Ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghlacadh leat, a Chathaoirligh, as ucht deis a thabhairt dom na Meastacháin seo a chur i láthair an choiste. Beidh mé ag caint as Béarla agus as Gaeilge ach ó thaobh ábhar clóite de, beidh leagan Béarla iomlán agus leagan Ghaeilge iomlán ar fáil do chomhaltaí an choiste.
Parts of my contribution today will be in English and other parts will be in Irish. However, members may obtain a copy of my speech in either English or Irish, in the spirit of the language Act. The official record will record my contribution as said.
I am pleased to present to the committee the Estimates for the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Vote 27, and charitable donations and bequests, Vote 24. I will speak to a number of the subheads while my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Noel Ahern, will speak to others.
This is the second full year of the operation of the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. As members will be aware it was established to promote and support the sustainable inclusive development of communities, urban and rural, including Gaeltacht and island communities thereby fostering better regional balance and alleviating disadvantages as well as advancing use of the Irish language.
The gross allocation of €298,332 million represents a 9% increase on the outturn for 2003 and the net allocation of €278,334 after appropriations-in-aid is 5% above the corresponding 2003 outturn. I propose to speak briefly about the areas of expenditure under my direct responsibility before passing to my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Noel Ahern, who will speak on the community and voluntary sector, the drugs initiative and Vote 24 which deals with charitable donations and bequests.
The Department's administrative budget for 2004 is €17.577 million. This principally provides for salaries of 246 staff, staff training, accommodation, IT office equipment and consultancy costs, including those associated with the completion of the management information framework project and the Gaeltacht client database. I am satisfied the allocation is adequate to meet demands.
Maidir leis An Fhoras Teanga, faoi mar is eol don roghchoiste, is é an socrú atá déanta maidir le maoiniú an dá ghníomhaireacht den Fhoras Teanga ná go seasfaidh an Stát seo 75% den chostas bliantúil aontaithe i gcás Fhoras na Gaeilge agus go seasfaidh an Tuaisceart an 25% eile. Is a mhalairt de shocrú airgeadais atá déanta maidir leis an nGníomhaireacht Ultaise, i.e. 75% den chostas bliantúil aontaithe le n-íoc ag an Tuaisceart agus 25% ag an Stát seo. Suim €14.639 milliúin atá i Vóta mo Roinne i mbliana don Fhoras Teanga roinnte mar a leanas idir an dá ghníomhaireacht Foras na Gaeilge €14.021 milliúin agus an Ghníomhaireacht Ultaise £0.618 milliúin.
Maoinítear Ciste na Gaeilge ó fhomhircheann a airgeadaítear ó fháltais an Chrannchuir Náisiúnta. Maoinítear Bord na Leabhar Gaeilge, Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann agus Taibhdhearc na Gaillimhe, chomh maith le tionscadail ilghnéitheacha Gaeilge as Ciste na Gaeilge.
Suim €500,000 atá á chur ar fáil d'Oifig an Choimisinéara Teanga. Tá an tUasal Seán ó Cuirreáin ceapaithe ag an Uachtarán mar An Coimisinéir Teanga le héifeacht ó 23 Feabhra 2004. D'fhógair mé le déanaí go mbeadh Oifig an Choimisinéara lonnaithe in Eastát Bhaile an tSagairt, An Spidéal, Contae na Gaillimhe, agus na gnáthshocruithe a bheidh curtha i bhfeidhm. Tá súil agam go ndéanfar na socruithe cuí maidir le leasanna agus trealamh go han-luath le go mbeidh An Coimisinéir Teanga in ann dul i mbun a dhualgas gan mhoill san oifig nua. San idirlinn, tá sé ag feidhmiú ó oifig shealadach sna Forbacha.
Tá an scéim seo an-tábhachtach don Ghaeltacht ní hamháin mar thacaíocht don Ghaeilge, ach mar thacaíocht don phobal le Gaeilge maireachtáil sa Ghaeltacht. Cé go raibh méadú ar líon na n-iarratais tithíochta le cúpla bliain anuas meastar go mbeidh laghdú ar na hiarratais i mbliana agus go mbeifear ábalta freastal ar an éileamh ar dheontais leis an Meastachán de €4 milliúin atá curtha ar fáil i mbliana. Críochnaíodh 169 teach nua anuraidh le cabhair deontais faoin scéim, chomh maith le 981 oibreacha eile a bhain le feabhsúcháin, sláintíocht agus méaduithe tí.
Tá €700,000 curtha ar fáil sna Meastacháin do scéim labhairt na Gaeilge i mbliana. Sa scoilbhliain seo caite d'íoc mo Roinn cúnamh i leith 3,442 teaghlaigh. Tá an t-athbhreithniú atá á dhéanamh ar an scéim seo ag mo Roinn gar do bheith críochnaithe agus táthar ag súil go mbeifear ag fógairt scéim leasaithe roimh dheireadh na bliana.
Maidir le scéim na bhfoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge, bhi scéal an-mhaith do na mná tí i mbuiséad 2003 nuair a fógraíodh go mbeadh an teacht isteach a fhaigheann siad ó bheith ag coinneáil foghlaimeoirí Gaeilge saor ó cháin ioncaim feasta. Is aitheantas speisialta ón Rialtas don obair thábhachtach a bhíonn idir lámha ag na mná tí ó thaobh na scéime seo a bhí sa bhfógra áirithe sin. D'íoc mo Roinn cúnamh i leith 24,859 foghlaimeoirí faoin scéim seo i 2003 - 1,180 daoine fásta san áireamh. D'fhan a bhformhór ar iostas le 602 teaghlaigh scaipithe ar fud na Gaeltachta. Bunaithe ar an gcaiteachas a bhí ann i 2003 meastar go mbeidh go leor sa Meastachán €3.8 milliúin atá curtha ar leataobh don scéim i 2004.
Tá an cúnamh bliantiúil a chuireann mo Roinnse ar fáil d'eagraíochtaí atá ag obair le buanú na Gaeilge sa Ghaeltacht méadaithe go mor le blianta beaga anuas. Tá €3 milliúin ar fáil dom i mbliana do seirbhísí ilghnéitheacha. Taispeánann sé seo an díogras atá sa Ghaeltacht inniu maidir leis an nGaeilge, go dtuigeann na pobail gur acmhainn luachmhar dóibh an teanga agus go bhfuil cinneadh déanta acu í a chaomhnú ar gach bealach gur féidir leo. Ní féidir luach a chur ar an obair a dhéanann coistí deonacha agus eagraíochtaí eile sa Ghaeltacht ar mhaithe leis an teanga.
Cuireadh cúnamh ar fáil do na fo-ionaid ollscoile arís i 2003 (Áras Uí Ghramhnaigh, Rath Cairn; Áras Shorcha Ní Ghuairim, Carna; Áras Uí Chadhain, An Cheathrú Rua; agus An Chrannóg i nGaoth Dobhair) chun leanúint leis an obair atá á dhéanamh acu. Chomh maith le sin, cheadaigh mé deontas €340,000 in aghaidh na bliana thar tréimhse trí bliana d'0llscoil na hÉireann Gaillimh i 2003 ar mhaithe le Acadamh ollscolaíochta Gaeilge a bhunú. Tá sé lárnach do bhuanú na Gaeilge sa Ghaeltacht inniu go mbeidh cúrsaí tríú leibhéal trí Ghaeilge ar fáil i gceantair Gaeltachta le freastal ar phobal na Gaeltachta ina dteanga féin agus chun freastal i dtimpeallacht Ghaeilge ar na mic léinn atá ag teacht amach as an gcóras Gaelscolaíochta.
Maoinítear scéim champaí samhraidh trí Ghaeilge d'aos óg na Gaeltachta chun dul i ngleic le meath na Gaeilge i measc daoine óga taobh istigh den Ghaeltacht. Rinneadh athbhreithniú iomlán ar an scéim i 2003 agus beidh scéim leasaithe i bhfeidhm ón samhradh seo.
Rinneadh athbhreithniú freisin ar scéim na gcúntóirí teangan atá á mhaoiniú ag mo Roinn trí eagraíocht na scoileanna Gaeltachta. Tá mo Roinn ag déanamh scrúdaithe ar mholtaí an athbhreithnithe i gcomhar le rannpháirtithe eile le súil go mbeidh scéim leasaithe i bhfeidhm do 2004 agus 2005.
Tá dul chun cinn suntasach á dhéanamh ar bhonn leanúnach chun na moltaí a rinneadh i dtuarascáil Choimisiún na Gaeltachta a chur i bhfeidhm de réir mar a oireann. Chuige sin tá soláthar breise de €890,000 sna Meastacháin do 2004 chun díriú tuilleadh ar thograí agus ar ghníomhaíochtaí atá tairbheach don teanga agus teangalárnaithe trí chéile. Seo a leanas cuid de na tograí is tábhachtaí a dhéanfar a mhaoiniú sa bhliain reatha: staidéar teangeolaíoch ar úsáid na Gaeilge sa Ghaeltacht a chosnóidh tuairim is €550,223 in iomlán - íocfar €220,089 den ollchostas sin i 2004. Síníodh an conradh i leith an staidéir ar 1 Aibreán le hAcadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge, Ollscoil na hÉireann, Gaillimh a bheidh ag tabhairt faoi i gcomhar leis an Institiúid Náisiúnta um Anailís Réigiúnach agus Spásúil, Ollscoil na hÉireann, Má Nuad; tionscnamh pleanála teanga - le €520,000 curtha ar leataobh dó i 2004, €1.56 milliúin thar tréimhse trí bliana. Faoin tionscnamh seo cuirfear tacaíocht airgid suas go dtí €130,000 in aghaidh na bliana thar tréimhse trí bliana ar fáil do cheithre eagraíocht pobalbhunaithe Gaeltachta faoi leith ar a laghad chun plean teanga cuimsitheach agus infheidhmithe a réiteach agus a chur i bhfeidhm ina gceantair feidhme thar an tréimhse sin; agus feachtas feasachta teanga - beidh costas €300,000 i gceist i ndáil leis seo i 2004. Is é an cuspóir atá ag an bhfeachtas, a chuirfear i bhfeidhm i gcomhar le hÚdarás na Gaeltachta, ná na buntáistí a bhaineann le húsáid na Gaeilge mar phríomhtheanga teaghlaigh a chur ina luí, go príomha ar thuismitheoirí Gaeltachta - go háirithe iad siúd le paistí óga san aoisghrúpa náid go cúig chomh maith le tuismitheoirí ionchasacha. Tá seo á dhéanamh i gcomhairle le hÚdarás na Gaeltachta. Táthar ag súil leis go dtosóidh an feachtas féin, ina mbeidh sraith de fhógraíocht teilifíse mar chuid de, san fhómhar.
Faoi na scéimeanna feabhsúcháin a riarann mo Roinnse, bíonn deontais chaipitil ar fáil chun muiroibreacha sa Ghaeltacht a fhorbairt, chun bóithre sa Ghaeltacht a fheabhsú, agus chun áiseanna ar nós hallaí pobail, páirceanna imeartha agus áiseanna eile a chur ar fáil nó a fheabhsú. Trí fheabhsú an bhonneagair tá sé de chuspóir ag na deontais seo cur le saol sóisialta, culturtha agus eacnamaíoch na gceantair Ghaeltachta chomh maith leis an nGaeilge a neartú mar theanga phobail iontu.
Tá soláthar de €9.975 milliúin ar fáil dom i mbliana le caitheamh ar na scéimeanna seo. Tá i gceist agam an soláthar sin a dháileadh mar seo a leanas: bóithre - €4.425 milliúin; uisce agus séarachas - €75,000; muiroibreacha - €2.975 milliúin; agus áiseanna pobail - €2.5 milliúin.
Tá €13 milliúin curtha ar fáil dos na hoileáin i mbliana, méadú de beagnach 100% ar an tsuim a caitheadh anuraidh. Is i rochtain shábháilte rialta an ardthosaíocht is mó atá ag na hoileánaigh. Tá an-fheabhas go deo curtha ar na seirbhísí ó 1997 nuair nach raibh ann ach cúig cinn de sheirbhísí farantóireachta Stát-mhaoinithe. Inniu tá 14 seirbhís ag freastal ar 12 oileán á maoiniú ag an Stát, anuas ar sheirbhís aeir go dtí na hOileáin Árann agus seirbhís ingearáin go dti Toraigh i rith an gheimhridh.
Leanann mo Roinn chomh maith ag déanamh infheistíocht fhiúntach ar fhorbairt infrastruchtúr na n-oileán, go háirithe céanna. Tá a Ián oibre curtha i gcrích cheana ar chéanna ar na hoileáin éagsúla, mar shampla, Tóraigh, Árann Mhor agus Oileán Chléire, agus tá pleanáil agus dearadh ar siúl faoi láthair i gcás go leor eile. Táthar ag súil le hoibreacha a chur i gcrích i mbliana ar Inis Tuirc, Chliara agus Roonagh, chomh maith le dreideáil ar Inis Bó Finne.
An chéad dúshlán eile atá ann ná fostaíocht bhuan inmharthana a chruthú ar na hoileáin. Le deireanaí fógraíodh scéim nua fiontair d'Údarás na Gaeltachta a fhreastalaíonn ar na hoileáin Ghaeltachta. Faoin scéim seo beidh fiontair ar oileáin Ghaeltachta i dteideal deontais suas go €90,000 thar thréimhse trí bliana a fháil i bhfianaise na gcostas breise a bhaineann le gnó a bhunú ar oileán. Tá mo Roinn i gcomhairle leis an Roinn Fiontar, Trádála agus Fostaíochta maidir lena mhacasamhail de scéim i leith na n-oileán taobh amuigh den Ghaeltacht a chur ar bun agus táthar ag súil an scéim seo a fhógairt i rith an tsamhraidh. Íoctar deontais le h-Údarás na Gaeltachta chun geilleagar na Gaeltachta a fhorbairt chomh maith le caomhnú agus leathadh na Gaeilge mar phriomhtheanga an phobail a spreagadh. I 2003 fostaíodh 7,346 duine go lánaimseartha i ngnóthaí a fuair cúnamh ón údarás. Is titim 3% é seo ar an líon fostaíochta céanna i 2002. Bhí titim bheag de 0.8% ar an móriomlán fostaíochta i 2003, sin e, móriomlán 11,566 duine idir lánaimseartha, páirtaimseartha agus séasúrach. An dea-scéal agus an tuar dóchais, áfach, ná an 1,052 post nua nó méadú 13% ar na poist nua a cruthaíodh sa bhliain sin. Cuirfear €10.193 million ar fáil don údarás i mbliana mar chabhair chun costais riarachán na heagraíochta a ghlanadh agus costais reatha eile a íoc. Beidh €3.5 million ar a laghad den airgead sin le caitheamh ar fhorbairt teanga, chultúir agus phobail.
Cuirfear soláthar €22 million ar fáil don údaras freisin chun deontais áirithe a íoc (caipitil, oiliúna, fostaíochta) agus chun infheistíocht chaipitil a dhéanamh. Tá leagtha síos agam go gcaithfear 20% ar a laghad de chaiteachas caipitil an Údaráis a infheistiú i dtionscadail go mbeidh úsáid na Gaeilge mar phríomh-mhéan cumarsáide sa Ghaeltacht lárnach dá gcuid gníomhaíochtaí.
Ar ndóigh, caithfear a aithint go bhfuil athruithe suntasacha tagtha ar chúrsaí tionsclaíocha agus eacnamaíocha na tíre seo le blianta beaga anuas agus tá an scéal mar an gcéanna sa Ghaeltacht. Sna cúinsí uile seo, tá Údarás na Gaeltachta ag díriú ar earnálacha nua fostaíochta - mar shampla, réimse na teicneolaíochta faisnéise, fiontair a bhaineann le hacmhainní mara agus nádúrtha, an geilleagar sóisialach agus turasóireacht chultúrtha.
Tá béim á cur freisin ar dheiseanna oideachais tríú leibhéal a fhorbairt sa Ghaeltacht i gcomhar leis na hinstitiúidí cuí. Chomh maith leis seo, tá an t-údarás ag tabhairt faoi mholtaí eile a cuireadh ar fáil i dtuarascáil an ghrúpa oibre ar chruthu fostaíochta sa Ghaeltacht a foilsíodh ag deireadh 2002.
Members will be aware that the local development and social inclusion programme aims to counter disadvantage and promote equality and social and economic inclusion through the provision of funding and support to area partnerships and community groups. The programme is administered by ADM on behalf of my Department and is delivered across three sub-measures - services to the unemployed, community development and community-based youth initiatives. An allocation of €42.144 million is being made available for the programme in 2004.
A new allocation aimed at encouraging improved co-ordination of local and community development schemes is being provided this year. The sum available in 2004 is just over €3 million and under this provision, county and city development boards will submit proposals involving improved alignment of structures in their respective areas. Allocations will then be made to the proposals which are deemed to most effectively facilitate co-ordination.
My Department, through Area Development Management Limited (ADM) and the Combat Poverty Agency has overall responsibility for the implementation of ten measures of the EU special support programme for peace and reconciliation in the six Border counties, as well as two cross-Border measures in partnership with the Community Foundation of Northern Ireland and Co-operation Ireland. The main focus for 2004 is on the implementation of previously approved programmes of activity. A diverse range of projects is involved including: the allocation of nearly €0.5 million to the Dundalk Institute of Technology-University of Ulster Borderlands studies initiative; funding of €0.6 million for the construction of an enterprise centre in Blacklion, County Cavan, to stimulate enterprise start-up and redress socio-economic decline; and provision of over €0.4 million to implement a programme to meet the needs of persons who have multiple sclerosis and their families, on a cross-Border basis, paving the way for them to access employment and further education.
As in the last two years, CLÁR will continue in 2004 to build on the successes achieved to date in regenerating rural areas. Expenditure of some €22.75 million over 2002-03 levered out a further estimated €21 million in related public and private expenditure into areas which otherwise would have been bottom of the list for infrastructure investment. The provision in the Estimates for 2004 is €13.49 million, a 57% increase on the 2003 outturn. This will facilitate the continuation of investment under existing measures of the programme as well as providing scope for the introduction of such new measures as may be identified during the year.
The committee will be aware that the RAPID programme is a focused Government initiative which targets the 45 most disadvantaged urban areas in the country. As I have stated many times in the past, proposals from the plans that were prepared for each of the areas vary in size and nature, ranging from small, low-cost local actions to large-scale proposals with considerably higher cost implications. Many of these proposals have been sent to Departments for consideration, when it would have been more efficient for them to be dealt with at local level. In this regard, a new allocation of €4.5 million capital funding is provided in subhead 02 of my Department's Vote in 2004. This funding will be used to support such local actions through co-funding with the relevant Department and agency. At a recent meeting in Blanchardstown with representatives of RAPID area implementation teams, I announced details of a number of new co-funded schemes for RAPID areas. A total of €2 million is being provided for a local authority housing estate enhancement scheme to be operated by local authorities. It will be funded on a euro for euro basis from my Department and the local authorities through the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government.
My Department is also co-funding a scheme for the development and refurbishment of playgrounds in RAPID areas with the Department of Health and Children. The fund available for this scheme will be made up of €1.5 million from my Department and €1.5 million from the Department of Health and Children. In addition, I intend to allocate top-up funding to successful projects from RAPID areas under the sports capital programme and I have set €1.5 million aside for this purpose.
The Western Development Commission promotes the economic and social development of the western region, Connacht plus Clare and Donegal. The 2004 provision for the current expenditure requirements of the commission is €1.5 million. The western investment fund is a key element of the Western Development Commission's strategy for accelerating the economic and social development of the western region and is a unique funding mechanism for that region. There was significantly increased fund-related activity in the past two years. In 2002 a total of 18 investments were approved, as against ten the previous year. This trend continued in 2003 with a further 24 investments, valued at €5.88 million being approved. The indications are this positive trend will continue in 2004 and an increased allocation of €4.05 million has been secured.
Three initiatives are funded under the rural development schemes subhead. By far the largest of these is the area-based rural development initiative which is basically a mirror of the Leader+ initiative in the parts of the country not covered by the latter. It also covers tourism-based projects for the whole country. An allocation of €9.46 million is being made available in 2004. Some €950,00 is being allocated to the rural development fund to support rural development research and pilot actions to facilitate policy development. I am currently reviewing the terms of reference of this fund to see if improvements can be made. A total of €565,000 is provided for farm relief services to provide grants for training, planning and structural improvements, while €24,000 is allocated under the training and co-ordination heading to support the provision of the BSc degree in rural development jointly by the constituent colleges of the NUI.
A sum of €11.796 million has been allocated in 2004 to fund the continuation of the Leader+ community initiative. My Department is also a joint implementing body for two agriculture and rural development co-operation measures under the PEACE II programme, namely, cross-Border community development and cross-Border diversification. An allocation of €1.5 million has been made for this work in 2004, a significant increase on the spend in 2003.
Under the INTERREG III Ireland-Northern Ireland programme, my Department is a joint implementing body for the rural initiative measure which provides support to cross-Border partnerships for projects within their areas of operation. I am providing funding of €0.688 million for these programmes in 2004.
As the committee will be aware, a new rural social scheme was announced on budget day. It is planned to offer up to 2,500 places on this scheme which will tackle the twin problems of low levels of income and lack of services in rural communities. I hope to have the guidelines for the scheme, including the local delivery arrangements, finalised soon with the scheme to commence shortly thereafter.
The provision for Waterways Ireland is €32.454 million. The allocation of €21.104 million for current expenditure covers my Department's contribution to the maintenance costs of the waterways, together with the administrative costs of running the body. The capital allocation of €11.35 million provides for the continuing development of facilities and new leisure destinations along the waterways. The new moorings at Shannonbridge were opened to traffic in the past year and the quay extension at Scarriff will be completed in May. A new harbour at Ballyleague will also be completed this year. These additional facilities are major assets to boating infrastructure.
My Department and the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure in the North are closely engaged on issues relating to a new headquarters building in Enniskillen and a regional headquarters building in Carrick-on-Shannon. Waterways Ireland is continuing to develop its marketing programme and recently completed its marketing strategy for the promotion of the waterway resource.
I hope that in this brief outline I have provided the committee with a reasonable overview for my Department's main priorities and areas of expenditure this year. I will be happy to expand on any matter Deputies wish to raise. My colleague, Deputy Noel Ahern, will now speak about his areas of responsibility.
