Question:
1 D’fhiafraigh Michael P. Kitt den Aire Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta cén uair a fhoilseofar an plean gníomhaíochta don Straitéis 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [8095/11]
Priority Questions
Straitéis 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge
Peadar Tóibín
Question:2 D’fhiafraigh Peadar Tóibín den Aire Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta cad iad na bearta atá tógtha aici le Straitéis 2030 d’fhorbairt agus do chaomhnú na Gaeilge agus na Gaeltachta a chur i bhfeidhm ó thaobh an Aonaid Straitéise sa Roinn Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta de; ó thaobh struchtúr traspháirtí a chur le chéile; ó thaobh aon dréacht-reachtaíochta a bhaineann leis seo; ó thaobh Plean Gníomhaíochta don gcéad sé mhí den obair thrasrannach ina gcuirfear na réimsí oideachais, Gaeltachta, fiontraíochta agus cruthú poist, teaghlaigh, an phobail agus seirbhísí poiblí san áireamh. [8106/11]
Tógfaidh mé Ceisteanna Uimh. 1 agus 2 le chéile.
Aithnítear sa Straitéis 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge 2010-2030, a bhfuil tacaíocht traspháirtí aici, go mbeidh gá le cur chuige céimneach chun bearta éagsúla na straitéise a chur i gcrích thar thréimhse 20 bliain. Is cúis sásaimh dom a chur in iúl go bhfuil an coiste Rialtais faoin nGaeilge agus faoin nGaeltacht athbhunaithe ag an Rialtas faoi chathaoirleacht an Taoisigh féin agus go raibh an chéad chruinniú den choiste Rialtais ann maidin inniu.
Sa thréimhse amach romhainn, déanfaidh an coiste Rialtais maoirseacht ar an dul chun cinn maidir le cur i bhfeidhm na straitéise agus beidh grúpa oifigeach sinsearach ó na Ranna Rialtais cuí ag tabhairt tacaíochta don choiste Rialtais.
Chomh maith leis sin, tá aonad straitéise bunaithe i mo Roinnse ó thús na bliana seo, mar atá molta sa straitéis. Tá an t-aonad straitéise freagrach as maoirseacht a dhéanamh ar an bpróiseas pleanála straitéise agus ar phleananna oibríochta ó na comhlachtaí forfheidhmithe, chomh maith le cinntiú go ndéantar feidhmiú trasrannach ar thionscnaimh agus monatóireacht ar fhorbairt acmhainní. Go bunúsach, tá an t-aonad straitéise ag tabhairt aghaidh go córasach ar na céimeanna is gá a thógáil le cinntiú go gcuirtear an straitéis i bhfeidhm.
Maidir leis na bearta atá idir lámha i mo Roinnse chun an straitéis a chur i gcrích, tá dréachtphlean forfheidhmithe do chur i bhfeidhm na straitéise i mbliana curtha i dtoll a chéile ag an aonad straitéise. Tá an dréachtphlean seo le faomhadh agamsa, mar Aire Stáit, agus ag an Aire, an Teachta Jimmy Deenihan, chomh maith. Chomh maith leis sin, tá na céimeanna tosaigh á dtógáil ag an aonad straitéise i ndáil le hullmhú na dréacht-reachtaíochta faoin mBille Gaeltachta. Mar is eol don Teachta, táthar ag súil, ach cead an Rialtais a bheith ar fáil di, go bhfoilseofar an dréacht-reachtaíocht i 2012, de réir phlean reachtaíochta an Rialtais. Tá roinnt grúpaí oibre bunaithe nó ar tí a bheith bunaithe, idir oifigigh san aonad straitéise i mo Roinn agus oifigigh i Ranna agus i gcomhlachtaí poiblí eile, chun tosaíochtaí na straitéise a chur chun cinn.
Is léir, mar sin, go bhfuil dul chun cinn á dhéanamh agus go bhfuil aghaidh á thabhairt ar na céimeanna is gá a thógáil d'fhonn an straitéis a chur i bhfeidhm laistigh de na hacmhainní teoranta atá ar fáil san aeráid eacnamaíoch reatha.
Ar dtús, déanaim comhgairdeas leis an Aire Stáit agus leis an Aire.
Bhí an Tánaiste ag caint sa Dáil ar maidin mar gheall ar an bhfo-choiste i leith na Gaeilge. Tá cúpla ceist agam maidir leis an ráiteas sin. Cén uair a bheidh an plean foilsithe? Mar shampla, an mbeidh sé foilsithe roimh bhriseadh an tsamhraidh?
Mar a dúirt mé, bhí an chéad chruinniú ag an gcoiste Rialtais inniu. Tá aonad straitéise i mo Roinnse atá ag ullmhú pleananna chun an dréacht-reachtaíocht a thabhairt chun tosaigh. Tá roinnt grúpaí oibre bunaithe, idir oifigí san aonad straitéise agus i Ranna, in oifigí agus i gcomhlachtaí eile. Tá na comhráití ag dul ar aghaidh agus na tuairimí á mbailiú agus tá an dréacht-reachtaíocht á ullmhú. Tá súil againn go mbeidh sé ar fáil, go cinnte go luath san bhliain seo chugainn.
An mbeidh seans againn an cheist seo a phlé sa Dáil agus díospóireacht a chur ar bun?
Maidir leis an reachtaíocht is gá a thabhairt isteach leis an straitéis a chur chun cinn, is cinnte go mbeidh sé sin á phlé sa Dáil nuair a bheidh an Bille ag dul tríd an Dáil. Chomh maith leis sin, tuigim ón méid a bhí le rá anseo ar maidin go bhfuil sé beartaithe díospóireacht a bheith sa Dáil gan mhoill. Beidh sé sin le socrú ag na hAoirí. Ós rud é go bhfuil an t-am teoranta, muna mbeidh sé ar siúl roimh na Cásca is dócha go mbeidh sé go luath tar éis na Cásca.
Community Development
Finian McGrath
Question:3 Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the position regarding funding to the State assisted community and voluntary groups on the northside of Dublin city; if funding to such groups has been reduced in recent years; if the number of community groups in this area that are seeking funding has increased or decreased in recent years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8127/11]
Finian McGrath
Question:5 Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the number of community groups that have applied for funding for the first time between 2010 and 2011; the way that number compares to previous years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8129/11]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 3 and 5 together.
In relation to the Deputy's first question, I assume he is referring to the process of cohesion of local delivery structures which my Department has been pursuing in recent years, in order to simplify and enhance the effectiveness of the delivery of a range of local development programmes. In January 2010, the local development social inclusion and community development programmes were superseded by the local and community development programme, LCDP. A key difference between the new programme and its predecessor programmes is that when it is fully implemented it will be delivered through an integrated delivery structure in each of the 52 local development company areas.
In advance of proceeding to establish a single integrated programme, my Department undertook an evaluation of individual community development projects, CDPs, in 2009. The objective of the review was to identify those projects that produce tangible, appropriate benefits for the communities they serve. Following the review process, funding was withdrawn from three CDPs in the north inner city area of Dublin.
More generally, while a national model involving full integration was set out by the Department, it was made clear that other options could be considered once they met a range of criteria including reduced structures, better integrated delivery of services, supporting efficiencies and reducing company law compliance requirements for CDPs, a direction in which many of them wished to go.
In this context, over the past year or so my Department has been progressing the integration of some 140 CDPs, either with the local development companies or through an alternative mechanism. I am pleased to report that this work was largely completed by the end of March 2011. To date, six alternative models have been approved and these include a proposal from the Northside Partnership which involves a reduction in the number of structures from five to two in the catchment area.
The Deputy should also note that three CDPs have formally opted out of the programme and are no longer receiving funding in 2011. These include a project based in Kilbarrack. In such cases, my Department has asked the local development companies, including the Northside Partnership, for proposals to fill any gaps in service provision that are arising. A number of such proposals are currently being examined.
In terms of funding in 2011, Deputies will be interested to note the allocations to the local development companies have been only marginally reduced compared to 2010, by approximately 3%. I am confident that this will allow for the continuation of important support for people in disadvantaged communities and will allow for the key essential front line services, delivered through the programme, to be maintained this year.
In regard to the Deputy's second question, my Department supports and manages a broad range of schemes and programmes across a number of different business areas. These include local and community development, tackling drug misuse, rural development, the Irish language, Gaeltacht and island development, dormant accounts and family support.
In many instances, community groups do not apply directly to my Department for funding, rather they apply to their local Leader or partnership company or drugs task force or, in some instances, to Pobail, which manages a range of schemes on behalf of my Department. Consequently, the Department has been unable in the time available to collate the details sought by the Deputy regarding the number of community groups that applied for funding for the first time in 2011, as opposed to 2010, and how this number compares to previous years.
However, if the Deputy has a specific scheme or programme in mind, I will be happy to ask my Department, or Pobail, as appropriate, to provide him with the relevant information as soon as possible.
I thank the Minister for her detailed response. This is my first opportunity to wish her well in her new job. I know she has a strong interest in the issues raised in today's question.
Does the Minister and her Government value the huge amount of work done by the community and voluntary sector for many years in this country? This type of community patriotism should be recognised and supported. In the current economic climate, does she accept that she has role in protecting these voluntary services? What strategies does she have to do this in 2011 and 2012?
In the programme for Government, protecting the most vulnerable is a key priority and working with communities, especially disadvantaged communities, is central to that. In my reply, I outlined the funding for this sector for 2011 and how it has been protected. Nonetheless, there is a 3% decline in funding, but the amount of funding that has been allocated is indicative of the central role that we would expect the community and voluntary sector to play in the immediate future and in the long term as well.
We are protecting and supporting this sector with the reforms that have been brought in. We want to ensure that these programmes survive and we are looking for greater efficiencies. We are looking to take some of the onerous pressures off the management of the community groups by co-ordinating things at a macro level. That is supportive of those groups. In the main, many of them have welcomed it. This means change and that has been difficult for some of the groups. I acknowledge that and I know it from meeting some of the groups. However, once the services and the jobs are being protected, they have welcomed the re-organisation.
Will the Minister strongly support groups like Northside Centre for the Unemployed in Coolock, and the Kilbarrack Group, which deals with young people at risk in disadvantaged areas? There is a major problem for the Justice for the Forgotten group, which is based in Gardiner Street. The previous Government slashed its funding, and its members had to go to the Pat Finucane Centre to get new funding to keep it going. It supports the families of the victims of the Dublin and Monaghan bombings. Will the Minister look at these as priority issues?
If the Deputy supplies me with the details of those groups, I would be happy to follow up.
In advance of establishing a single, integrated programme, the Department undertook an evaluation of individual community development projects in 2009. The objective of the review was to identify those projects that produce tangible, appropriate benefits for the communities they serve. Where projects were not recommended for continued funding — 29 in total — I want to reassure the House that an appropriate, independent appeals mechanism was put in place, and 24 CDPs appealed to the Department. The appeals board completed its work on 29 January 2010 and the report has been published on the Department's website. In ten cases, the Department's decision was overturned. Following the review process, the LCDP funding was withdrawn from three community development projects in the north inner city area. I can provide details of those to the Deputy if he would like them.
Feidhmeanna Fiontraíochta
Seán Ó Fearghaíl
Question:4 D’fhiafraigh Seán Ó Fearghaíl den Aire Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta an bhfuil sé i gceist feidhmeanna fiontraíochta Údarás na Gaeltachta a fhágáil acu sa bhfadtéarma; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [8096/11]
Mar is eol don Teachta, tá sé molta sa straitéis 20 bliain don Ghaeilge, a ritheann ó 2010 go 2030, go mbunófaí údarás Gaeilge agus Gaeltachta, dár teideal "Údarás na Gaeilge agus na Gaeltachta", a ghníomhódh ar bhonn náisiúnta agus a chomhlíonfadh feidhmeanna ábhartha a dhéanann Údarás na Gaeltachta agus eagraíochtaí Stáit agus neamhrialtasacha eile i láthair na huaire, de réir mar is cuí. Tá sé ráite sa straitéis freisin go leagfar síos ról sonrach agus feidhmeanna sonracha an údaráis mholta nua i ndréacht-reachtaíocht. Tá na céimeanna tosaigh á dtógáil i mo Roinn i ndáil le hullmhú na dréacht-reachtaíochta faoin mBille Gaeltachta. Táthar ag súil go bhfoilseofar an dréacht-reachtaíocht i 2012, de réir phlean reachtaíochta an Rialtais. Ag an gcéad chruinniú inniu den choiste Rialtais faoin nGaeilge agus faoin nGaeltacht, atá athbhunaithe ag an Rialtas faoi chathaoirleacht an Taoisigh, rinneadh plé ar na féidearthachtaí maidir le cur i bhfeidhm na straitéise. Tá mo Roinn chun roinnt moltaí maidir leis na féidearthachtaí seo agus na roghanna a bhaineann leo a ullmhú don gcéad chruinniú eile den gcoiste Rialtais.
Deireann an straitéis 20 bliain go bhfuil na feidhmeanna fiontraíochta le fágáil leis an údarás. An bhfuil an t-Aire Stáit ag seasamh leis sin? Is ceist shimplí í.
Os rud é go bhfuil ceantar Gaeltachta i mo dháilcheantar fhéin, tuigim an tábhacht a bhaineann le Údarás na Gaeltachta. Tá an-obair déanta ag an údarás, mar shampla chun poist a chur ar fáil. Tá dualgas fiontraíochta mar chuid dá ndualgais. Tuigim chomh tábhachtach agus atá sé gur mar sin a bheidh; ach é sin ráite, táimid ag ullmhú na dréacht-reachtaíochta anois. Tá na moltaí agus na tuairimí uilig á bplé sa Roinn, sna Ranna eile a bhfuil teagmháil againn leo agus ag an ionad straitéise. Beidh na cúraimí a bheidh ag Údarás na Gaeltachta le feiceáil sa dréachtphlean.
Tá Gaeltacht i nGaillimh freisin, mar is eol don Aire Stáit.
Tuigim é sin. Níl sé i nGaillimh Thoir.
Tá muintir na Gaeltachta sa chontae ag iarraidh a chinntiú go mbeidh na feidhmeanna seo ag an údarás. An bhfuil an t-Aire Stáit in ann a rá go mbeidh na feidhmeanna ag an údarás?
Tá sé molta sa straitéis go mbeidh na feidhmeanna ag an údarás. Tá siad ag an údarás i láthair na huaire. Tá deacrachtaí leo, áfach, de bharr go bhfuil íslú tagtha ar an allúntas caipitil atá curtha ar fáil don údarás i mbliana, ó €16 milliún anuraidh go dtí €6 milliún i mbliana. Caithfimid amharc ar na féidearthachtaí atá ann i gcomhthéacs an aeráid eacnamaíochta atá againn. Mar a dúirt mé, tá an straitéis sa Roinn agus tá an dréacht-reachtaíocht á ullmhú. Beidh gach rud soiléir sa dréacht-reachtaíocht.
Question No. 5 answered with Question No. 3.