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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 2 May 2017

Vol. 948 No. 1

Other Questions

Acht na Gaeltachta

Catherine Connolly

Question:

44. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Catherine Connolly den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta, Gnóthaí Réigiúnacha, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta cad é stádas na bpleananna teanga; agus go háirithe, cé mhéad plean atá críochnaithe agus curtha os comhair an Aire; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [20429/17]

Cad é stádas na bpleananna teanga agus, go háirithe, cé mhéad pleananna atá críochnaithe agus curtha os comhair an Aire agus fréamhaithe aige?

Faoin bpróiseas pleanála teanga mar a leagtar amach é in Acht na Gaeltachta 2012, tá an Ghaeltacht roinnte i 26 Limistéar Pleanála Teanga ar leith. Faoin bpróiseas seo, tá i gceist go n-ullmhófar agus go bhfeidhmeofar plean teanga ar bhonn áitiúil i leith gach ceann de na limistéir seo i gcomhréir le forálacha ábhartha an Achta. Go dtí seo, foilsíodh fógra faoi alt 7(3) d’Acht na Gaeltachta i leith 23 den 26 limistéar ar fad, rud a chiallaíonn go bhfuil céimeanna idir lámha i ngach aon cheann de na limistéir sin chun pleananna teanga a ullmhú. Tá sé i gceist go gcuirfear faoi mo bhráid iad le ceadú chun críche an Achta sula dtosaítear le feidhmiú na bpleananna sin.  Ach an oiread le gach plean teanga a cheadófar faoin bpróiseas, beidh ordú i gcomhréir le halt 7(2) den Acht á dhéanamh agam faoina n-aithneofar gach limistéar faoi leith mar limistéar pleanála teanga Gaeltachta, rud a chuirfidh tús go foirmiúil le forfheidhmiú pleananna teanga i leith na limistéar sin.

I gcomhréir leis an tráthchlár oibre atá aontaithe ag mo Roinn le hÚdarás na Gaeltachta, tá i gceist go gcuirfear tús le hullmhú pleananna teanga idir seo agus deireadh na bliana sa trí limistéar Gaeltachta eile a bhfuil an próiseas fós le tosú iontu, eadhon Bearna agus Cnoc na Cathrach: Oirthear Chathair na Gaillimhe agus an tEachréidh.

Le cumasú don obair fhónta seo ar fad, cheadaigh mé allúntas ar fiú €850,000 le gairid, €735,000 dá chuid a bheidh ag dul chuig Údarás na Gaeltachta, leis an bhfuílleach de €115,000 le dul chuig Foras na Gaeilge le haghaidh Líonraí Gaeilge taobh amuigh den Ghaeltacht a fhorbairt. Mar is eol don Teachta, bhí trí chruinniú poiblí i gcathair na Gaillimhe an tseachtain seo caite chun brú ar aghaidh leis an trí limistéar atá fágtha. Chuala mé go raibh thart ar 100 duine ag an gcruinniú do Bhearna agus Cnoc na Cathrach ag Óstán Clybaun ann. Bhí thart ar seasca ag na cruinnithe eile in Óstán Bhaile Chláir na Gaillimhe agus in Óstán Menlo Park.

Glacaim go bhfuil céimeanna idir lámha ag an Roinn agus ag an Aire. Fáiltím roimh an nuacht go bhfuil 23 as an 26 pleananna teanga tosaithe. D'fhreastal mé ar an gcruinniú sin maidir le Cnoc na Cathrach agus Bearna agus bhí slua iontach ann. Tá próiseas ann do phlean teanga agus fógraíonn an tAire Stáit nuair atá an próiseas réidh. D'fhógraíodh sin in 2014 maidir le Cois Fharraige. Tá sé anois 2017. An bhfuil an plean sin réitithe agus fréamhaithe ag an Aire Stáit? I mí an Mheithimh 2014, bhí plean fógraithe ag an iar-Aire Stáite don Cheathrú Rua agus do cheantar na n-oileán, i measc áiteanna eile. Cad mar gheall ar na pleananna sin? Cé mhéad pleananna atá réitithe agus ag feidhmiú faoi láthair as an 26?

Níl aon cheann faighte agamsa fós. Tá ceann nó dhó faighte ag Údarás na Gaeltachta faoi láthair. Tá siad ag déanamh athbhreithnithe ar na pleananna sin. Ansin, tá dhá phlean ann do Chois Fharraige agus do Ghaoth Dobhair, Rann na Feirste, Anagaire agus Loch an Iúir. Táimid ag súil go mbeidh ceann os comhair an údaráis i mí an Mheithimh do Chloch Chionnaola, Gort an Choirce, an Fál Carrach agus Machaire Rabhartaigh. I mí Lúnasa, táimid ag súil go mbeidh trí cinn foilsithe agus réidh le dul os comhair an údaráis. Is iad sin Ciarraí thiar, Ciarraí theas agus na Déise. I mí Mheán Fómhair, táimid ag súil go mbeidh pleananna do Árann Mór, Dún na nGall theas, an Cheathrú Rua agus Múscraí réidh le ceadú. I mí Dheireadh Fómhair, táimid ag súil le pleananna do Chonamara láir, Dúiche Sheoigheach agus Tuar Mhic Éadaigh.

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit as ucht an soiléirithe, ach cén fáth go bhfuil moill i gceist le na pleananna teanga? Táimid ag caint faoi Acht 2012. Tá sé anois 2017. Glacaim go n-aontaíonn an tAire Stáit gurb é croílár na straitéise na pleananna teanga a chur chun cinn. Cén fáth go bhfuil moill ann agus cén fáth nach bhfuil plean ann do Bhearna, Cnoc na Cathrach agus áiteanna eile i nGaillimh fós? An féidir leis an Aire Stáit míniú a thabhairt dom maidir leis an moill sin? Mar is eol don Aire Stáit, ceapann daoine nach bhfuil sa Straitéis 20 Bliain ach toirt gan tairbhe de bharr easpa dul chun cinn, easpa acmhainní agus easpa foirne. Ar lámh amháin, glacaim go bhfuil dul chun cinn déanta, ach mo cheist go díreach ná cén fáth an bhfuil agus an raibh moill i gceist le na pleananna teanga tábhachtacha seo?

Tá ceist tapaidh agam mar gheall ar an maoiniú a bheadh á chur ar fáil chun na pleananna teanga seo a chur i bhfeidhm. Beidh an-chuid obair á dhéanamh ag na coistí pobail éagsúla go léir. Beidh siad ag tabhairt le chéile spiorad deonach agus spiorad pobail láidir. Mura mbeidh an maoiniú ar fáil chun na pleananna seo a chur i gcrích, buille trom a bheadh ann do na pobail sin. Tá sé tábhachtach go mbeidh an t-airgead ann. Mar sin, an bhfuil an tAire Stáit sásta go bhfuil maoiniú á chur ar leataobh chun na pleananna teanga seo a chur i bhfeidhm, go háirithe níos déanaí sa chóras? Nuair a cuireadh an t-airgead ar fáil i dtosach chun na pleananna a chur le chéile, bhí thart ar €40,000 i gcóir na céad pleananna. Do na pleananna is déanaí, ní raibh ach thart ar €10,000. Bhí laghdú mór ann. Ní theastaíonn uaim a leithéid a fheiceáil do na pleananna teanga atá fós le teacht nuair a bheidh an maoiniú á chur ar fáil chun iad a chur i bhfeidhm. Mar sin, an bhfuil an tAire Stáit sásta go bhfuil maoiniú ar fáil chun na pleananna a chur i bhfeidhm?

Mar a dúirt mé, bhí €735,000 ceadaithe do Údarás na Gaeltachta i mbliana. Tá €552,942 ceadaithe agam ina leith le caitheamh in 2017. Mar shampla, tá €42,000 ann do Mhúscraí, suas go dtí €50,000 do phlean Dhún na nGall theas agus €73,000 do phlean Chois Fharraige chun na pleananna sin a chur i bhfeidhm.

Beidh airgead ar fáil sna blianta amach romhainn freisin. Maidir le ceist an Teachta Connolly faoin mhoill a bhí ann, bhí moill leis na trí phlean i gcathair na Gaillimhe mar nach raibh eagraíocht áitiúil ar fáil. Ní raibh eagraíocht amháin i gCnoc na Cathrach, Bearna nó an tEachréidh nó do iarthar chathair na Gaillimhe. Bhí próiseas ar bun chun eagraíocht a bhunú agus is é sin an fáth go raibh na cruinnithe poiblí i gcathair na Gaillimhe an tseachtain seo caite. Bhí próiseas ar bun i ngach cheantar eile. D'iarr an chuid is mó de na heagraíochtaí ormsa breis ama a thabhairt. Níl na figiúirí agam, agus sílim gur cheadaigh mé breis ama do chuille eagraíocht. Aon dream a bhí ag iarraidh breis ama, cheadaigh mé dó é. Sílim gur cheadaigh mé é do chuile eagraíocht. Bhí siad ag iarraidh breis ama chun an obair agus an réamh-obair a dhéanamh. Is é sin an fáth go raibh moill ann.

CLÁR Programme

Tony McLoughlin

Question:

45. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the status of the 2017 CLÁR programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20387/17]

The Ceann Comhairle has nominated Deputy Joe Carey in the place of Deputy Tony McLoughlin for Question No. 45.

I wish to ask Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the status of the 2017 CLÁR programme and if she will make a statement on the matter.

CLÁR is a targeted investment programme for rural areas providing funding for small infrastructural projects in areas that have experienced significant depopulation. While often modest in nature, these interventions play a very significant role in improving the lives of the people who live in CLÁR areas. I re-opened the CLÁR programme in 2016, following its closure for new applications in 2010, and provided funding for over 650 projects in areas such as safety measures at rural schools and community facilities, the provision of school and community play areas and support for access roads to public amenities.

Building on the success of 2016, I launched the 2017 CLÁR programme on 31 March last, with an allocation of €5 million. Funding is available under four different Measures. Measure 1 will provide support for safety initiatives such as warning signs, road markings and footpaths in the environs of schools and community facilities. Measure 2 will support the enhancement and development of play areas in schools and communities. Measure 3 will support innovative community-based projects that do not qualify for assistance under other public schemes. Measure 4 will provide support to voluntary organisations that provide first response services in rural areas for the replacement or upgrading of equipment or vehicles used for emergency response.

Full details of the 2017 CLÁR scheme are available on the rural development pages of my Department’s website. The closing date for applications under the 2017 CLÁR programme is 5 May 2017. All applications received by the closing date will be assessed by my Department and I expect to be in a position to announce the successful applicants by the end of May.

The CLÁR programme is the most important scheme for rural Ireland. I welcome that the Minister of State re-opened the scheme last year. It was the first time since 2009 that the scheme was available. Last year County Clare received €284,000 for 27 projects for rural areas that have suffered from significant depopulation. The scheme provides community groups and schools with an opportunity to apply for funding under different headings.

I welcome that the Minister of State has broadened the scheme to include applications from voluntary first responder organisations throughout the country and community-based projects that do not qualify for other streams of funding, and is demonstrating an element of flexibility in the scheme. I encourage all community groups and schools in CLÁR areas to apply for the scheme. I ask the Minister of State to clarify the applications process. When will he be in a position to make an announcement as regards successful applicants?

The Deputy is quite correct. The scheme is very successful. I will return to Government, and I know the Deputy and all of my colleagues will support me, seeking further funding for the CLÁR programme.

The measure pertaining to schools has proven to be very successful. There were three rounds of funding under the sports capital programme. The scheme has worked very well in terms of safety measures for children outside schools. It has also worked well with the local authorities and has been one of our successes.

The Deputy is quite correct in that this round of applications includes a new initiative in order to include organisations or groups which had not received funding under any other State scheme. If five, six, seven, eight, ten or 15 applications are submitted for the same type of project, that is something we can consider for the next round of the CLÁR programme.

Despite a small amount of money being involved, areas that are in need of support and help can be targeted. The funding this year totals €5 million and the applications process will close on Friday. I hope to be able to announce the successful applicants at the end of the month. I hope if further funding is provided at the end of the year there could perhaps be a second round to address other applications.

I welcome the CLÁR programme and it is an opportunity for the Government to demonstrate its commitment to rural Ireland. Through the programme projects that might not ordinarily get funding have received it. Schools are very tight for funding and a lot of good work has been done in terms of safety and traffic calming measures, playgrounds and other things that are the hub of community living in rural Ireland.

The announcement of CLÁR funding always involves tight deadlines and I understand the lead-in time is fairly short with the closing date for applications being 5 May. Funding is dependent on Government finances and so on, but I ask for a longer lead-in time in order to give local authorities and community groups, in particular, an opportunity to carry out good preparatory work. I ask the Minister of State to continue his commitment to CLÁR funding and investment in such schemes.

What happened with the CLÁR programme also happened with the dispersed capital programme. No matter how long organisations are given to apply for a scheme, applications are submitted at the last minute. In the case of the sports capital programme, at 4.55 p.m. on the very last day of applications for the programme the system broke down because everyone left it until the last minute even though there had not been a scheme for many years.

Due to Easter and other issues, we extended the application deadline for another week in order to give local authorities until the end of the week to apply. I do not want to consider applications for too long. I want funding to be allocated and targeted at groups which need it. Local authorities have complained that the allocation of the money comes too late. That is why applications will close on Friday. At the end of this month I intend to allocate the money so that local authorities and other groups have plenty of time to spend the money before the end of the year.

Question No. 46 withdrawn.

Action Plan for Rural Development Implementation

Peter Burke

Question:

47. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the status of the actions that have been progressed by her Department under the Action Plan for Rural Development; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20343/17]

I wish to ask the Minister for the Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs to outline the status of the actions that have been progressed by her Department under the Action Plan for Rural Development and if she will make a statement on the matter. I was very grateful that the plan was launched in Ballymahon in my constituency, Longford-Westmeath. To have the Taoiseach, the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, and the Minister of State, Deputy Kyne, there was a significant display of confidence in rural Ireland.

Realising our Rural Potential, the Government's Action Plan for Rural Development, was launched in January this year. The plan contains over 270 actions to be delivered by a range of Government Departments, State agencies and other bodies over the next three years to support the economic and social development of rural Ireland.

My Department is leading on more than 60 of the actions in the plan. These actions will be implemented on a phased basis over the timeline of the plan, with timeframes for delivery set out in the document itself. Progress reports on my Department’s actions, and all other actions in the plan, will be published on a six-monthly basis, with the first report due to be published around July. I can, however, report that since the launch of the action plan my Department has made significant progress on a range of actions.

In February, I announced details of more than €9 million in capital funding for 56 arts and culture centres across the country. Over 80% of this investment will be in centres in rural areas. In the past number of weeks I, along with Minister of State, Deputy Ring, have launched the town and village renewal scheme and the CLÁR programme. Both schemes are now open for applications, primarily through the local authorities.

The Minister, Deputy Denis Naughten, and I have established and co-chair an implementation group on broadband connectivity to drive the delivery of the actions in the report of the mobile phone and broadband task force which was published last December. Progress reports from the implementation group will be published on a quarterly basis, with the first report due shortly. My Department continues to work closely with local authorities on an ongoing basis to ensure there are no local barriers to broadband deployment and to identify priority areas for roll-out. Other actions which have been significantly progressed include the announcement by the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Ring, of €500,000 in capital investment to boost the tourism potential of Ireland's national parks, the successful staging across the country of Cruinniú na Casca events on Easter Monday and the establishment of a new task force, chaired by the Minister of State, to progress the concept of an Atlantic economic corridor.

I welcome the Minister's reply and the effort the Department is making to invest money in rural Ireland. It is important that we have an action plan and that it be reviewed. That has been very successful in the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and the Department of Education and Skills. It is a very strong template with which to move forward and I commend the Minister for taking the initiative. It is very welcome in terms of the investment by the Government in rural Ireland. However, there are a few areas of concern. While it is welcome that 300,000 houses nationally are now coming under the commercial initiative for broadband, which is a house a minute for the next 90 days and a huge investment in rural Ireland, there are issues in rural parts of my constituency which are not covered by the commercial operators and which depend on the national broadband intervention scheme. There are parts of south Longford, including Legan and Ardagh which I visited with Councillor Paul Ross, where major businesses such as Billy Moran & Sons which are within fractional distance of major broadband areas cannot be connected. They cannot even run credit card machines in their businesses. It is important that we get the plan to intervene for these key areas.

The Minister, Deputy Denis Naughten, is rolling out the national broadband plan which is in the procurement process. It will address areas where commercial operators will not provide a service. It was welcome news that Eir was to provide high-speed broadband for 300,000 more homes. It is most important to have a monitoring committee because the action plan for rural development is a cross-government plan. Every Department has included actions in the plan and it is important that they all be monitored in order that when someone commits to something, he or she will do it. That is the purpose of the monitoring committee. Various measures in the plan are being progressed every week. The Minister of State, Deputy Michael Ring, launched the rural recreation programme on Friday and, as he said in the House, he wants a quick turnaround on it, as well as on CLÁR applications. I will shortly announce the opening of applications in stream 3 of the arts and culture capital scheme, in which Deputy Peter Burke has a great interest. We had a very successful launch in Moate a couple of weeks ago of the new €20 million town and village renewal scheme. I was delighted that the Deputy was able to attend on the day. Moate Action Group is doing great work locally to enhance the town and local community. We want to support such groups through the wide range of funding streams available.

I thank the Minister for being ambitious. It is very important that these targets be reviewed. If one looks at the headline figures, there is an ambition to create 135,000 new jobs by 2020. The Minister is right to be ambitious and ensure the target is monitored. It is very important for a constituency such as Longford-Westmeath to increase the number of overseas visitors. The ambition in the plan to increase it by 12% is also very worthwhile. Some 600 villages across rural Ireland will benefit from funding through the Department. It is very important to note, looking at the schemes to which the Minister referred, that 80% of the arts and culture budget is going to rural Ireland, while the CLÁR and town and village renewal schemes are key programmes under which people will be able to see tangible projects delivered in rural Ireland by the Government. It is important to continue that programme of investment. I have no doubt that if the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Ring, replicates his successful delivery of the sports capital programme, the CLÁR programme will be a huge success.

Is the Minister aware of the statements made by the new CEO of An Post that hundreds of post offices are likely to close? I understood the retention of the post office system was an integral part of the development and maintenance of services in rural Ireland. There was a slight dust up between my good friend the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Ring, and the Minister, Deputy Denis Naughten, about who was responsible. As the senior Minister, has Deputy Heather Humphreys clarified the position? I worked very hard in the Department of Social Protection to ensure it maintained services and used the post office network. I now see that even the collection of the television licence fee is out for tender. This is really important to people as I find when I go to small towns and villages. The last Government succeeded in preventing the closure of almost all post offices, but it now seems that hundreds of them are to close.

A lot of work has been done in my Department by the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Ring, on post offices. A post office working group was established and we worked with stakeholders to identify opportunities to increase services in post offices, which is what we want to see. We want a post office service which is sustainable and will be used in towns and villages across the country. We are living in changed times. There is an IT revolution and everything is being done through phones or electronically. Of course, post offices face challenges. It is very important that local communities use their local post offices, but it is also important that post offices provide the services community members need and will use. To that end, the Minister of State has developed a pilot project which we are shortly to roll out. We have provided funding for the project within the Department.

Broadband Service Provision

James Lawless

Question:

48. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the way many local authorities have appointed dedicated broadband roll-out co-ordinators as required by her Department's task force on broadband installation; the details of the relevant officers for each local authority, with contact details in each case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13684/17]

My question relates to the announcement prior to Christmas by the Minister's Department and that of the Minister, Deputy Denis Naughten, of a range of measures, including a broadband and mobile phone task force. One of the measures was the appointment of dedicated personnel in each local authority to assist in the roll-out of the mobile and broadband task force. I ask for an update and a list of the personnel identified in each local authority in order that we might begin to contact them.

The mobile phone and broadband task force identified the importance of each local authority assigning an officer with responsibility for broadband and mobile services in its respective administrative area to liaise with operators on coverage and the roll-out of telecommunications infrastructure. My Department has provided funding for each local authority to support the appointment of an officer with these responsibilities. To date, 29 of the 31 local authorities have appointed a broadband officer. The remaining two local authorities are recruiting and expected to appoint a broadband officer shortly. The manner in which broadband officers are recruited and appointed is a matter for each local authority. Telecommunications providers have widely welcomed the assignment of a single point of contact in every local authority to deal with telecoms infrastructure issues. I have a list of the relevant broadband officers and contact details which I can provide for the Deputy.

The appointment of broadband officers is just one of 40 actions contained in the report of the mobile phone and broadband task force.

The Minister, Deputy Naughten, and I have established an implementation group, which we co-chair, to drive the delivery of the actions in the report. Progress reports from the implementation group will be published on a quarterly basis, and the first report is due shortly.

I am curious as to which of the two are as láthair if 29 of the 31 are in place. Which two local authorities do not have them? This is of interest. The Minister mentioned that she has the list and I would be obliged if she would furnish it to me. I am particularly interested in the names, contact details and the local authority in each case. I welcome the fact that 29 have been appointed. Perhaps the Minister will forward the list to me after the debate. I am sure colleagues on all sides would avail of it also.

I agree that this step is needed. We have identified that much of the difficulty in broadband roll-out has been the lack of consistency across local authority areas. County council A is looking for development levies and implementing development plans in a particular way, county council B is doing it another way and county council C is doing it a different way. All of these counties intersect at a particular junction, so a broadband operator or mobile phone operator is trying to put in masts and telecoms infrastructure with three different codes pertaining to just one small area. We all know where county boundaries and constituencies intertwine it is very difficult. It is very much needed and I welcome the progress. I would like to get a copy of the list afterwards. Perhaps the Minister will clarify which two are not in place just yet.

I have provided funding to all local authorities to co-finance an officer with responsibility for broadband in each local authority area. Twenty-nine of the 31 local authorities have appointed broadband officers. We understand that the remaining two are South Dublin County Council and Wicklow County Council, and they are in the process of appointing officers. The broadband officers work closely with the Department on an ongoing basis to identify and address barriers to the national broadband plan roll-out. Progress reports on the implementation of actions in the task force report will be published on a quarterly basis, and the first quarterly report is due to be submitted to the Cabinet committee on regional and rural affairs on 9 May.

We all realise how critical broadband is to rural communities. The Minister, Deputy Naughten, has responsibility for the procurement process. It is complex. I want to ensure that when the contract is signed, there will be no barriers at local level which would delay the roll-out. Sometimes, as the Deputy said, in local authorities there are different sections which could be working in isolation. I want them to work together. I also want the broadband officers to work together. There are two regional groups. The broadband officers meet regularly and this is facilitated by the Department. It is an opportunity for them to discuss various issues and do so in a way that has uniformity.

I thank the Minister for the clarification. I appreciate that the Department has funded the 31 officers. The real point of appointing these people is so they can begin to address the idiosyncrasies and inconsistencies in local authorities and work with the operators. It makes a lot of sense. Since they are in place, what progress have we made on the waivers that were to be introduced in respect of development contributions and planning applications? What progress have we made on consistency in development plans? Where do we stand with the online system for planning applications for broadband infrastructure, which was to be introduced as part of the task force once the local authority personnel were in place? What progress has been made on all of the other associated actions the local authority personnel were due to manage at local authority level once they were in place?

I note the task force mentioned a 90-day reporting schedule to the Cabinet, whereby every 90 days the task force will report on its actions. According to my calculations it was established before Christmas and we are 90 days beyond that, if not more. I presume it has already reported once to Cabinet. The Minister might update us on what it said and when it is due to report again.

The mobile broadband task force has outlined a number of issues which need to be addressed at local level, and we have raised these matters regarding levies and planning fees with the local authorities. We are trying to achieve uniformity throughout the country because some counties were doing things differently. We have been able to work with local authorities. The job of the broadband officers will be to work with the various sections in the councils, whether planning, roads, IT or water, to ensure any potential barriers are identified and issues are resolved so that when the national broadband plan is being rolled out there will be no delays. They will also work with local communities, giving them information, providing them with various opportunities to use broadband in hubs and teaching them about the benefits of broadband. There is no point in having broadband if people do not use it. This is also very important, particularly in terms of creating awareness in communities and in the context of businesses which may not have an online presence. They will work with them also.

We have received a report and it will report. We report at the Cabinet subcommittee regularly on the progress being made.

Scéim Athnuachana na mBailte agus na Sráidbhailte

Catherine Connolly

Question:

49. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Catherine Connolly den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta, Gnóthaí Réigiúnacha, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta an bhfuair aon bhaile, atá suite i gcroílár Ghaeltacht Chonamara agus atá chomh tábhachtach sin d'inmharthanacht na Gaeltachta, aon chabhair faoin Scéim Athnuachana Bailte agus Sráidbhailte; agus má fuair, an gcuirfidh sí an bhliain inar tugadh an chabhair agus sonraí na cabhrach sin in iúl; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [20432/17]

An bhfuair aon bhaile atá suite i gcroílár Ghaeltacht Chonamara, agus atá chomh tábhachtach sin d'inmharthanacht na Gaeltachta, aon chabhair faoin scéim athnuachana bailte agus sráidbhailte? Má bhfuair, an gcuirfidh an tAire an bhliain inar tugadh an chabhair agus sonraí na cabhrach sin in iúl don Teach?

Gabhaim mo bhuíochas leis an Teachta as ucht na ceiste sin. Tá mé ag tógáil an cheist seo thar ceann an Aire shinsearaigh. Seoladh an chéad scéim athnuachana bailte agus sráidbhailte i mí Iúil 2016, le maoiniú de €10 milliún, chun tacú le hathnuachan bailte agus sráidbhailte tuaithe ar fud na hÉireann. Rinneadh an scéim a reáchtáil trí na h-údaráis áitiúla agus tugadh cuireadh do gach contae suas le hocht dtogra a sheoladh isteach lena mbreithniú i gcomhair maoinithe.

Rinne Comhairle Chontae na Gaillimhe iarratas ar mhaoiniú do ocht mbaile. Bhí ceann amháin acu - Ros Muc - i nGaeltacht Chonamara. Ceadaíodh maoiniú de €42,000 do Ros Muc chun cosán a chríochnú ar thaobh an R340 ó ionad nua léirmhínithe an Phiarsaigh go tailte an Chumainn Lúthchleas Gael atá á n-úsáid mar charrchlós farasbairr don ionad.

Ar an 13 Aibreán i mbliana, seoladh scéim fheabhsaithe athnuachana bailte agus sráidbhailte do 2017 mar chuid den phlean gníomhaíochta um fhorbairt tuaithe. Faoin scéim seo déanfar €20 milliún a infheistiú i mbailte agus sráidbhailte ar fud cheantar tuaithe na hÉireann sna 15 mhí amach romhainn.

Beidh scéim 2017 á riar trí na h-údaráis áitiúla i ndlúthchomhar le leasa pobail agus gnó agus bheinn ag súil go mbainfeadh suas le 300 baile agus sráidbhaile tairbhe ón mhaoiniú. Tá an scéim seo dírithe go sonrach ar bhailte agus sráidbhailte faoin tuath a bhfuil daonra níos lú ná 10,000 iontu.

Cuirfear fáilte faoi leith roimh thionscadail a bhfuil tionchair dhearfacha eacnamaíocha ar an mbaile nó sráidbhaile ag baint leo nó lena spreagfar gníomhaíocht eacnamaíoch idir baile nó sráidbhaile agus na bailte fearainn in aice láimhe mar an gcéanna le tionscadail a léiríonn giaráil nó naisc le scéimeanna eile arna n-oibriú ag Ranna nó gníomhaireachtaí Rialtais.

Tá sonraí uile an phróisis iarratais seolta chuig na h-údaráis áitiúla agus is é an 30 Meitheamh 2017 an spriocdháta le haghaidh iarratas.

Ros Muc an t-aon áit i gConamara a bhfuair cabhair an bhliain seo caite - an chéad bhliain den scéim seo. An bhfuil treoirlínte nó rialacháin i gceist don chóras áitiúil maidir le bailte i gcroílár na Gaeltachta? Cén chaoi ar tharla sé nach raibh i gceist i gConamara ach baile beag amháin? Cad mar gheall ar an Cheathrú Rua, Carna agus an Spidéal? An raibh iarratais ó na bailte sin? An bhfuil treoirlínte ann ó thaobh cothromaíochta de agus ó thaobh na teanga de? Tá a fhios ag an Aire Stáit go bhfuil ceist na teanga agus fostaíochta fite fuaite ina chéile sa Ghaeltacht. Ba mhaith liom soiléiriú a fháil air sin.

Tá an chomhairle contae lárnach sa phróiseas seo agus an chéad rud a theastaíonn ná iarratas ón bpobal tríd an gcomhairle contae. Tá a fhios agam go bhfuair a lán ceantar eile - Carna, Cill Chiaráin agus an Mám ina measc - airgead tríd an scéim CLÁR.

Bhí cuid dóibh cosúil lena chéile ó thaobh na rudaí go bhféadfaí a dhéanamh tríd an scéim CLÁR agus an scéim seo. An chéad rud a theastaíonn ná iarratas ón bpobal tríd an gcomhairle contae. Más rud é go bhfuil aon smaointe ag an Teachta maidir le rudaí a theastaíonn in aon bhaile sa cheantar Gaeltachta, beidh an Teachta in ann é sin a chur os comhair an chomhairle contae chun iarratas a chur isteach.

Cultural Policy

Joan Burton

Question:

50. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs her plans to develop a national cultural strategy up to 2025. [19861/17]

I want to ask the Minister if she would agree that the prospering of the arts and the arts community in Ireland will be vital in the context of the challenges posed to the whole country and island as a consequence of Brexit. What proposals does the Minister have to, for instance, support artists who in many cases earn less than 70% of the average wage? Does she foresee artists having a minimum wage or living wage? We talked about this previously. Where does that fit into the strategy?

I understood that the Deputy wanted to speak about the national cultural strategy.

Last July, I published-----

-----the draft framework policy, Culture 2025 – Éire Ildánach, which was submitted to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs for input. I understand that the committee is currently preparing a report on the draft framework policy which I will consider when received. I have also received submissions from various organisations on the draft document. Following receipt of the report from the committee, it is my intention to finalise the policy. In the meantime, I believe that it is important to continue momentum of delivery of the priorities set out in the framework policy and to build on the positive legacy of the Ireland 2016 centenary programme.

To that effect, on 8 December, the Taoiseach and I launched the Creative Ireland programme, Clár Éire Ildánach, as the Government’s legacy programme arising out of the Ireland 2016 centenary programme and as the main implementation vehicle for the priorities identified in Culture 2025. The Creative Ireland programme is a high-level, high-ambition, all-of-Government initiative to bring creativity in the life of the nation into the mainstream. My Department is now working to implement the Creative Ireland programme with partners across Government and other key stakeholders. This includes an ambitious year 1 programme to deliver ten initiatives by the end of 2017. Details of the programme can be found on creative.ireland.ie.

The Minister refers to the document and previous initiatives being based on the very successful 2016 programme. The Minister will recall that I was a very strong supporter, as Tánaiste, of investment into the rebuilding of the national cultural institutions. I argued strongly that the capital initiative for funding which existed in the years running up to 2016 - and saw the restoration of part of the National Gallery, for example, and other very good initiatives - should continue. I was very disappointed, notwithstanding the increase that the Minister was able to grant to a number of bodies, including the Arts Council that she referenced earlier, that that programme for capital funding of our arts at national, regional and local level has been dropped. The endowment for the arts in Ireland, in the broadest sense of the word, has fallen dramatically this year, as the Minister knows from the comparison of the capital and current figures. I want to know if the Minister intends to restore that in full in this cultural framework, hopefully starting with this budget.

I acknowledge the Deputy's contribution when she was Tánaiste prior to 2016. Capital investment continues in our cultural institutions. Some €10 million is committed to the National Library. That is the first phase. Some €8 million is committed to the National Archives. I recently announced the €9 million arts capital scheme for across the country. That was very successful with regard to many art centres-----

That was all done by the last Government.

No, that was not. Having said all that, one of the five pillars of the Creative Ireland programme is to invest in our cultural infrastructure. We are sitting down with all the cultural institutions and asking them to come forward with their capital plans for the next number of years and what they want to do. I am delighted that the two new wings of the National Gallery are almost complete. They are a wonderful addition to the gallery and will be open shortly. We are sitting down and working with all of the national institutions. I agree that we need to invest in our cultural institutions. It is most important. I also want to see us investing in our arts and cultural centres across the country as well.

Rural Recreation Policy

Peter Burke

Question:

51. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs when the rural recreation programme will open for applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20344/17]

My question is to ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs when the rural recreation programme will open for applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

I am pleased to be able to inform the House that I have launched the 2017 outdoor recreation infrastructure scheme, with funding of €11 million to be allocated to projects across rural Ireland. The outdoor recreation infrastructure scheme will support the development of new outdoor recreational infrastructure and the maintenance, enhancement or promotion of existing infrastructure in rural areas. The scheme forms part of the Government’s action plan for rural development and reinforces the Government’s commitment to supporting rural Ireland. Funding will be available for a range of initiatives, from small-scale local projects to large-scale strategic projects. Full details of the scheme will be issued to all local authorities in the coming days.

The facilities and amenities funded through this scheme will create better experiences for visitors to rural areas, enhance the tourism offering and support economic development in rural areas. Improved recreational facilities will also enhance the quality of life for people who live in or close to the supported areas. Successful applications will be announced by the end of June and projects will be expected to commence shortly thereafter.

I welcome the announcement by the Minister of State. This is another prime example of the Government investing in rural Ireland. That has to be welcomed. I note, in the action plan for rural development, in excess of €50 million over the lifetime of the plan is to be invested in sports, recreational and cultural facilities. I know we have a greenway in my own constituency which got huge funding. This investment makes rural Ireland more sustainable. There are a number of projects off that greenway which breathe life into towns and villages along it. There are also projects in County Longford that, in the previous allocation for the rural recreational programme, got funding and have provided a huge benefit to make rural Ireland more sustainable. That is the path that we need to continue. We need to ensure that the funding gets to those key projects that will make rural Ireland more sustainable.

The Deputy is quite correct about the infrastructure that can be put in place for walks and trails and particular blueways. We work with Coillte and many other State agencies which provide services for walks and greenways. I am delighted that we have increased the funding again this year. The Deputy is quite correct that we have too many knockers of rural Ireland. There are many schemes going on and development taking place, and I have to say that many of these schemes are doing an excellent job, particularly in rural Ireland, to get people back to work. This walk scheme in particular has worked well, and there are many people involved in tourism. There are full-time jobs, people working hard and glad to be in the tourism sector.

I am delighted that this scheme is up and running again, and what we want now is for the local authorities to get applications in, and we as a Department will make the decisions. We want to get the money rolled out as quickly as possible.

Written Answers are published on the Oireachtas website.
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