an tAire Mary Coughlan agus an tAire Stáit Pat the Cope Gallagher, faoin méid post a cailleadh i gceantar Ghaoth Dobhair le tamall anuas.

Mar is eol don Teachta, an fáth is mó gur cailleadh postanna i nGaoth Dobhair le cúpla bliain anuas ná go bhfuil lagú an-mhór tarlaithe san earnáil déantúsaíochta mar gheall ar chuinsí náisiúnta agus idirnáisiúnta nach bhfuil aon smacht againn orthu. Go bunusach, tá an iomaíocht domhanda mar chuid lárnach de shaol an lae inniu ann agus ní féidir neamhaird a thabhairt ar na fíricí a bhaineann leis an ngné seo. Mar shampla, caithfear a aithint go bhfuil daoine i dtíortha eile, lena mbaineann eacnamaíocht ar ísealchostas, ag obair ar phá i bhfad níos lú na mar atá i gceist in Éirinn. Tá tionchar mór aige seo ar na seantionscail déantúsaíochta traidisiúnta a bhí mar bhunús don pháirc gnó i nGaoth Dobhair go stairiúil.

Mar a dúirt mé le linn athló sa Dáil ar an ábhar seo cheana, is cúis imní dom féin agus d'Údarás na Gaeltachta aon phostanna a bheith á gcailliúint in aon tionscal Gaeltachta, agus go háirithe i nGaoth Dobhair, áit ata buailte go dona le cúpla bliain anuas.

Tá aitheanta ag Údarás na Gaeltachta go bhfuil gá le cur chuige nuálach straitéiseach chun cruthú agus caomhnú fostaíochta sa Ghaeltacht a threisiú, mar aisfhreagra ar na hathruithe atá ag tarlú san eacnamaíocht dhomhanda agus náisiúnta. Caithfear dul i ngleic le dúshláin nua maidir le riachtanais, roghanna agus mianta fostaíochta phobal na Gaeltachta. Tá an cur chuige seo sonraithe i Ráitis Chinnbhliana agus i dTuarascálacha Bliantúla an Údaráis le tamall anuas, agus go deimhin sna gníomhartha praiticiúla atá togtha ag an eagraíocht, le tacaíocht mo Roinne.

Tá an Teach seo ar an eolas maidir leis na céimeanna atá togtha chun borradh a chur faoi chursaí fostaíochta i nGaeltacht Dhún na nGall. Luaim ach go háirithe An Grúpa Oibre ar Chruthú Fostaíochta sa Ghaeltacht a chuir moltaí ar fáil ina thuarascáil i Nollaig 2002. Ag eascairt as an tuarascáil seo, bhunaigh Údarás na Gaeltachta coiste gníomhaíochta agus cuireadh plean i dtoll a chéile chun dul i ngleic le fadhb na dífhostaíochta i gceantar Ghaoth Dobhair ach go háirithe. Tá dul chun cinn maith leanúnach á dhéanamh. Mar shampla, tá freagracht ar leith ar fheidhmeannach sinsearach de chuid an Údaráis, i gcomhairle le coiste feidhme, chun plean gníomhaíochta ar chruthu fostaíochta a stiúradh agus a chur i bhfeidhm; tá sprioc fostaíochta de 200 post nua in aghaidh na bliana leagtha sios. Dar ndóigh, is cúis sóláis gur gineadh 185 post nua i 2003 do pháirc ghnó Ghaoth Dobhair chomh maith le 274 post a ceadaíodh. Tá comhfhiontar aontaithe idir an tÚdarás agus Ollscoil Éireann Gaillimh chun €2 mhilliún a infheistiú le forbairt a dhéanamh ar ionad oideachais tríú leibhéal agus tionscail seirbhíse san earnáil nua-aimseartha. Thoiligh Ollscoil Náisiúnta na hÉireann, Gaillimh infheistíocht de €1 milliún a dhéanamh ar mhaithe leis an ionad oideachais tríú leibhéal a fhorbairt.

Tá tús curtha le feachtas fuinniúil margaíochta le hinfheistíocht a mhealladh on earnéil seirbhísí go dtí Gaoth Dobhair. Thug os cionn 20 dream éagsúil cuairt ar pháirc ghnó Ghaoth Dobhair le deich mí anuas. Ba ionadaithe iad seo ó chomhlachtaí ata ag breathnú ar dheiseanna infheistíochta in Éirinn agus i dtíortha eile san Eoraip. Tuigim go bhfuil toradh maith cheana féin ar dhá cheann de na cuairteanna suíomh seo sa chaoi is go bhfuil tograí ar leith tagtha chun cinn agus go bhfuil idirbheartaíocht ar siúl go fóill le roinnt cuairteoirí eile.

Tá an tÚdarás ag cur tacaíochta ar fáil d'oiliunaithe chun scileanna nua a fhoghlaim trí chursaí oiliúna agus oideachais a chur ar fáil i gcomharsanacht pháirc ghnó Ghaoth Dobhair. Le linn 2003, mar shampla, chláraigh 199 ar chursaí atá ag plé le hábhair éagsúla cosúil le telesheirbhísí agus cuntasaíocht. Tá na cúrsaí seo faoi stiúir agus a maoiniú ag FÁS. Tá cúrsa ar leith do theicneóirí ríomhaireachta, atá creidiúnaithe ag HETAC, a reáchtáil i gcomhar le hInstitiúid Teicneolaíochta Leitir Ceanainn, ar a bhfuil 11 ag freastal. Anuas air seo tá Ollscoil na hÉireann, Gaillimh, ag reáchtáil cursaí eile le 73 ag freastal orthu.

Tá tionscnamh stráitéiseach úr ceadaithe ag an Údarás le déanaí chun dlús a chur le tionscail na meán sa cheantar. Tá an comhlacht Telegael Teo. i gcomhpháirtíocht le comhlacht áitiúil, Cúl a' Tí, agus TG4 chun cúrsa bliana oiliúna i scriptscríobhneoireacht agus léiriúcháin a riaradh. Beidh suas le scór páirteach sa chúrsa seo.

Tá réamhobair ar ullmhúchán plean forbartha d'ionad tráchtála agus áineasa ar phairc ghnó Ghaoth Dobhair curtha i gcrích anois. I mbliana, foilseofar fógraí poiblí ina dtabharfar cuireadh don phobal, do lucht gnó áitiúil agus d'infheisteoirí a spéis agus a gcuid moltaí i dtaca leis an bhforbairt seo a chur ar fáil.

Tá tuilleadh forbartha agus feabhsúcháin déanta ar uasghrádú an infrastruchtúir theileachumarsáide agus an infrastruchtúir fhisicigh. Mar shampla, tá an Rialtas ag cur maoiniú ar fáil faoin bPlean Forbartha Náisiúnta 2000 — 2006, agus comhmhaoinithe ag an AE, chun 4.4 km de chábla snáthoptaice leathanbhanda a chur faoi thalamh sa pháirc ghnó. Mar thoradh air seo beidh réimse seirbhísí ar fáil da thairbhe sin do ghnólachtaí agus d'úsáideoirí eile cumarsáide ardluais i bpáirc ghnó Ghaoth Dobhair.

Tá pleananna á bplé faoi láthair le Cumann Tráchtála Ghaoth Dobhair, Eircom, IFI agus Westbic maidir le spás oibre a sholáthar do ghnólachtaí atá ag tosú amach. Cuirfidh an lárionad nuálaíochta beag seo tacaíocht theicniúil agus bhainistíochta ar fáil d'fhiontraithe acmhainneacha i dtionscal na faisnéise. San am i lathair, tá maoiniú bainistíochta agus saincheisteanna teicniúla á socrú.

Mar is eol don Teachta, tá sé fógartha agam go bhfuil sé i gceist ceanncheathru Fhoras na Gaeilge a aistriú go dtí páirc ghnó Ghaoth Dobhair. Sílim go bhfuil go leor gur féidir le pobal Ghaoth Dobhair a dhéanamh le fáilte a chur roimh na daoine seo agus cuireadh a thabhairt dóibh cuairt a thabhairt ar an áit álainn i Ghaoth Dobhair.

Is iad seo na céimeanna praiticiúla atáthar ag glacadh le dul i ngleic leis an gcaillteanas fostaíochta a d'fhulaing Gaoth Dobhair agus ceantar Gaeltachta an lárthuaiscirt le trí bliana anuas. Leanfar ar aghaidh leis na céimeannaeagsúla atá riachtanach chun fostaíocht bhuan bhreise a chinntiú don cheantar.

Is féidir leis an Teachta agus an Teach seo a bheith cinnte go ndéanfaidh mise gach dícheall is féidir liom mar Aire tacaíocht a thabhairt don Údarás chun fostaíocht bhuan inmharthana a chruthú i bpáirc ghnó Ghaoth Dobhair.

The Dáil adjourned at 5.30 p.m. until 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday, 23 March 2004.