Vol. 621 No. 5
40 D'fhiafraigh Mr. McGinley den Aire Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta cad é an dul chun cinn atá déanta maidir le feidhmiú Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla sa Státchóras go dtí seo agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [23010/06]
Mar atá tugtha le fios go minic agam sa Teach seo, tá dul chun cinn suntasach déanta maidir le forálacha Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla 2003 a chur i bhfeidhm. Tá 27 scéim teanga daingnithe agam go dáta le comhlachtaí poiblí agus foilsithe. Sa bhreis ar sin, tá mo Roinn ag plé faoi láthair le níos mó ná 70 comhlacht poiblí eile maidir le dréacht-scéimeanna teangan a ullmhú.
Tá Oifig Choimisinéir na dTeangacha Oifigiúla bunaithe agus, i mí an Mhárta i mbliana, d'fhoilsigh an coimisinéir a thuarascáil bhliantúil do 2005. Tugadh feidhm don chuid is mó d'fhorálacha an Achta le héifeacht ó 19 Eanáir 2004 agus tiocfaidh fuílleach na bhforálacha i bhfeidhm go huathoibríoch ar 14 Iúil 2006.
I mí Aibreáin na bliana seo, rinne mé rialacháin a thug liosta na gcomhlachtaí poiblí atá clúdaithe faoin Acht suas go data. Tá deich gcinn d'orduithe logainmneacha déanta agam go dáta, ina measc An tOrdú Logainmneacha (Ceantair Gaeltachta) 2004.
Ar iarratas uaim, tá Foras na Gaeilge tar éis córas creidiúnaithe d'aistritheoirí Gaeilge a fhorbairt. Reachtáladh scrúdú ar 8 Aibreán seo caite d'fhonn painéal cáilithe a chur le chéile agus tuigim go mbeidh an painéal sin ar fáil do chomhlachtaí poiblí agus don phobal go luath. Tá i gceist tuilleadh scrúduithe a reachtáil amach anseo ag tráthanna rialta. Ar an iomlán, táim sásta leis an dul chun cinn atá déanta go dtí seo maidir le cur i bhfeidhm fhorálacha Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla ar bhonn céimiúil.
Gabhaim mo bhuíochas leis an Aire as an eolas sin a chur ar fáil dom. Tá dul chun cinn áirithe á dhéanamh, ach sílim go bhfuil sé mall go leor. Deirtear go bhfuil 27 scéim teanga socraithe le heagraíochtaí Stáit go dtí seo agus go bhfuil 70 eile á n-achtú le comhlachtaí Stáit. Sílim gur sin an rud a dúirt an tAire. De réir mar a thuigim an scéal, tá breis agus 600, nó b'fhéidir 650, eagraíocht den chineál seo, ina measc Ranna, comhlachtaí Stáit, comhairlí contae, boird agus araile. An bhféadfadh an tAire a rá an bhfuil aon bharúil aige cén uair a bheidh scéimeanna teanga curtha ar fáil ag gach ceann den 650? Tuigim gur trí bliana atá i gceist le pleananna mar seo, agus tá sé follasach anois go mbeidh na trí bliana thart i gcuid de na cásanna sula mbeidh na scéimeanna curtha ar fáil ag an chuid eile. B'fhéidir gur chóir díriú isteach níos mó air.
Tá sé de chead ag an Aire rialacháin a dhéanamh maidir le húsáid na Gaeilge go poiblí, in oifigí agus mar sin de. Cuir i gcás na litreacha a thagann amach as Ranna agus araile le seoltaí i nGaeilge orthu. Ba cheart go mbeadh comharthaíocht in áiteanna poiblí dátheangach, chomh maith leis an fhógraíocht a dhéantar.
Nuair a chuirtear teachtaireacht chuig comhlacht Stáit, ba cheart go mbeadh sé taifeadta go bhfuil sí dátheangach. Cad é an dul chun cinn atá déanta ansin? Mar a dúirt an tAire, beidh forálacha an Achta ag teacht i bhfeidhm go huile is go hiomlán mí ó inniú, ar 14 Iúil. Dá réir sin, tá sé de dhualgas orainn go mbeidh gach Acht a chuirtear ar fáil san Oireachtas dátheangach, i nGaeilge agus i mBéarla, ón dáta sin ar aghaidh. An bhfuil córas i bhfeidhm anois a chinnteoidh gur mar sin a bheidh sé, de réir fhorálacha an Achta?
Bhí go leor ceisteanna ansin, agus déanfaidh mé iarracht iad a fhreagairt.
Bhí trí cinn ann.
Bhain an chéad cheist leis na pleananna. Tá córas fadálach go maith a d'aontaigh muid sa Teach seo. Le plean a chur i bhfeidhm, caithfear fógra a chur i scríbhinn agus an t-iarratas a lorg sé mhí roimh ré chun rud a thabhairt isteach, agus ansin caithfear an plean a mheas.
Tá 28 díobh daingnithe, ach mar a mhínigh mé cheana sa Teach, is dóigh liom go bhfuil i bhfad níos mó ná an céatadán sin de ghníomhaíochtaí Stáit clúdaithe. Dhírigh muid ar na heagraíochtaí is mó a bhfuil tionchar acu ar shaol an phobail. Is é sin le rá nach mar a chéile iad na 600 eagraíocht ó thaobh tábhachta agus bainte leis an bpobal. Dhírigh muid ar chomhairlí contae Gaeltachta agus boird sláinte, nó an HSE mar atá anois, a bhíonn ag plé le ceantair Ghaeltachta. Dhírigh muid ar eagraíochtaí nó forais a bhfuil ról straitéiseach sa Stát acu, Roinn an Taoisigh, Oifig an Uachtaráin agus mar sin de.
Is é ceann de na dreamanna is mo a mbíonn plé ag an bpobal leis ná na Coimisinéirí Ioncaim, agus tá siadsan istigh ón tús. Ainneoin nach bhfuil ach céatadán beag de na comhlachtaí Stáit clúdaithe, tá cuid mhaith de ghnáthghníomhaíochtaí an phobail clúdaithe. Is ceart díriu ar na heagraíochtaí ar fad a mbíonn plé ag an bpobal leo, an Roinn Talmhaíochta agus Bia, an Roinn Gnóthaí Sóisialacha agus Teaghlaigh, agus na Coimisinéirí Ioncaim, i dtosach, móide na heagraíochtaí pobail, is é sin, na comhairlí contae atá ag plé leis na contaethe Gaeltachta. Tá 70 ann i láthair na huaire. Is próiseas mall é má tá sé le déanamh.
Nuair a bheidh muid ag teacht ar ais ag athbhreithniú na bpleananna, beidh bunsraith ann, agus ní bheidh aon dul siar uaidh sin. Is é an cheist a bheidh ann ná tógáil ar an mbunsraith a bheidh leagtha síos. Laethantaí, bíonn daoine á rá go bhfuil muid ag dul ró-sciobtha agus go bhfuil an iomarca á dhéanamh againn, agus laethantaí eile bíonn daoine á rá go bhfuil muid ag dul ró-mhall. Sílim féin go bhfuil dul chun cinn maith déanta. Ba bhreá liom go gcuirfí na 600 plean i gcrích.
Chuir an Teachta ceist maidir le rialacháin. Tá mé ag obair ar rialacháin faoi chomharthaíocht agus na rudaí eile a luaigh sé. Ó thaobh na fógraíochta de, caithfimid tuilleadh obair bhaile a dhéanamh. Tá ceisteanna i leith fógraíochta ó thaobh an Stáit le plé. Maidir le comharthaíocht, tá súil agam rialacháin a thabhairt ar aghaidh go luath. Tá go leor oibre déanta air sin, agus tá mé beagnach tagtha go deireadh an bhóthair leis an gceann sin.
Chuir an Teachta ceist faoi Achtanna an Oireachtais. Tá plé ar bun le píosa fada idir mo Roinn, Ranna eile agus Coimisiún Thithe an Oireachtais. Níor mhaith liom dul isteach sa scéal ró-dhomhain ach amháin a rá go dtiocfaidh sé isteach ar 14 Iúil go gcaithfear, de réir dlí, na hAchtanna — ní na Billí ach na hAchtanna — a fhoilsiú go comhuaineach san dá theanga. Tá sé ráite go soiléir ag an Rialtas go mbeidh na hacmhainní cuí ar fáil chuige. Tá comhráití ar bun i láthair na huaire, agus níl aon amhras orm ach go mbeifear in ann cloí leis sin. Is rud é a chaithfear a dhéanamh. Ba mhaith liom béimiú ó thaobh na nAchtanna de gur foirfiú nó beachtú ar fhoráil bhunreachta atá i gceist anseo. Cuireann an Bhunreacht dualgas orainn na hAchtanna a fhoilsiú san dá theanga.
Tá ceist amháin eile agam.
Ceist ghearr.
Is ceist an-ghearr í. Tuigim go bhfuil earcaíocht ar siúl chun daoine oilte agus cáilithe a chur ar fáil don obair seo. Cad é mar atá an earcaíocht ag dul ar aghaidh? An bhfuil deacrachtaí ann daoine oilte a fháil, nó an bhfuil toradh maith ar na fógraí a rinneadh? An bhfuil painéal curtha ar fáil a bheidh ábalta aghaidh a thabhairt ar an obair thábhachtach seo?
Níl a fhios agam faoi earcaíocht, ach tá a fhios agam go ndeirtear go bhfuaireadar 200 iarratas nuair a rinne an Comhphobal earcaíocht. Is dóigh liom go gcaithfidh muid bheith macánta faoi seo. Táimid ag tabhairt faoi Achtanna an Oireachtais a chur ar fáil san dá theanga. Táimid ag impí mar Rialtas, le tacaíocht chuile pháirtí sa Teach seo, ar an gComhphobal Eorpach glacadh leis an Ghaeilge mar theanga oifigiúil oibre ón gcéad lá den bhliain seo chugainn. Ar ndóigh, ní sheasfadh sé le réasún go n-iarrfadh an tír seo, a bhfuil fadhb aici na hAchtanna a aistriú go comhuaineach, ar an Eoraip dualgas a bhféadfadh a bheith níos troime ná sin a thógáil uirthi féin. Creidim go bhfuil daoine ina bhun sin. Ba é mé féin a d'ardaigh an cheist nuair a pléadh ceist na hEorpa.
41 Mr. O’Shea asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the main findings of the recently published independent evaluation of the RAPID programme commissioned by POBAL; if he will state what the report cited as the main strengths and weaknesses of the RAPID programme; the action he intends to take following the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22926/06]
The RAPID programme aims to ensure that priority attention is given to tackling the spatial concentration of poverty and social exclusion within the 45 designated RAPID areas. My Department, with the support of Pobal, has overall responsibility for the co-ordination of the RAPID programme. It is a matter for each Department to respond to the recommendations contained in this report in respect of its specific areas of responsibility.
As already indicated to the House, following discussions with my Department Pobal commissioned a formal evaluation of the programme, the final report of which was launched on 1 June last. The report indicates that the experience of the RAPID programme has been very positive in many areas and the programme has made substantial progress in identifying the needs of disadvantaged communities and in implementing important local projects in response to those needs.
The main strengths of the programme are stated to be the facilitation of a significant number of local development projects addressing the most pressing needs of the local community. In the opinion of local stakeholders, these projects would not have progressed without the establishment of the RAPID programme. Another key strength noted was the establishment of structures that have provided a mechanism for disadvantaged communities to identify needs and influence policy. These structures allowed for the development of effective working partnerships between the key players, the levering of greater national and local government investment in RAPID areas and the development of innovative practice with regard to projects, community participation and engagement.
In terms of programme weaknesses, the evaluators identified a general weakness with regard to strategic planning in some areas that has resulted in an ad hoc and reactive approach to bringing forward projects. Another weakness identified was the variation in the level of interaction with the local implementation of the programme by representatives of key State agencies as a result of other work pressures and individual commitment to the programme. The difficulty in securing funding for particular types of projects, for example, in regard to education, training and employment, was mentioned as another weakness in the evaluation report.
I have given a commitment to consider the evaluators' findings and recommendations and intend to work with the various stakeholders at national and local level to address the findings in the report.
I thank the Minister for his reply. Does he consider it a damning indictment of his role as co-ordinator of the implementation of the RAPID programme that the consultants' evaluation found there was limited implementation of the programme in a number of areas, most of which constitute the most disadvantaged areas? Is that not the kernel of the programme? This failure must be a damning indictment of the Minister's stewardship.
I do not agree with the Deputy. There are 45 RAPID areas. As the report notes, the way the programme operates on the ground has been uneven. We have been addressing the issues on a continual basis. Community development, of which I have long experience, is a slow process. Mistakes were made in the past. When a community was not interactive and found it hard to self-motivate, it needed to be recognised that it would take time to get the best results in that community.
I did not design the RAPID areas. I accept there are issues to be considered. As I stated at the recent RAPID conference, I have noticed that the smaller, strand 2 areas, where there is more of what I would call the village effect identification issue, have had more success and more interaction.
One issue which I will consider is the size of RAPID areas. For example, there are a number of RAPID areas in Tallaght but only one in Clondalkin. If one operates the area implementation team, AIT, over an area in which there is no natural interaction because the sheer numbers mitigate against that, it is fair to suggest that it will be harder to achieve close identification. Smaller communities always have more identification.
I pointed out time and again one of the challenges faced in urban Ireland — I spoke about this in the presence of the Deputy's party leader last night. If I attend a meeting in a village in rural Ireland, like Ballycroy, to launch a community plan, 300 of the 600 souls who live in the parish will attend. If I go to a similar meeting in Tallaght, which has a population of 85,000, 150 might attend. One is obviously interacting with fewer people.
There are challenges. However, instead of walking away from the challenges, we asked this group to compile a hard-hitting, independent report. It set out many positives. However, we are not shirking the issues. We asked the group to identify the weaknesses, which we are now addressing.
I take the Minister's point but it is a generalised one. The criticism in my question referred to the lack of progress in the most disadvantaged areas, which is the kernel of the problem. There is also the issue of the programme having no set budget. I find it difficult to differentiate between where new funding was spent, where funding came from within the NDP and what may or may not have been front-loaded. These are the issues which arise.
The Minister referred to the criticism of the Department of Education and Science, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and FÁS in the context of accessing training, education and employment. What is the Minister's view of the recommendation that an incentive should be offered to employers by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment to encourage employers to recruit employees from RAPID areas?
