Adjournment Debate

Schools Building Projects

Deputy Michael McCarthy

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Penrose, and I look forward to a positive reply. I thank the Ceann Comhairle for giving me an opportunity to raise this issue. I am grateful for the opportunity to speak on the issue of Abbeystrewry national school in Skibbereen, in the constituency of Cork South-West. As Members are no doubt aware, for some time now the school has been campaigning to secure funding from the Department of Education and Skills to help it to settle outstanding debts that arose from renovation works that were carried out recently. The school is seeking a contribution of any size from the Department to help it to bridge the €80,000 deficit it incurred over the course of construction works. Abbeystrewry national school is a Church of Ireland-run school which also absorbs Methodist congregations. It accepts children of other denominations. For this reason, the school is held in high regard locally. It is renowned for consistently producing high achievers and good results and pupil numbers have been increasing as a consequence. The school has 96 pupils, four full-time teachers and four resource teachers.

The Department has been extremely generous to the cause of the school in the past. Not very long ago, it sanctioned funding which enabled the school to construct two additional classrooms on the campus. Such extra accommodation was required because the school's pupil numbers had increased substantially. The management of the school recently decided to construct an astroturf pitch and sought to fund the facility independently. The pitch was formally opened in recent times and is a wonderful addition to the school campus. The school authorities envisage that local organisations could rent the pitch for sporting purposes, which would help to gradually offset the cost incurred. I understand that finances are extremely limited at present. There has been a very significant clampdown on what can and cannot be spent. It is with that reality in mind that I make the case for funding from the Department. Regardless of how small such a contribution might be, it would be important in offsetting the costs associated with the construction project I have mentioned and would be appreciated in these fiscally constrained times. The existence of external factors, such as the presence of the IMF, mean we do not have as much funding available to us as would have been the case in the recent past.

I appeal to the Minister of State, Deputy Penrose, to support this request for funding for educational infrastructure. He is well aware from his own area that one of the benefits of such investment is that it is repaid to the State time and again. In the current climate, one cannot classify any euro of investment in a school as a bad investment. It offers dividends such as raising the standards of educational attainment in the area and providing the infrastructure necessary to equip young students with knowledge and practical experience of curricular and non-curricular subjects. We hope that when the upturn comes and our young people enter or re-enter the workforce, they will be high earners and pay tax to the Exchequer at a higher rate. The benefit of that will be felt for a long time.

I ask the Minister of State to show solidarity with this project. There will always be a number of schools in various areas that are looking for funding for capital works and access to the summer works scheme, for example. The repair scheme that was announced today under the jobs initiative is a welcome development. It shows there is a recognition at departmental level of the undoubted deficits in our educational infrastructure. In fairness to the Government, it has made a commitment in this area as a major plank of the jobs initiative, which aims to stimulate jobs and growth in the economy. If we invest in this area, not only will we help to bridge the infrastructural deficit, but we will also provide funding to the construction sector, which has been badly affected by the events of recent years. If the local construction economy is to be rebooted, it needs a shot in the arm from the Government. The economy of west Cork, for example, would have been very much plugged into the construction activities of recent years. There are sufficient construction skills in the area. It is obvious that there are unseen levels of unemployment, by comparison with the Celtic tiger years.

If we create employment and give work to people who are currently on social welfare, there will be a wider benefit to society. When lost taxation and social welfare payments are taken into account, every job that is lost costs the State approximately €20,000. The request I am making is for a marginal contribution to be made in that context. I hope the Minister of State, Deputy Penrose, will look favourably on the request.

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Deputy Willie Penrose)

I am taking this Adjournment matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Quinn. I thank the Deputy for raising this matter and giving me an opportunity to outline to the House the position of the Department of Education and Skills regarding the allocation of funding for Abbeystrewry national school near Skibbereen in County Cork. In July 2008, the Department introduced the additional accommodation scheme, which gives schools with an urgent and pressing need for additional accommodation that is likely to last for more than three years the option of using a devolved grant to purchase prefabricated classrooms or construct permanent classrooms. A central tenet of the scheme is that responsibility for the management of a project, including cost control, rests with the school authorities. Schools are informed of this in their approval letters.

In March 2010, Abbeystrewry national school was approved funding of €130,000 under the additional accommodation scheme to enable it to provide an extension consisting of an 80 sq. m. mainstream classroom and a 25 sq. m. resource room. In July 2010, the school authorities wrote to the Department to ask for additional funding for a staffroom and a corridor, which were needed because of increasing staff numbers. Following an examination of the school's application, the Department advised the school authorities that as the additional accommodation scheme is designed to cater for immediate and urgently needed classroom accommodation, it was not in a position to approve the school's request for ancillary accommodation. In August 2010, the school authorities again wrote to the Department to request further additional funding for ancillary works associated with the building project. The Department advised the school authorities that funding was not available for these works for the reasons that had been outlined in previous correspondence. The school appealed the Department's decision, providing detailed drawings and maps of the schools extension, in support of its appeal.

When the school's application was being reassessed, it emerged that the school had changed the scope of works for which the funding had originally been approved. The Department advised the school authorities that the appeal was unsuccessful and that it was satisfied that the grant provided was sufficient to provide the level of accommodation originally approved. The management authorities of Abbeystrewry national school were advised that the building works carried out were over and above those approved and, therefore, the onus was on the board of management to fund the costs of the extra works. Between 2006 and 2010, the school received over €327,000 in funding under the summer works scheme for roof works, replacement of windows, electrical upgrade and tarmac. Further funding for sewerage works was recently approved under the summer works scheme 2011.

I am sure the Deputy will appreciate there are many competing demands on the Department's capital resources. In this context, it must prioritise applications for the provision of much needed additional classroom accommodation. A total of €383 million will be spent under the Department's schools building programme this year. In the current economic climate, it is essential that costs are kept under control in the construction of school buildings and that those responsible ensure value for money is achieved for the taxpayer. In this way, the Minister can ensure the maximum number of projects are completed from within the funds available for the schools building programme. I thank the Deputy again for giving me an opportunity to outline the current position to the House.

Community Development

Deputy James Bannon

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for affording me time to discuss this important issue, namely, the need for the Minister for Social Protection, or the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, to restore funding to Lough Ree Area Development Co-operative under the Pobal community services programme. The loss of the invaluable service the co-operative provides to the community would have a detrimental effect on County Longford and the midlands as a whole. Lough Ree Area Development Co-operative in Lanesborough, County Longford, has had its funding for community development projects withdrawn by Pobal. This grant aid was essential to the running of community-based projects as it paid staff salaries. While youth services and the boxing and bridge clubs are not affected by the decision to withdraw funding, some other services are set to be scaled back. Not only will the projects in question be lost to the community but six members of staff have lost their jobs. Considering that the midlands is experiencing a high level of unemployment, there is little chance that the staff members in question will find alternative employment.

While I am aware that the withdrawal of funding was made on foot of an internal verification visit to the centre, the directors of the co-operative believe the decision to withdraw funding was unreasonable on the basis of the information provided. The main area of contention appears to be the manner in which time keeping was recorded and managed for the audit period. Following the findings of the audit, Lough Ree Area Development Co-operative has made every effort to resolve the problems highlighted. It is essential, given the valuable work the co-operative undertakes on behalf of the local community, that a full review of the audit be carried out. It is surely reasonable in light of the current financial and employment crisis being experienced in County Longford that every effort be made by Pobal to work with the co-operative to iron out any perceived problems.

The termination of funding to an organisation which provides a valuable service to the community, coupled with the loss of six jobs, is a major blow to County Longford. The co-operative will do everything possible to continue to provide services in the short term, although many initiatives have been threatened by the withdrawal of funding. It is almost inevitable, however, that services will have to be scaled back as a result of the withdrawal of funding.

The Lough Ree Area Development Co-operative was established in 1999 to help develop and promote the twin towns of Lanesborough and Ballyleague, which are linked by the River Shannon. It was involved in the establishment of the Lakeside community broadband project, among other valuable initiatives. Speaking at the launch of the project, the then Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Ó Cuív, highlighted the valuable work carried out by the co-operative, stating that the "commitment of the Lough Ree Area Development Co-operative to improve the quality of life of the community must be lauded". This commitment on behalf of the community it serves remains as strong as ever and the work undertaken by Lough Ree co-operative is needed more than ever.

The Lough Ree Area Development Co-operative is more than willing to work with Pobal to rectify any perceived difficulties. To date, the board has used every possible means to meet any requirements for the restoration of this essential funding. At a time when every job is vital to the well-being of communities in County Longford, I am sure the Minister of State, Deputy Penrose, who has a seat at the Cabinet table, will recognise the major blow delivered by the loss of funding to Lough Ree co-operative. I have every confidence that he, with the relevant Minister, will do everything possible to have funding restored and get the co-operative up and running again.

Deputy Willie Penrose

I thank Deputy Bannon for raising this matter, which I am taking on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Joan Burton.

The community services programme is designed to address locally identified gaps in the provision of services to communities and exploit the potential of community assets and resources already in place in support of the delivery of services to improve community well-being. Responsibility for the programme transferred from the then Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs to the Department of Social Protection in September 2010. A core requirement of the programme is that each service provider generates a significant level of its financial needs from non-public revenue sources, such as by charging fees for services delivered, trading or fund-raising. Service providers in contract with the programme must be not-for-profit, social enterprise or community business in nature. The approximately 445 service providers approved for support employ an estimated 2,700 men and women in full and part-time positions.

The day-to-day operational elements of the programme are managed by Pobal on contract from the Department. Pobal is a not-for-profit company that delivers a number of publicly and EU funded programmes on behalf of Departments. As part of the services contracted by the Department, Pobal operates an independent audit and verification function to provide assurance that public funding has been spent for the purposes intended and bodies in receipt of public funds are in compliance with public accountability requirements and EU regulations, as appropriate.

An essential requirement of the community services programme is that each contract holder operates to good practice norms in respect of corporate governance, financial management, employment practices and quality of services delivered to the public. Pobal conducted an audit of Lough Ree Development Co-operative Limited in early 2010. Significant issues were identified in the operations of the co-operative which drew into question a risk to public funds. The issues identified related to corporate governance, poor management practices, inadequate financial control, poor quality record keeping and reliability of reporting. The outcome of this audit was sent directly to board members of the co-operative for their input and comment prior to any decisions being made by Pobal on continuing support from the programme. Following consideration of the audit findings and the responses to it received from Lough Ree Development Co-operative, the board of Pobal determined that the contract should be terminated. Notice of this was issued to the co-operative and an opportunity afforded to have the decision reviewed. A review was subsequently requested and conducted by a board member of Pobal who was not involved in the previous decision. The conclusion of this review was that the decision to discontinue funding was found to be correct and fair and that the process had been properly observed. The board of Pobal subsequently accepted these findings and confirmed its decision to terminate the contract.

The Deputy will agree that it is necessary that the highest standards should apply in respect to how public funds are managed and applied. All parties involved in the finding process must play their part in giving assurances to this House and to members of the public that funds are being properly applied and value is being achieved in return. Failure to do so must have consequences and may ultimately lead to loss of support from this or any other publicly funded programme. I will pass on to the Minister the points raised by Deputy Bannon.

Local Authority Housing

Acting Chairman (Deputy Joe Costello)

I understand Deputy Ciarán Lynch proposes to share time with Deputy Humphreys.

Deputy Ciarán Lynch

That is correct. I thank the Office of the Ceann Comhairle for allowing me to raise this important matter. I also thank the Minister of State, Deputy Penrose, for being present to respond.

Tenant purchase of local authority flats has been an issue for more than 30 years. Ultimately, it boils down to a fundamental issue of fairness. Across Ireland, tenants living in local authority flats are being denied the right to buy their homes while neighbours living in local authority houses may avail of this right. In the past 20 years, as property prices and the level of home buying increased exponentially, this group of tenants remained marginalised as a result of being precluded from buying their homes. The right to buy a home is a basic tenet of Irish society.

I hope measurable progress will be made on this issue on which the previous Administration procrastinated. As I speak, Cork City Council and every other council are issuing letters to their respective tenants informing them about a new tenant purchase scheme that is being established. Tenants who have been in situ for 15 years will be able to obtain a 45% discount should they decide to purchase their homes. Tenants of local authority flats, however, a group that has been campaigning on this issue for more than 20 years, will continue to be denied the right to buy their homes. I ask the Government to take a new approach and resolve this issue by affording tenants of local authority flats the right to purchase their homes.

The previous Government, in debates on its Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, indicated it would introduce a statutory framework to allow local authority tenants of flats to purchase their homes under the incremental purchase scheme. While there are some difficulties with this approach, it at least amounted to a step in the right direction. The difficulty is that local authorities have not been facilitated to avail of such a legislative framework. While the House debates this issue, people continue to be denied the right to buy their home.

Deputy Kevin Humphreys

I thank Deputy Lynch for sharing time. The key issue in this debate is one of fairness. Many people in my community believe they are being discriminated against because, having been born and grown up in a local authority flat, they are denied the privilege of purchasing their home. In 1988, when the offer of tenant purchase was rolled out across Dublin, many local authority tenants in my area and the area represented by the Acting Chairman, Deputy Costello, wanted to purchase their homes. This would have many benefits, including the stopping of the rapid changeover within the flat complexes. It would allow people to put down long-term roots within their communities and to envisage their areas as long-term home prospects. Instead, they have been constantly denied.

As Deputy Ciarán Lynch has just noted, there is no difference between a family living in a flat complex and one living in a local authority house. At present however, those who live in the latter are offered a 45% discount on their homes, whereas those who live in a flat complex are told to go on the transfer list in order that they might be transferred into a house some day with the possibility of purchasing it thereafter. Court cases ran from 1988 to 2009 in which families fought a challenge on the grounds they believed they had an agreed purchase price with the local authorities on their homes. They lost that case in 2009 and were tied in a legal limbo. As many of them have stated repeatedly, they have been discriminated against.

There are many positive elements to this initiative, which provides an opportunity for low-income families to put down long-term roots. I refer to the recent "Prime Time" special on Dolphin House. Members are also aware of how strapped financially are local authorities. The selling off of some of their apartments would allow local authorities to generate an income and to invest that money in the stock. It is a natural progression to allow people to put down long-term roots in their own communities and I ask the Minister to fast-track this legislation as we need to move quickly on it. A young family who applied to purchase their home in 1988 still are in limbo and consequently, I ask the Minister to move on this matter as soon as possible and thank the Minister of State for taking the debate.

Deputy Willie Penrose

I thank my party colleagues, Deputies Ciarán Lynch and Kevin Humphreys, for raising this important matter and am pleased to have the opportunity to inform the House of the position with regard to the proposed scheme for the tenant purchase of apartments.

The sale of local authority apartments to tenants has a long and chequered history, as outlined by my colleagues, due largely to the complexity of the issues involved in devising ownership arrangements that will protect the interests of everyone involved into the future. Part 4 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 underpins the scheme now proposed, building on the long-standing arrangements in the private sector for the ownership and management of multi-unit residential developments.

The scheme provides for individual complexes to be designated by the housing authority for tenant purchase, where they meet certain statutory criteria and a substantial majority of the tenants living in them signal in a plebiscite that they wish to have the opportunity to purchase their apartments. Before the first apartments are sold, the authority transfers ownership of the entire complex to a management company established for that purpose, which immediately leases all the apartments back to the authority. The sale of individual apartments is effected by the transfer of the management company's apartment lease from the housing authority to the purchaser.

The new apartment sales scheme will be based on the incremental purchase model introduced in June 2010 for designated newly-built social housing. The level of discounts under the new scheme will, therefore, be related to household income rather than length of tenure. The incremental purchase approach will promote sustainable communities in the complexes concerned because it gives an incentive to purchasers and their families to remain living in the apartments. At the same time, the selling arrangements will ensure the State shares in any windfall profit from re-sale of the apartment before the housing authority's charge on the property withers away. I emphasise I have no proposals to amend the 2009 legislation with a view to selling apartments by any other method.

The necessary commencement order, regulations and detailed guidance must be finalised for the apartment sales scheme to be introduced. The transition from a rented social housing apartment complex to a mixed tenure of privately-owned and social-rented accommodation adds an extra dimension to the legal and practical problems that can arise in private apartment complexes. For this reason, my Department is giving particular attention to the drafting of the necessary documentation for the three complex transfers of property ownership involved in the scheme and for the establishment of the management company, as provided for in the legislation.

My aim is to put in place as soon as possible the last building blocks in a robust legislative framework that will stand the test of time for all stakeholders, that is, apartment buyers, apartment tenants who choose not to buy, and local authorities. I will commit to making progress as quickly as possible on this important issue which, as expounded by both Deputies, focuses on fairness and equality. I will pursue it as expeditiously as possible within the legal complexities as outlined previously.

Údarás na Gaeltachta

Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív

Ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghabháil leis an Aire Stáit as ucht teacht isteach anseo tráthnóna agus as ucht an Athló a thógáil é féin, mar tá nós ag Airí gan teacht isteach agus éisteacht leis an rud atá le rá ag Teachtaí Dála. Creidim nach bhfuil sé sin ceart. Tagann an t-Aire Stáit isteach i gcónaí agus tá a fhios agam go maith go dtuigeann sé an cheist seo. Ach an oiread liom féin, tá sé ar an mbeagán atá ag cónaí san Ghaeltacht agus atá mar Theachtaí Dála. Tá an tríú duine ann. Is é sin comhghleacaí an Aire Stáit, an Teachta de Shinn Féin atá i nGaoth Dóbhair.

Tuigeann an t-Aire Stáit an riachtanas atá ag an údarás agus gan an t-údarás i mbun cúrsaí fiontraíochta nach mbeadh rath ar an nGaeltacht. Tá mé ag iarraidh air go ndéanfadh sé cinnte de go gcuirfear dóthain airgid ar fáil don údarás le go mbeidh sé in ann leanacht den obair a bhí ar bun ag an údarás faoi chúrsaí fiontraíochta agus forbartha san Gaeltacht le blianta beaga anuas agus le fada an lá. Ceist í seo a phléamar go minic cheana. Nuair a bhí an t-Aire Stáit ar an dtaobh eile den Teach is minic a thóg sé an cheist chéanna.

Bhí plé ann le gairid faoi cé mhéid airgid a chuir an Rialtas deiridh ar fáil, i bhfoirm chaipitil, an fhaid is a bhí mise mar Aire. Ins an bhliain 2007, bhí €34 milliún ag an údarás, de réir figiúirí an údaráis féin, le haghaidh chaiteachais chaipitil. Ins an bhliain 2008, bhí €33.93 milliún aige. Ins an bhliain 2009, bhí €30 milliún aige. Ins an bhliain deiridh a raibh mise mar Aire, bhí os cionn €23 milliún ag an údarás. Glacaim leis go bhfuil sé fíor nach bhfuil ach €12 milliún ar fáil do chaiteachas chaipitil i mbliana ó na foinsí éagsúla atá ag an údarás, agus is léir nach leor é sin. Bhí go leor rudaí a tharla ag deireadh na bliana seo caite a bhí chun tsiochair ar an bhfigiúr sin a bheith socraithe don Roinn. Bhí tuiscint soiléir ón Taoiseach deiridh go gcuirfí achmhainní ar fáil leis an straitéis 20 bliain a chur i bhfeidhm agus le déanamh cinnte de go mbeadh rath ar an nGaeltacht.

Ar an dtaobh eile den scéal, tuigim an chath ata roimh an Aire Stáit. Ní haon mhaith domsa a rá go mbeidh a jab éasca, mar ní bheidh. Ar ndóigh, bhí an Roinn Airgeadais go láidir den tuairim nach ceart go mbeadh cúrsaí fiontraíochta fágtha faoin údarás ach níor aontaigh an Rialtas leis sin. Tá mé cinnte nach n-aontaíonn an t-Aire Stáit ach oiread leis sin. Ach, má tá cúrsaí fiontraíochta agus forbartha le bheith faoin údarás, caithfidh airgead a bheith aige. Teastaítear, ar a laghad, €20 milliún in aghaidh na bliana, don údarás.

Bhí an t-áth orm nuair a bhí mé mar Aire mar bhí mé in ann an-chuid airgid a fháil. Bhí mé in ann airgead a fháil le haghaidh céanna, bóithrí agus go leor rudaí mar sin. Chomh maith leis sin, bhí foinsí airgid dá gcuid féin ag an údarás. Níl na foinsí sin chomh fairsing anois, agus tuigim é sin. Táthar ag brath ar airgead Stáit agus ar airgead díreach ón Státchiste.

Déarfaidh daoine gurb ionann €20 milliún agus go leor airgid. Ach beidh an Stát ag caitheamh €4 bhilliún ar chaipiteal. Céard é €20 milliún as an méid sin do rud chomh tábhachtach leis an nGaeltacht?

Tá mé cinnte go gcuirfidh an t-Aire Stáit an chath suas. Má chuireann, beidh tacaíocht iomlán aige uaimse, mar dhuine Gaeltachta agus mar Theachta Dála Gaeltachta sa chath sin. Ar ndóigh, má chliseann ar an Rialtas beimid gearánach agus beidh údar againn. Tá a fhios agam cá bhfuil croí an Aire Stáit agus cá raibh sé ariamh. Tá a fhios agam go ndéanfaidh sé a dhícheall. Tá a fhios agam go bhfuil croí an Taoisigh san áit cheart, fiú má tá daoine sa chóras a bhfuil gráin dóite acu don Ghaeilge. Tá na daoine sin sa chóras agus admhóimís é.

Tá rud amháin gur mhaith liom a rá mar chríoch. Céad go leith bliain ó shin, scríobh duine anaithnid an méid seo:

As to the Irish language, toleration and patronage have come too late. It cannot be saved alive by any human power. It is at present confined to about one-third of the peasantry, and those the most ignorant and uncivilised. As a spoken language, it can hardly survive the present generation. The fathers and mothers will retain it till their death, but by the children it will be neglected and forgotten.

Scríobhadh é sin céad go leith bliain ó shin agus is mór an mhaith, ainneoin an méid a bhí ráite ag an am sin, gur tháinig an Ghaeilge slán. Bhí go leor daoine páirteach san iarracht sin agus rinne go leor daoine an t-uafás oibre. Ar ndóigh, le céad bliain anuas, bhí na daoine ann a deirfeadh i gcónaí, go mór mhór nuair a bhí brú airgid ann, nárbh fhiú an Ghaeilge nó nárbh fhiú an t-airgead a chaitheamh ar an nGaeilge. Cuirtear an argóint sin chun cinn go mór mhór nuair atá géarchéim eacnamaíochta ann.

Críochnóidh mé leis an méid seo. Dá bhfaigheadh an Ghaeilge bás, bheadh teanga nach mbaineann le haon treabh, cine nó dream ar domhan, nach bhfuil a shíolra in aon áit eile ach sa tír seo agus in Albain, tar éis bás a fháil agus bheadh an domhan níos boichte dá bharr. An bhfuilimid chun a rá go gcaillfear teanga na misinéirí, an teanga a bhfuair na mílte daoine bás ar a son agus don dúchas, bás in Éire saor, bunaithe ar argóint go bhfuil géarchéim airgid ann? Tá mé cinnte go n-aontódh an t-Aire Stáit liom nach mbeadh sin ceart agus táim cinnte go ndéanfaidh sé a dhícheall déanamh cinnte go mbeidh an t-airgead ar fáil don Ghaeltacht don bhliain seo chugainn, le jab foirfe a dhéanamh i bhforbairt na Gaeltachta.

Minister of State at the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (Deputy Dinny McGinley)

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta as an cheist seo a thógáil ar an Athló anseo agus deis a thabhairt dom freagra a thabhairt. Mar atá ráite ag an Teachta, is minic, le blianta fada, a bhí mise thall ar an taobh sin den Teach agus eisean ar an taobh seo agus an argóint céanna á phlé againn.

Mar is eol don Teachta, tá sé molta sa Straitéis 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge 2010-2030 go mbunófaí údarás Gaeilge agus Gaeltachta, dar teideal Údarás na Gaeilge agus na Gaeltachta, a ghníomhódh ar bhonn náisiúnta maidir le cur i bhfeidhm na straitéise 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.

Faoi mar atá sonraithe inár gclár Rialtais, tacóidh an Rialtas nua leis an straitéis 20 bliain agus déanfar na spriocanna inseachadta atá luaite inti a chur i gcrích. Tá lúcháir orm a bheith ábalta a rá go bhfuil tiomantas an Rialtais i leith na straitéise léirithe go soiléir cheana féin. Chomh maith leis na céimeanna atáthar á dtógáil laistigh de mo Roinn chun feidhm a thabhairt do mholtaí ábhartha na straitéise, ar a n-áirím bunú aonad straitéise agus ullmhú dréacht-reachtaíochta, is cúis sásaimh ar leith dom í go bhfuil an coiste Rialtais faoin nGaeilge agus faoin nGaeltacht athbhunaithe ag an Rialtas. Is faoi chathaoirleacht an Taoisigh féin a fheidhmíonn an coiste Rialtais agus tá na hAirí seo a leanas mar bhaill de: an tAire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta; an tAire Oideachais agus Scileanna; an tAire Caiteachais Phoiblí; an tAire Cumarsáide, Fuinnimh agus Acmhainní Nádúrtha; an tAire Comhshaoil, Pobail agus Rialtais Áitiúil; agus mé féin mar Aire Stáit. Tionóladh an chéad chruinniú den choiste Rialtais ar 14 Aibreán 2011, áit ar thapaíodh an deis plé leathan a dhéanamh ar na féidearthachtaí éagsúla maidir le cur i bhfeidhm na straitéise. Ag eascairt ón bplé sin, tá oifigigh mo Roinne chun moltaí maidir leis na féidearthachtaí seo a ullmhú don chéad chruinniú eile den choiste Rialtais agus cuimseoidh na moltaí seo na féidearthachtaí maidir le ról agus cúraimí Údarás na Gaeltachta i ndáil leis an straitéis.

Is léir, mar sin, go bhfuil dul chun cinn á dhéanamh agus go bhfuil aghaidh á thabhairt ar na céimeanna is gá a thógáil chun an straitéis a chur i bhfeidhm laistigh de na hacmhainní teoranta atá ar fáil san aeráid eacnamaíoch reatha.

Mar ionadaí pobail ón Ghaeltacht — cosúil leis an Teachta — atá le fada ag plé le riachtanais phobal na Gaeltachta, tuigim go maith na dúshláin agus na constaicí a gcaithfidh Údarás na Gaeltachta dul i ngleic leo sa timpeallacht achrannach gnó atá i bhfeidhm faoi láthair. Tuigim fosta an dea-obair atá déanta ag an údarás agus na torthaí fónta atá bainte amach aige tríd an infheistíocht atá déanta aige chun deiseanna fostaíochta a chruthú agus a chaomhnú sa Ghaeltacht.

Níl amhras ar bíth ach go bhfuil an ghéarchéim eacnamaíoch náisiúnta agus domhanda ag cruthú deacrachtaí do chomhlachtaí sa Ghaeltacht agus tá impleachtaí dá réir ann do chúrsaí fostaíochta. É sin ráite, caithfear a nótáil gurb é an Rialtas deiridh, a raibh an Teachta Ó Cuív mar bhall de, a laghdaigh soláthar airgid caipitil Údarás na Gaeltachta ó €27 milliún in 2006 go €18 milliún in 2010 agus a laghdaigh an soláthar céanna arís go tubaisteach go dtí €6 milliún sa bhliain reatha, 2011.

Ní mór a mheabhrú don Teachta fosta gurbh é a Rialtas siúd a d'fhoilsigh An tAthbhreithniu ar Thosaíochtaí Infheistíochta Caipitil 2010 — 2016, inar laghdaíodh buiséad caipitil na Roinne Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta, mar a bhí ag an am, ó €105 milliún in 2010 go €86 milliún do na blianta 2011, 2012 agus 2013. Caithfidh mé a mheabhrú don Teachta chomh maith go leanann an soláthar don Roinn ag titim sna blianta ina dhiaidh sin go €40 milliún in 2014 agus €30 milliún in 2015 agus 2016. Ag cur san áireamh go bhfuil beagnach €70 milliún de bhuiséid 2011, 2012 agus 2013 le dul i dtreo an chláir LEADER agus go raibh scéimeanna uilig na Roinne atá dírithe ar an Ghaeilge, an Ghaeltacht, na hoileáin agus Údarás na Gaeltachta le maoiniú as an bhfuílleach de thart ar €16 milliún, tá mé cinnte go n-aontóidh an Teachta liom nuair a deirim nár fágadh morán airgid agam le caitheamh, ní hamháin ar chúrsaí teanga i gcoitinne, ach le tabhairt d'Údarás na Gaeltachta chun cúraimí forbartha agus fiontraíochta na heagraíochta a chomhlíonadh.

Cé go mbeidh fáil ag an údarás ar thart ar €6 milliún breise óna chuid acmhainní féin i mbliana a chuideoidh leis an eagraíocht a chuid spriocanna a bhaint amach, aithním go bhfuil cur chuige an Rialtais dheiridh ag cruthú deacrachtaí suntasacha don údarás go fóill. Is sa chomhthéacs sin agus i gcomhthéacs na reachtaíochta nua a bheidh mé ag déanamh mo dhíchill chun na deacrachtaí sin a réiteach.

Mar fhocal scoir, tá mise dóchasach go ndéanfaimid dul chun cinn suntasach faoin chlár Rialtais chun infheistíocht fhiúntach a thabhairt go dtí an Ghaeltacht. Mar a dúirt mé, is cúis sásaimh dom í tiomantas pearsanta an Taoisigh don Ghaeilge agus don Ghaeltacht. Beidh mise mar Aire Stáit ag obair go dlúth leis an Aire Deenihan agus leis an gcoiste Rialtais san am amach romhainn chun spriocanna inseachadta na straitéise a chur i gcrích ar bhonn costas-éifeachtach.

Ar ndóigh, tá lúcháir orm go mbeidh gach cuidiú le fáil agam ón Teachta agus óna pháirtí. Mar atá ráite agam cheana, tá oidhreacht agam, fágtha ag Fianna Fáil nuair a d'fhág siad an Rialtas, atá ag cothú agus a bheidh ag cothú deacrachtaí. Is é an dúshlán atá romham ná mo dhícheall a dhéanamh feabhas a chur ar rudaí, mar ní féidir leo a bheith mórán níos measa ná mar atá i láthair na huaire.

Dáil Éireann debate - Tuesday, 10 May 2011