SELECT COMMITTEE ON ARTS, SPORT, TOURISM, COMMUNITY, RURAL AND GAELTACHT AFFAIRS debate -
Wednesday, 10 May 2006

Vote 27 — Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (Revised).

Chairman

The meeting has been convened to consider the Revised Estimates for the two Departments for which the committee has responsibility. An hour has been allocated to the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Ó Cuív, and an hour to the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Deputy O'Donoghue. We have been invited to an informal gathering at 5.30 p.m. in the Ceann Comhairle's office where the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism will unveil a new painting for the Ceann Comhairle.

I welcome the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Ó Cuív, and the Minister of State at the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Noel Ahern, who will present the Revised Estimates. Opposition spokespersons will then be allowed to ask questions.

Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (Éamon Ó Cuív)

Tá áthas orm na Meastacháin do Vóta 27, don Roinn Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta, a chur i láthair. Is ionnan an t-ollmhéad €478.470 milllúin agus méadu de 25% ar chaiteachas na bliana 2005. Is ionnan an glanmhéad €429.220 millúin agus méadu de 28% ar an gcaiteachas seo i 2005. Ba mhaith liom tagairt a dhéanamh do rudaí a bhfuil freagracht agam astu sa Roinn. Ansin, iarrfaidh mé ar an Aire Stáit, an Teachta Noel Ahern, labhairt faoin earnáil phobail agus dheonach agus tionscnaimh drugaí, mar aon le Vóta 24, is é sin, Oifig Choimisinéirí na hÉireann um Thabhartais agus Tiomnachtaí Carthanachta.

The allocation for the administrative budget of the Department this year is €19.482 million. This principally provides for the salaries of 248 staff, staff training and travel costs, accommodation, IT, office equipment and consultancy costs. Many times during the year, by way of parliamentary question and media query, inquiries are made about administrative overheads and ministerial office costs. These are legitimate queries and the matter is worthy of thorough and objective analysis. One obvious place for this analysis to take place is Dáil Éireann in the debate on my Department's Estimates. To facilitate this debate, I propose to circulate some information to Deputies both on money spent and the reasons for the expenditure. It is my intention today, if Deputies wish to pursue this debate, to try to answer fully and factually any queries they may have in this regard in so far as the matters relate to my Department.

Ó thaobh na Gaeltachta agus na Gaeilge de, tá sé i gceist agam tagairt ghairid a dhéanamh do na príomhfhocheannteidil ábhartha. Is é an chéad cheann acu ná An Foras Teanga. Beidh a fhios ag baill an choiste go ndéantar an dá ghníomhaíocht de chuid an Fhorais Teanga, Foras na Gaeilge agus Tha Boord o Ulstèr-Scotch, a mhaoiniú ar bhonn 75% ón dlínse seo i gcás Fhoras na Gaeilge agus 25% ón Tuaisceart. Tá a mhalairt de chomhréir i bhfeidhm i leith Tha Boord o Ulstèr-Scotch. Tá maoiniú de €15.568 milliún ag an Fhoras Teanga do 2006, roinnte idir Foras na Gaeilge, le €14,811,000 agus Tha Boord o Ulstèr-Scotch, le €757,000. Maoiníonn an ciste Gaeilge eagraíochtaí agus tionscail a bhfuil sé d'aidhm acu an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn. Is é an maoiniú a mholtar do 2006 ná €4.454 milliún, ardú 33% ar 2005, rud a éascódh idirghabháil níos forleithne le tacú leis an teanga.

Tá €731,000 á sholáthar d'Oifig an Choimisinéara Teanga, atá lonnaithe ar an Spidéal i gContae na Gaillimhe. Tá foireann de chúigear duine ann le cabhrú leis an gCoimisinéir. Tá €4 milliún á sholáthar aríst i mbliana do dheontais tithíochta sa nGaeltacht. Sa mbliain 2005, chuidigh na deontais a bronnadh faoin scéim sin le tógáil 51 teach nua, mar aon le 544 tionscal eile, inar áiríodh tógáil, athchóireáil, tógáil forthithe agus ábhair shláintíochta.

Is é an chéad cheann eile ná scéimeanna cultúrtha agus sóisialta sa nGaeltacht. Tá €875,000 curtha in áirithe do scéim labhairt na Gaeilge, méadú de 25% ar an mbliain seo caite, faoinar íocadh cúnamh i leith 2,585 líon tí. Tá maoiniú de €2.250 milliún do scéimeanna d'fhoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge, faoinar íocadh cúnamh i leith 24,577 mac léinn sa mbliain 2005, ina n-áirítear 1,249 duine fásta agus beagnach 600 teaghlach Gaeltachta. Tá €3,225,000 á chur ar fáil d'eagraíochtaí a oibríonn leis an Ghaeilge a chaomhnú sa nGaeltacht. Dá bharr sin, táthar ag leanúint leis an ardú suntasach maoinithe a cuireadh ar fáil le blianta beaga anuas.

Maidir leis na scéimeanna feabhsúcháin sa nGaeltacht, dáilfear €15.78 milliún don bhliain seo, méadú de 35% ar 2005; bóithre, €5.5 milliún; áiseanna pobail, €2.8 milliún; muiroibreacha, €7.35 milliún; agus uisce agus séarachas, €0.1 milliún. Cuirfear €2.9 milliún breise le maoiniú chlár na mbóithre straitéiseacha sa nGaeltacht de bharr fuílligh ó 2005 ar féidir tabhairt ar aghaidh faoin áis iarchur caipitil. Tá soláthar d'oibreacha a éascódh teacht ar an mBlascaod Mór san áireamh sa maoiniú do mhuiroibreacha, ach beidh dul chun cinn ina leith seo ag brath ar cheannacht an oileáin ag an Stát.

Maidir leis na hoileáin i gcoitinne, tá maoiniú de €17.139 milliún á chur ar fáil, méadú de 8% ar sholáthar na bliana 2005. Cuirfidh an maoiniú seo, in éineacht le tabhairt ar aghaidh €2 milliún neamhchaite ó 2005 faoin áis iarchur caipitil, le cumas na Roinne leanúint le forbairt na n-oileán trí réimse beart a chur i bhfeidhm le feabhas a chur ar an mbuneagar eacnamaíochta, sóisialta agus fisiciúil. Ag casadh anois ar Údarás na Gaeltachta, lean an slánú ó thosnaigh 2004 ar dheacrachtaí leis an bhfostaíocht i 2002 agus 2003 i rith na bliana seo caite. Cruthaíodh 1,071 post lánaimseartha as an nua, agus dá bharr sin, bhí iomlán 7,507 post lánaimseartha i rith na bliana i ngnóthaí a fuair cúnamh ón Udarás, glanmhéadú de 161.

Méadaíodh an t-iomlán in obair pháirtaimseartha agus shéasúrach breis is 5%, go 4,468. Cuirfear maoiniú reatha de €14,756,000 ar fáil don Údarás i mbliana faoi dhá fhocheannteideal ar leith, €11,056,000 le costais riaracháin a íoc, an ciste pinsean san áireamh, agus €3,720,000 le caitheamh ar fhorbairt teanga, cultúir agus phobal na Gaeltachta. Beidh iomlán €21.5 milliún ar fáil don Údarás ar mhaithe le hinfheistiú caipitil, méadú €1 milliún ar mhaoiniú 2005. Déanfar 20% ar a laghad den soláthar seo a infheistiú i dtionscail ina bhfuil áit lárnach ag an nGaeilge.

Is é an chéad cheann eile ná tionscnaimh um ardscileanna Gaeilge. Tá áthas ar leith orm go bhfuil mé in ann a rá leis an gcoiste go bhfuil focheannteideal nua sna Meastacháin do 2006 le maoiniú €1 milliún chun luas a chur le soláthar cúrsaí áirithe Gaeilge ag an tríú leibhéal le freastal ar riachtanais ag teacht ar aitheantas an Aontais Eorpaigh ar an nGaeilge mar theanga oibre iomlán.

Ag casadh anois ar chúrsaí pobail, ar 1 Eanáir 2006, ghlac mo Roinn freagracht as an chlár seirbhísí pobail, an clár eacnamaíochta sóisialta roimhe seo, ón Roinn Fiontair, Trádála agus Fostaíochta. Is é aidhm an chláir ná tacú le hobair pobal logánta i gcoitinne i gcoinne an mhíbhuntáiste agus ag an am gcéanna deiseanna fostaíochta a sholáthar do dhaoine ina gceantair féin. Faoi láthair, tá 274 tionscal á maoiniú faoin gclár seo, agus tá €42 milliún ar fáil i mbliana, ar a bhfuil €5 milliún curtha ar leataobh le tionscail nua a mhaoiniú. Cé nach bhfuil an clár faoi mo Roinn ach le tréimhse an-ghairid, tá roinnt athruithe suntasacha déanta agam maidir le feidhmiú an chláir. Tá mé ag súil go gcuirfidh sé seo le héifeacht an chláir.

An allocation of €45.848 million is being made available for the local development social inclusion programme, LDSIP, for 2006, which represents a 2% increase on the 2005 outturn. With support from the LDSIP, more than 165,000 young people have become involved in community youth activities in disadvantaged areas. In addition, 20,000 adults have been assisted in finding employment, while more than 22,000 have completed certified education and training courses.

Improving the co-ordination of local and community schemes is a core aim of my Department. The allocation for this purpose in 2006 is €4.273 million, which represents an increase of 6% on the 2005 provision. A total of 24 county and city development boards have benefited under this initiative since 2004, with the funding of a range of measures aimed at encouraging improved co-ordination of schemes. Included in this figure is a sum of €500,000 for projects involved in encouraging volunteers and volunteering at local level.

With regard to the PEACE and INTERREG programmes, my Department, through Pobal and the Combat Poverty Agency, operating as Border Action, has responsibility for implementation of ten measures of the PEACE programme in the six Border counties. It is also responsible for two cross-Border measures in partnership with the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland and Co-operation Ireland. A substantial allocation of €21.045 million is being made to fund approved projects in 2006. The Department is also a joint implementing body for two agriculture and rural development co-operation measures under the PEACE II programme, to which €1.5 million was allocated in 2006. Funding of €850,000 is being provided in 2006 for measures under the INTERREG III programme, for which the Department has implementation responsibilities.

Members will have welcomed the recent expansion of the CLÁR programme, which is a successful rural development scheme, into a further five counties. The provision for the programme has been increased by approximately €9 million in this year's Revised Estimates, bringing the total CLÁR fund for 2006 to €22.95 million. I am delighted to have secured further Government endorsement for the programme. I do not doubt that the people living in the new CLÁR areas will soon feel its real benefits.

I am pleased at the significant increase in 2006 of 57%, when compared to the 2005 outturn, for the RAPID programme, which targets the 45 most disadvantaged urban areas in the country. The capital allocation has been increased to €7.8 million, which will support small-scale local actions through co-funding with other Departments or agencies.

The 2006 provision for the Western Development Commission's current expenditure has increased by 23% to €2.2 million. The allocations being made to the western investment fund have increased significantly in recent years. A further ten investments, valued at €7.33 million, were approved in 2005. The higher level of funding is being maintained in 2006, with a further €4 million being provided. Five new projects, valued at €1.42 million, have been approved already this year.

A sum of €950,000 is being allocated to the rural development fund in 2006 to support rural development research and pilot actions to facilitate policy development. This figure includes €120,000 to fund Comhairle na Tuaithe, which is the countryside recreation council.

The combined allocation for the programmes funded under the Leader+ and area-based rural development initiative in 2006 is €25 million, as against an allocation of €22.984 million in 2005. A further €2 million is being made available to projects funded under the area-based rural development initiative from savings brought forward from 2005 under the capital carryover. Total expenditure this year is anticipated to be approximately €27 million, reflecting the increasing demand for funding under the programmes recently, as the number of projects completed has increased.

Some €43,322,000, including capital funding of €3 million, has been allocated to the rural social scheme this year. There are almost 2,200 participants and 104 supervisors on the scheme at present. As a result of the changes in the eligibility of participants which I recently announced, I expect that all 2,500 available places on the scheme will be taken up later this year.

I ndeireadh báire, is é €34.7 milliún an leithdháileadh d'Uiscebhealaí Éireann, méadú de 15% ar chaiteachas na bliana seo chaite. Clúdaíonn an leithdháileadh reatha €23.7 milliún i gcostais riaracháin agus costais chothabhála na n-uiscebhealaí. Tá an leithdháileadh caipitil de €11 milliúin le caitheamh ar fheabhsú áiseanna atá ann cheana féin, ar fhorbairt chinnscríbe nua chaitheamh aimsire agus ar áitrimh nua oifige, ar a n-áiritear soláthar d'fhoirgneamh do cheanncheathrú nua in Inis Ceithleann.

Tá mé lán-sásta breis eolais a thabhairt do bhaill an choiste ar aon mhír ar mian leo. Idir an dá linn, scaoilfidh mé le mo comhghleacaí, an tAire Stáit, an Teachta Noel Ahern.

Minister of State at the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (Mr. N. Ahern)

Let me mention a few matters under my area of responsibility. I refer to Vote 27, under which funding is provided for the community and voluntary service, the drugs initiative and the young people's facilities and services fund, and Vote 24, under which funding is provided for the Office of Charitable Donations and Bequests.

The budget of the community development programme this year is €23,947,000, which represents an increase of 12.8% on last year's expenditure. That allocation will facilitate the core funding of 182 community development projects and provide for increased core budgets for most projects and additional staffing for some projects. A substantial grants package for funded projects is available again this year to cover the refurbishment of premises, equipment and planned training and education programmes. I expect to be in a position to announce phase 1 allocations under this scheme by the middle of the year.

The Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs will provide grants to locally based community and voluntary organisations again this year. Approximately €3 million is being allocated to fund the purchase of equipment, the refurbishment of premises and education, training and research initiatives. The 2006 programme should be advertised in the coming weeks.

The scheme of support for older people was advertised last week. Some €3 million is being provided to improve the security of older people in their homes. That represents a 27% increase on last year's expenditure. A number of changes have been made following a fairly extensive review of the scheme that involved many of the people who usually make applications under it. The changes are based on the ideas of people who asked for various security measures such as pendants, locks and bolts. The most significant change that has been made is that we have decided not to have a closing date. Under the scheme, which was advertised last week, one can apply at any time during the year, or on more than one occasion during the year. If one applies for 20 pensioners now, that does not stop one from applying for another 20 or 30 pensioners now or next month, as long as one does not exceed the limit of €30,000. We are also introducing a relatively small administrative subvention of between €100 and €600, which will be available to groups. They will be able to claim up to 3% of their grant, as a small recognition of the paperwork they get involved in. The maximum individual grants in respect of physical security equipment and security lighting is being increased to €200 in each category. The grants available for locks and bolts and outside security lighting were limited to €150, but they have been increased by €50. A new maximum individual grant of €150 is being introduced for interior emergency lighting for qualifying older people living on offshore islands.

Numerous schemes are funded under the White Paper on a Framework for Supporting Voluntary Activity. The federations, networks and umbrella bodies are being given €2.6 million. Funding is also being made available for training and supports in the sector, as well as to the national anti-poverty networks.

Some €43 million is being allocated for the drugs initiative this year. That represents an increase of 37% on the 2005 allocation and of 27% on the 2005 outturn. The moneys are used to support the work of the 14 local drugs task forces, the ten regional drugs task forces, the emerging needs fund, the premises initiative for drugs projects, the young people's facilities and services fund and the national advisory committee on drugs. Approximately 440 projects are being pursued by the local drugs task forces, which employ more than 300 people. The local drugs task forces and the young people's fund, both of which originally started at community level, employ more than 600 people on a range of prevention, awareness, treatment and supply reduction programmes. The young people's fund, in particular, does a great deal of work on the prevention side. A number of pilot initiatives aimed at tackling cocaine use are being evaluated at present. The emerging needs fund, which was established last year, receives approximately €3 million in funding to assist with 50 new projects.

Some €5 million has been allocated to the regional drugs task forces, all of which are up and running. There has been a delay in recruiting permanent task force co-ordinators — temporary co-ordinators have been in place for 18 months or two years — but ten of them have now been appointed. Two of them are in place and the rest should be in place shortly. There have been problems with getting clearance for them, etc. The task forces, which cover every part of the country, should be in operation from then on. There are local or regional task forces everywhere.

Approximately €16 million has been spent over the years on a number of projects under the premises initiative, which meets the accommodation needs of community-based drugs projects. The initiative was confined to local drugs task force areas until recently, but it is now available for projects in the regions as well. In the past seven or eight years, over €100 million was spent on providing facilities and services under the young people's fund, which I mentioned. It was based mainly in the areas of Dublin where young people are most at risk of using drugs. There were a few service projects, involving youth workers, etc., in a couple of towns outside Dublin. The first capital projects in Carlow and Waterford to be funded under the fund were announced recently. Carlow, Waterford, Galway and Limerick are the only places outside the local drugs task force areas to have received moneys under the fund, which is slowly being expanded. The national advisory committee on drugs, which does a great deal of research work on the prevalence, prevention, treatment and consequences of drug misuse in Ireland, has been given over €1 million.

For the first time, the Vote of this Department includes a separate subhead, namely, subhead U, relating to charities regulation. It provides for expenses associated with the proposed charities regulation Bill, the general scheme of which has been approved by the Cabinet and is the subject of priority drafting.

Vote 24 pertains to the Commissioners of Charitable Donations and Bequests. Some €445,000 is being allocated to the commissioners for their ongoing work. If members have any questions, I will try to give them the additional information they require.

Chairman

The main spokespersons have ten minutes each. We will try to facilitate everybody else who wants to contribute.

Deputy McGinley

Ba mhaith liom fáilte a chur roimh an Aire, an Aire Stáit agus a gcomhairleoirí chuig an roghchoiste chun dul tríd na Meastacháin seo san am teoranta atá curtha ar fáil dúinn. Tá sé tábhachtach go bhfuil deis againn dul tríd na Meastacháin go mion. Mar sin féin, piocfaidh mé amach na pointí atá ag déanamh buartha dom féin. Cuirim fáilte roimh an ardú suntasach sa chaiteachas iomlán. Mar sin féin, tá ísliú i míreanna áirithe le feiceáil ansiúd is anseo. Beidh mé ag cur ceisteanna mar gheall orthu siúd.

Baineann fo-mhírcheann A2 le taisteal. Tá an caiteachas imithe suas. De réir cosúlachta, baineann sé leis an chlár dílárnaithe atá i bhfeidhm sa Roinn i láthair na huaire. An féidir leis an Aire a chur in iúl an bhfuil an costas iomlán a bhaineann leis an chlár déanta amach go fóill? Cén uair a bheidh sé ag siúl go mbeidh an clár dílárnaithe curtha i gcrích go huile is go hiomlán? Feicim go bhfuil tagairt anseo do chóiríocht shealadach atá curtha ar fáil i dTobar an Choire go dtí go mbeidh an foirgneamh buan lán-aimseartha curtha ar fáil. An bhfuil aon tréimhse ama ar féidir linn a bheith ag súil leis sin?

Baineann fo-mhírcheann B leis An Fhoras Teanga. Tá ardú ó €13.7 milliún go dtí €15.568 milliún i gceist. An féidir leis an Aire cuntas do dháta a thabhairt dúinn maidir le polásaí dílárnaithe an fhorais trasteorann seo? Tuigim go bhfuil an tAire tar éis cúlú ón chéad chuspóir, is é sin an foras a dhílarú ar fad go dtí mo cheantar Gaeltachta féin. Tuigim go bhfuil fógraíocht déanta i láthair na huaire maidir le príomhfheidhmeannach úr ar Fhoras na Gaeilge a cheapú. An bhfuil sé cinntithe nó socraithe go fóill cén áit go díreach ina mbeidh an príomhfheidhmeannach lonnaithe? An mbeidh sé lonnaithe sa cheannáras i mBaile Átha Cliath, in aice linn i gCearnóg Mhuirfean, nó an mbeidh sé lonnaithe san áit ina raibh Foras na Gaeilge le dul cúpla bliain ó shin?

Subhead D relates to the language commissioner. Cuirim fáilte roimh an ardú airgid ansin chomh maith. Sílim go bhfuil obair iontach á déanamh. The second report has already been published. There is food for thought there for all of us. I understand that all the provisions of Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla 2003 will come into operation shortly, probably in July. That will lead to more responsibility for the office of An Coimisinéir Teanga. Cé mhéad daoine atá fostaithe san oifig i láthair na huaire? An mbeidh breis daoine le fostú san oifig le freastal a dhéanamh ar na freagrachtaí úra a bheidh curtha ar an gcoimisinéir? An gciallaíonn sé sin go mbeidh caiteachas níos mó i gceist?

Baineann subhead E le tithíocht sa Ghaeltacht. Nuair a chuimhnímid ar chostais tithe anois, is léir go bhfuil an deontas tithíochta an-tábhachtach. Níl mé chun dul siar ar an sean-cliché — an deontas a ardú. Pléimid an cheist sin go mion agus go minic. Cuirim fáilte roimh an deontas a bheith dúbailte, nó é a bheith curtha suas trí nó ceithre uaire. Mar sin féin, má thiteann an caiteachas don bhliain seo, ó €4.099 milliún go dtí €4 mhilliún, is titim de €99,000 é sin. An é nach bhfuil an oiread céanna daoine ag cáiliú? Cén fáth? An bhfuil níos lú iarratas ag dul isteach? Ní fhaca mé riamh an oiread sin tithe á dtógáil agus á bhfeabhsú Ghaeltacht. Ba mhaith liom fáil amach an míniú atá ag an Aire air sin.

Bainneann fo-mhírcheann F le scéimeanna cultúrtha agus sóisialta, mar shampla, scéim labhartha na Gaeilge agus scéim fhoglaimeoirí na Gaeilge. Is iad san na daoine a théann go dtí na coláistí Gaeilge, is dócha. Tá titim beag ansin — sílim €11,000 sa bhliain. Bhéinn ag súil go mbeadh sé sin ag dul in airde in ionad titim, nuair a chuirtear san áireamh ardú dos na mná tí agus mar sin de. An bhfuil aon mhíniú air sin?

Ba mhaith liom labhairt mar gheall ar na scéimeanna feabhsúcháin sa Ghaeltacht. The funds available for those schemes were augmented by a carryover of €2.9 million. Sílim gur tháinig sé sin ón bhliain seo caite. Conas a tharla sé sin? An raibh airgead ann nár caitheadh? Cad as a dtáinig an carryover seo? Sílim go bhfuil sé ag dul go dtí scéim na mbóithre straitéiseacha. Aontaím ar fad leis an scéim. Tá obair mhaith á déanamh ar na bóithre straitéiseacha agus tá mé cinnte go leanfaidh an obair ar aghaidh. Cén uair a bheidh na deontais dos na bóithre straitéiseacha á bhfógairt i mbliana? Tá an aimsir go hiontach, fiú amháin sa Ghaeltacht, agus tá na hoibrithe ag fanacht leis an airgead le dul i mbun oibre. B'fhearr liomsa that the work on the strategic roads were carried out in the spring, summer and autumn rather than in the dark and gloomy days leading up to Christmas, when one does not get the same benefit for one's expenditure. Cén fáth go bhfuil moill ann? Cén uair a bheidh na deontais á bhfógairt?

Cuirim fáilte mhór leis an fhorbairt uisce agus séarachais agus na muiroibreacha sa Ghaeltacht. There has been a very significant increase, ó €1.5 milliún go dtí €7.3 milliún, in marine works. Is dócha go bhfuil an rud céanna i gceist ansin. Sílim go bhfuil an Bhlascaod Mhór luaite go hionadúil ansin. An bhfuil an t-airgead go léir ag dul go dtí an Blascaod Mór? When the Minister is deciding on the muiroibreacha shortly, I hope he will not overlook the needs of Cladach na gCaorach agus An Tamhnaigh i gCill Chárthaigh, chomh maith le hInis Bó Finne i nDún na nGall. Níl ansin ach cúpla ceann. Airgead fiúntach is ea é sin.

Tá ardú tugtha dos na hoileáin chomh maith. Feicim go bhfuil deontas úr á thabhairt isteach le haghaidh regular subsidised cargo services to the islands. An bhfuil na hoileáin uilig i gceist? B'fhéidir gur féidir leis an Aire a insint cad iad go díreach na hoileáin atá i gceist.

Baineann subhead I le hÚdarás na Gaeltachta, atá ag déanamh obair mhór. Tá an current programme expenditure íslithe le €200,000 faoi fo-mhírcheann I2. Baineann fo-mhírcheann I3 leis an grant for projects and capital expenditure, which has been reduced from €22.5 million to €21.5 million. What are the implications of this decrease for job creation and the provision of factories and industries in the Gaeltacht areas? When one thinks of all the jobs which have been lost in recent years, the need to attract more industries to the Gaeltacht and the need to provide more infrastructure for those industries, one would expect this allocation to have been increased, rather than reduced.

The provision for the CLÁR programme is imithe suas from €13.4 million to €22.9 million, which is a huge increase. The CLÁR regions have been expanded recently and five new counties were brought into the programme. As the population entitled to assistance under the CLÁR programme has more than doubled, there has been a cutback in real terms. The Minister is shaking his head but if the population doubles and the allocation does not, it is a cutback. We are due an explanation.

Is é Uiscebhealaí Éireann an ceann deireanach a bhaineann leis an Aire. Cuirim fáilte roimh an ardú ag Waterways Ireland but we need a more in-depth look at this body. I have serious reservations and questions about it; it is a controversial area. It is a cross-Border body where one would expect excellent co-operation but I have heard there is everything but understanding between North and South. It is even the subject of court proceedings. We need another day to go into this whole area. Waterways Ireland has great potential for those living on both sides of the Border, and it would be disappointing from a national point of view if we could not get our act together and ensure both sides are happy with how this is handled.

I welcome the support for older people. There are many people who feel insecure in their homes and any assistance for them is more than welcome. We discussed this on a number of occasions and I am glad to hear that it is now possible to apply at any time of the year. How does one apply? The scheme has already been advertised. Who carries out the assessment?

I also welcome the increase in the drugs allocation. It reflects the crisis not alone in Dublin and the other major cities but in every parish in Ireland. Sa Ghaeltacht tá fadhb le drugaí agus cuirim fáilte roimh an mhéadú seo. The emerging needs fund is being allocated €3 million, although the voluntary groups asked for far more, a minimum of €10 million. The major problem is cocaine abuse. Perhaps the Minister could be more generous in the allocation to this fund.

Mr. Wall

I apologise on behalf of our spokesperson, Deputy O'Shea, who is at the IPU conference. The Minister and Minister of State have given us a lot of detail about the Department. It seems strange that there is a double whammy on decentralisation, with a number of officials being transferred to Tubbercurry, followed by further transfers to Knock Airport at a later stage. It makes no sense. How many staff have agreed to transfer to Knock? Has anyone from outside the Department applied for transfer? This is being widely debated and if the Department gave us information, we might know more about this grey area. Equipment upgrades and other proposals are tied into decentralisation. What is the position there?

The Minister mentioned an increase in consultancy costs to €500,000. Why was that necessary? The Department is capable of looking after itself but we now see this increase. As the Minister is not the type to employ consultants without reason, why is this necessary?

We are now paying into the European Union and, therefore, for the lesser used languages in the EU. Will the Minister give an overview of what happens with that? How will it affect Irish in the European context in future? Will there be job opportunities for Irish language translators? I am a member of the WEU which has its headquarters in Paris. There should be job opportunities in that body.

How many houses are envisaged as a result of the €4 million allocation for Gaeltacht housing? Is that increase as a result of the increase in the number of people who want to move to the Gaeltacht? How are the applicants examined on their use of Irish? Is that paramount, or could a person returning to the Gaeltacht after many years who had lost the language be entitled to such housing? Would the provision that all applicants must use Irish as the normal language of the household mean such people would be excluded? There must be some leeway. The Taoiseach has been more than helpful to Deputy Stagg on the matter of the Irish in England being offered assistance to return home. This, however, is the reverse. People who want to return to the Gaeltacht who have lost their Irish should be facilitated.

I am delighted to see the changes in regard to senior citizens. In Kildare, however, only one voluntary group for the elderly is active, which is disappointing. We do not seem to be able to create the interest in groups to take up the cudgel in this area. This is a wonderful opportunity, especially with the relaxation of the guidelines, for senior citizens living on their own or with a disability. All the grants have been increased and there will be funding to recoup some of the losses the groups have experienced. This can be built up and is worthy of support from all of us. There is an onus on elected representatives to ensure that groups take this up in our areas. We should even create groups that will take up the security issue for senior citizens. It is easy for us to be critical when they are attacked but when we have the opportunity to create something to protect them, we must try our best to ensure each constituency has such a group in place to provide security.

Interior lighting in a house is vital for people with a disability in the event of a loss of electricity. A light that comes on in such circumstances is important. Exit signs are useful but for those who are wheelchair-bound or living alone, this is also important in case there is an ESB failure. A person with a disability finds it more difficult to get a candle or flashlight.

I agree with Deputy McGinley on local drugs task forces. We must build on them. It is up to the local authorities, Garda and community groups to work with the Minister to reverse the rise in drug use. Groups must be community-based if we are to make any impact. We must look at voluntarism and ensure that deprived areas develop alternative interests for young people. Sr. Stanislaus Kennedy will speak in the RDS today on voluntary work. The Minister might be able to get some ideas from the 3,500 children from community groups who will attend that conference. I listened to the young people on the radio this morning and they knew exactly what they wanted.

I am also concerned that any queries about Waterways Ireland are not fully answered. If I table a parliamentary question, I cannot get an answer because it is a cross-Border body. The return from it has been dismal to say the least and something must be done. With the drop in the number of farmers, the body could be linked to agri-tourism. The body must become active to make progress.

Chairman

Commissioner Fischer Boel said today that we would hear much more about rural development, that it is the music of the future. As a former music teacher, I asked her to act in harmony with farmers.

I welcome the expansion of CLÁR. Given the welcome increase in the allocation for village and countryside enhancement scheme from €10,000 to €33,000, is the Minister confident that the expansion in the budget of the Leader programme will match that in order that there will be €66,000 per programme?

The increase in the drugs fund is significant. Did the Minister of State make any efforts to ring-fence a percentage of money recovered by the CAB in addition to the budget? On a recent visit to Chile, it was clear that drug sniffer dogs are one of the best ways to find drugs. Will there be an increase in the use of such dogs here? We will present a report in the near future that proposes to include alcohol in the national drugs strategy.

Éamon Ó Cuív

Ar an méadú caiteachais ar thaisteal, tá muid ag caint ar leithdháileadh, an allocation, níl muid ag caint faoi chaiteachas. Cuireadh €1,055,000 ar fáil anuraidh do thaisteal. Níor caitheadh ach €625,000 de sin. Tá muid an-chúramach i dtaobh chúrsaí taistil. Tá €90,000 curtha ar leataobh do thaisteal d'oifig an Aire agus rinne muid iarracht gan sin a úsáid gan ghá. Caithfidh an soláthar a bheith againn.

Beidh breis taistil i gceist le dílárú, níl ceist faoi sin, ach caithfimid an €150,000 a chur i gcomparáid le hollmhéid an Vóta, €470 milliún. Tá gá againn bheith réalaíoch agus ábharach faoin gceist. Cuireadh ceist Dála síos faoi mhálaí a ceannaíodh sa Roinn le trí bliana anuas. Mar a dúirt mé ag an am, chosain sé i bhfad níos mó airgid an cheist a fhreagairt ná a chosain na málaí. Bhí cúpla céad euro i gceist. Sa gcás seo, níl sé uafásach sa bhille iomlán riaracháin. Mairimid taobh istigh de na costais riaracháin.

Mr. McGinley

Nuair a bheidh an polasaí díláraithe curtha i bhfeidhm, an mbeidh ar na hoifigigh uilig atá anseo inniu taisteal aníos ó Chnoc Mhuire chuig an chruinniú seo nó an mbeidh orainn taisteal síos?

Éamon Ó Cuív

Sin ceist don Dáil a shocrú. Is dócha go mbeidh orthu teacht aníos.

Mr. McGinley

An mbeidh siad uilig bunaithe thíos?

Éamon Ó Cuív

Beidh an Roinn ar fad bunaithe thíos. Má bhreathnaímid ar na háiteacha atá díláraithe cheana féin sa Roinn, feicimid go mbíonn suas agus anuas ann. Má bhíonn cruinniú thíos i nGaillimh, bíonn ar chuile duine dul síos agus má tá cruinniú anseo, caithfidh daoine theacht aníos. Beidh siad níos cóngaraí dá chéile do na cruinnithe. Cosnóidh sé breis bheag airgid ach an tá an méid i gceist beag bídeach i gcomhthéacs bhuiséad na Roinne.

Mr. McGinley

Tuigim é sin.

Éamon Ó Cuív

Tá rudaí eile a bhféadfaimis airgead a shábháil orthu a chlúdódh aon chostas breise a bhaineann le taisteal. Cuireadh ceist faoi dhílarnú Fhoras na Gaeilge. Dúradh go mbeadh 30 duine ag dul go Gaoth Dobhair. Sin an rud atá i gceist. Tá socrú déanta ag na húdaráis ó Thuaidh go mbogfaidh an ceannáras suas anseo. Sa bhfógra a rinne an t-iarAire McCreevy sa Dáil, ní dhearnadh tagairt ar bith do cheannáras. Dúradh go dtiocfadh 30 duine ann. Ag an am, bhí sé sin gan aon toradh, mar thuig mise nach bhféadfainn iachall a chur ar dhuine a bheadh ag obair in áisineacht Stáit bogadh. Rud deonach a bheadh ann, agus bhí daoine i bhForas na Gaeilge nach dteastódh uathu dul ann. Is é 30 duine atá i gceist.

Tá dul chun cinn maith déanta le tamall beag anuas air sin, agus tá mé an-mhuiníneach go gcuirfear é sin i gcrích. Fógraíodh an jab le haghaidh phríomhfheidhmeannach Fhoras na Gaeilge mar phost a bheadh lonnaithe i mBaile Átha Cliath. Tá iarratas déanta ag an gCoimisinéir Teanga ar bhreis foirne, agus tá sé sin ag dul tríd na gnáthphróisis. Bheadh cead na Roinne Airgeadais ag teastáil dá leithéid.

Deputy Wall also asked regarding tithíocht sa nGaeltacht and I will try to take the two issues together. I should explain that several years ago, when I was Minister of State, we extended the housing repair grant to cover the provision of central heating. At the time I thought it very wise, since many old people living in the Gaeltacht availed themselves of it. Its effect was a flush of applications for grants from existing recipients. As a rule, one cannot receive the grant twice in seven years. We are now at the lower part of the cycle, since when one has a flush of applications from existing recipients, they cannot come back for a long time.

Mr. McGinley

May I make a suggestion? The seven-year rule should be amended. Many elderly people apply for a renovation grant and might receive €1,000 or €1,500. The maximum grant might be €5,000 or €6,000. If there is an emergency within that seven-year period, should the rule not be relaxed? I have old people coming to me who received a grant a few years ago, perhaps to put a new roof on the house, and who now want to put in new doors and windows but will not qualify for seven years, by which time they will be dead.

Éamon Ó Cuív

In that case, they normally——

Mr. McGinley

Could one not allocate the balance?

Éamon Ó Cuív

If the last balance has not been paid, they will always do so. I will have another look at the matter. The idea was that one should only receive the maximum amount. I have seen cases, perhaps because the final payment had not been made——

Mr. McGinley

If one receives less than the maximum amount, why should one not apply again within seven years for the balance?

Éamon Ó Cuív

There is no great problem with that.

Mr. McGinley

An-mhaith ar fad.

Éamon Ó Cuív

I have certainly seen cases very near to it where the grant was increased to the maximum. I would like to give some figures for the repair grant. In 2003 the sum was €731; in 2004, €649 and in 2005, €576. That is where the big drop has occurred, for the very simple reason that I gave. It is interesting to consider new houses, for which the respective figures are €246, €262 and €262, meaning there has been an increase.

As I said, I will try to take these matters together. The issue Deputy Wall raised is this. If one leaves the Gaeltacht and returns, the law is that one must comply with the language regulation. Perhaps we should explain this. I do not believe anyone who is a native Irish speaker can go away and forget so much Irish before returning. When I was in New Zealand, an amazing thing happened. My wife managed to track down a neighbour who had left Cois Fharraige before her birth. He had returned only twice in the meantime, having left, I believe, some time in the mid-1940s and moved to New Zealand in 1948. Eventually we tracked down the old man and she got him on the telephone. We both spoke to him and one would think he had never left Connemara. It was just as if one were speaking to someone back home. I do not believe there are too many who have forgotten their Irish. To be honest, if adults who left say they have forgotten it, they probably did not have it in the first place.

What is much more of an issue is where someone leaves and returns, still with plenty of Irish, but with a wife and children who do not speak the language. In that case, if the children gain a knowledge of Irish and apply under scéim labhairt na Gaeilge, whereby one pays an annual grant to Irish speaking households, that the mother might not be Irish speaking would not debar them. That is a much more common barrier. I do not have the same issue with people who went away. If they had the language going, they will have it coming back. The other issue is much more prevalent. I stress that, if the children speak Irish and it is obvious that the parent who speaks the language is using it with them in order that they reach the required standard, that the mother does not speak it will not automatically debar them from receiving the grant. I have often seen awards made under scéim labhairt na Gaeilge in that situation where the children genuinely speak Irish.

I will return to Deputy McGinley's question regarding the drop. The provision last year was €4 million. At the end of the year it came to €4,009,000. If it reaches that figure again this year, minor adjustments will be made in its course. Our best guess is that it will be around €4 million. As I said, I do not envisage our getting hit for €9,000 at the end of the year. All the time one must keep in focus the fact that we are comparing actual spending with a provision which can be adjusted in the course of the year.

On scéim na mbóithre áise, we carried over €6.9 million. An rud a tharla ansin ná é seo. Caithfear a rá leis an Roinn Airgeadais ag deireadh mhí na Samhna cé mhéad airgid nach gcaithfear roimh dheireadh na bliana ar chaipiteal. Ag an am sin, caithfear bheith an-chúramach faoi seo, mar ní theastaítear aon airgead a thabhairt ar ais don Státchiste. Ba é ár meastachán go mbeadh €6.9 milliún gan caitheamh ar chaipiteal.

Mar a tharla, nuair a tháinig deireadh na bliana, bhí dóthain caiteachais déanta go bhféadfaimis an t-iomlán a chaitheamh. Caitheadh an t-airgead sin go luath i mí Eanáir. Táimid ag caint aríst ar fhigiúirí ollmhóra, €120 milliún, ar chaiteachas ar chaipiteal anuraidh. Is beag an méid é, agus mar a tharla, tháinig bille isteach ag deireadh mhí na Nollag, agus in ionad é a íoc i mí Nollag, d'íoc muid i mí Eanáir é. Bhí an €6.9 milliún sin imithe an-scioptha ag tús na bliana.

D'fhiafraigh an Teachta cén uair a fhógrófar na bóithre straitéiseacha. Tá Ciarraí, Corcaigh agus Maigh Eo fógraithe. Tá Tír Chonaill réidh le fógairt. Tá mé ag fanacht le Port Láirge, Gaillimh — tá Gaillimh ag deireadh an liosta — agus Contae na Mí. Beidh scéal againn go luath faoi na bóithre straitéiseacha i dTír Chonaill.

Maidir le muiroibreacha, tá cuid mhaith den airgead sin curtha ar leataobh, mar shampla, Dún Chaoin agus an Blascaod. Tá riar airgid ann le haghaidh muiroibreacha i gcontaethe éagsúla. Mar is eol don Teachta, rinne a chontae féin an-mhaith as scéim na muiroibreacha. Is scéim iontach é.

Maidir le hiompar earraí go dtí na holeáin, the issue is very simple. The Aran Islands have always had a cargo service, as far back as anyone can remember, to Dún Aonghas and so on. I believe it dates back over 100 years. For Árainn Mór, there is a roll-on, roll-off ferry, just as there is for Bere Island. There is also a passenger-cum-cargo ferry service to Cape Clear. The centres of population with a problem are Inishturk, Inishbofin, Clare Island and Tory Island. That is what we are examining. There is an urgent need to deal with the issue in order that there might be a proper cargo service to those four islands. That issue will be advanced this year and I am most anxious that it should happen.

The Deputy did not ask in this regard, but I am also anxious to advance development of the air strip on Tory Island. If we are to save that beautiful island and increase its population, access is the key. People, particularly the young, will no longer stay on an island without ready access to the mainland. It might sound very romantic, but it is not very nice when one is out there. Tuigeann an Teachta é sin níos fearr ná éinne.

Mr. McGinley

Nuair a osclaíodh an scoil iarbhunoideachais——

Chairman

The Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Deputy O'Donoghue, is outside. Perhaps we might keep moving, as we are under pressure. The Ceann Comhairle will be waiting for us at 5.30 p.m. It is one thing extending the meeting, but if that happens with the next, we will be in trouble.

Éamon Ó Cuív

Beidh neart le plé.

Chairman

Deputy Deenihan may wish to save time for the next one.

Éamon Ó Cuív

The CLÁR area has doubled, but, having doubled it, one must multiply that by two thirds of a year to get the amount that one requires for the year. We have doubled the areas — I have not quite doubled the money — but one must understand that the new CLÁR areas have only just been announced. Only some of the schemes become applicable immediately since one has to negotiate with other Departments.

The other aspect is that the lead-in for some schemes can be very slow, and I will give a simple example. I have put a good part of the Deputy's county into CLÁR. If people there decided to get involved in a village enhancement, community initiative or group water scheme, it would take them some time to get the scheme together and another period to make the application and spend the money. Although I might approve spending this year, the money might not be drawn down until 2007. I have more money for the existing CLÁR areas this year than I had last year, not to mention the money for the new CLÁR areas, because of the time lag when one starts schemes. I am very well positioned financially on that scheme.

Regarding Uiscebhealaí Éireann, I do not agree with the Deputy in his prognosis.

Mr. McGinley

The Minister does not agree.

Éamon Ó Cuív

No, I do not agree. From my experience on the ground, Waterways Ireland is working very well and there has been great progress. There were difficulties in the early years with spending the entire budget, but it seems to have addressed that issue. It has a very thorough programme and will have the Royal Canal open in 2008 so that one can literally sail down there from Dublin. The headquarters is progressing and the building in Scarriff is opening this year.

As the Deputy is aware, there has been an internal issue regarding a staff member. There are procedures for dealing with such matters, and we should leave them to those procedures. Any citizen is free to take a case to court and we should let those procedures take their course. However, we should not allow that to cloud our view of the importance of Waterways Ireland or the great strides made in establishing a new North-South body and getting it up and running. There were obviously going to be choppy waters en route.

We have also been doing a fair amount of work on the Ulster Canal. For me, it is an incredibly important project. We have excellent relationships with the Northern Ireland sponsor, the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure. Matters advance very smoothly and in neither this issue nor any other is there anything between the Departments.

Mr. McGinley

The debate in the House of Lords would lead one to think otherwise.

Éamon Ó Cuív

I do not like to comment on an individual or on what might be happening in another parliament. I am happy with what has happened. I had a detailed meeting with Waterways Ireland this year to ensure that the progress for which we have provided money will be made. I am happy that things are happening.

If anything is holding back the North-South bodies, it is the lack of an Executive in the North. The care and maintenance regime is holding us all back. The issue of Foras na Gaeilge, the Ulster-Scots Agency and Waterways Ireland breaks my heart. It has nothing to do with internal issues since they can be addressed. The big problem that we face is the lack of an Executive and the care and maintenance regime that accompanies the present arrangements. That is holding all those issues back, and there are incredible opportunities under all three headings to cement North-South relations. I view Waterways Ireland as having one of the greatest chances to advance matters on a North-South basis in a manner with which everyone is happy.

Regarding decentralisation, we are going down to Tubbercurry and then moving to Knock airport. I believe that they are approximately 15 km apart. The reason is quite simple. Rather than doing everything in one big bang, commissioning and building a brand new headquarters, then trying to move the entire Department down there in a week, with all the upset and operational difficulties that it would create, we decided to move sections of the Department to Tubbercurry, which happened to have the nearest and most suitable premises to rent. The long-term cost of doing it in this manner is not significant regarding overall budgets. If the Deputy checks our administrative budget, he will see that it is extremely modest.

The second issue is that we are moving perhaps 65 staff members this year, approximately half of the 140 who are to move. We already have considerable numbers of staff around the country, including large numbers in Furbo, where a small extension is to be added to the Department. There has been some decentralisation to Furbo, but Knock is our main focus. We were always told that the problem would not lie with the CEOs, HEOs or EOs but with the APs and POs. We already have the two principals and five APs whom we require in place in the Department.

In the last year, particularly since the beginning of this year, every week people have been coming in and moving out. I concede that means that we must all ensure that we get to know the new staff who have come in. Those who have come in and those who have left have been excellent. However, the process has been happening organically and the transfer has taken place quietly and efficiently.

By doing this in two steps, one has a longer period during which one can plan and carry out changes, meaning that one does so with minimum disruption. We will know how well we have planned this on D-day. We have been counting down from 60 to zero and we will see when we transfer the accounts branch. Everything must be smooth and we must keep everything going. We are very confident that we can do that.

I am very pleased at how smooth the transfer of personnel has been to date. We have already completed much of the personnel hand-over. It is a tribute to the professionalism of the Civil Service that many of the difficulties that everyone foretold did not occur. People have moved in and because they are professionals and are used to moving around different sections of the Civil Service, they have acclimatised themselves to the job. Good data were left by their predecessors before they moved on.

The Deputy asked about consultancies, which can be large or small, one-off or continuing. They include reviews of capital spending on offshore islands, for which a provisional €50,000 has been included. Another is the CLÁR mapping. Whether that is a consultancy or outsourcing, I do not know. We have not even defined what is a consultancy. I previously got into trouble as a Minister because anything that one could vaguely call a consultancy I put down in answers as such. Then there were headlines in the newspaper about how a Minister had spent so many millions on consultancies.

When we were drawing up the map for CLÁR, NUI Maynooth had all the data on computer. If we did that with the CSO, it would cost us hundreds of thousands of euro. Instead, we sent those people the data, sat down with them and gave them our criteria, telling them to start working it out. It cost €5,000, and I do not know whether that is a consultancy. All I know is that an outside consultant was paid a certain amount.

We politicians are sometimes our own worst enemies since there is some value involved, and I can understand the temptation that it presents to the Opposition. Certain things are better outsourced, as otherwise one would have to have permanent staff for something that one wished done only once. It is like the person who outsources the cleaning work in the Department. Is that a consultancy? If it is cheaper, better and handier to do that than to have someone there cleaning eight hours a day, one outsources it. Much of this is more outsourcing than consultancy.

There are consultancies when we need them, for example, for EU requirements and ex ante assessments. They require that there be an external review. Looking at the issue, I can stand by all the consultancies and say that the Department does not have a massive number of such projects under way that are unnecessary. I have kept a record of this and there is currently only one ministerial consultancy ongoing, an staidéar teangeolaíochta ar an nGaeltacht.

A linguistic study of the Gaeltacht is under way. It is an expensive study that has been going on for one and a half years. My predecessor, Deputy Michael D. Higgins, when the issue was considered in the context of the Coimisiún na Gaeltachta, felt it should be done once and for all so we would achieve one good, thorough linguistic study of the Gaeltacht. It is costing hundreds of thousands of euro but it is worthwhile on a one-off basis. No other ministerial consultancies are operating in the sense of the Minister pushing a problem out and asking somebody to examine it.

The question on the lesser used languages was good. We have been paying for these for years. The body that works on lesser used languages has its headquarters in Dublin. An interesting question is whether, from 1 January 2006, Irish is a lesser used language. I had argued that we were at the end of the budget line in this regard, and the budget was a small amount. It is now suggested that it will apply to lesser used national languages. Therefore, the claim might be reinvented. In the greater scheme, one cannot argue with the money provided over the years because it promoted multilingualism in Europe.

Job opportunities will be created in Europe owing to achieving EU status for the language. I spoke today with the Commission of the Houses of the Oireachtas with regard to translating Acts and it seems there are job opportunities in these Houses which cannot be filled. There is a huge opportunity but it is a challenge to make sure we have people qualified to do the work, which is fairly specialist.

With regard to Waterways Ireland, different Ministers in different Departments have different ways of operating. My policy is always to answer parliamentary questions. If I am asked about Údarás na Gaeltachta, I will include a disclaimer that I have no ministerial responsibility but I will then add, "However, Údarás na Gaeltachta has informed me..." or something similar. The position is similar with regard to Waterways Ireland. Whether in respect of letters to me, as Minister, or otherwise, I will try to obtain information for Deputies because they are entitled to it. However, as I cannot answer for other bodies, I include a disclaimer at the beginning of my replies.

CLÁR expansion has been dealt with. On Leader, we are at the end of a round of funding. Normally, there would be no additional funding at this stage but I provided €3 million from national funds and I will consider the matter as the year progresses. Funding for 2007 will come. Current indications are that we will have considerably more money for Leader programmes in 2007 than in 2006. If it does not happen in the second half of this year, we will be into the new year and the change we have made will have a long-term benefit and will have been worth making. Some Leader companies might still be able to get projects through.

Chairman

I am conscious that the Minister for Arts, Sports and Tourism has been waiting outside since 4.30 p.m. Perhaps the Minister of State might be concise in his conclusions.

Mr. N. Ahern

The assessment is complete. Last year much of it was outsourced but there is no problem with that. Even if it is outsourced to Pobal or otherwise under the security for the elderly programme, any application that is in order will be dealt with. As the committee knows, the funding was not entirely spent last year.

Deputy Wall is correct that there has been a shortage of groups applying to the community section of the Department. Some groups have done well and we have always preferred the smaller groups such as residents' or community alert groups. There are bigger umbrella groups but some are close to being commercial interests and I would much rather deal with smaller groups, which is why we introduced an absolute limit of €30,000. We prefer the smaller groups because they are in direct contact with the people. Some of the bigger groups make applications but they might be from Kildare although applying on behalf of people in Cork. They are not in touch with these people, which we would regard as a central point. We consulted the groups and the changes we have made will be welcomed by them.

I take the point with regard to emergency lighting. This year is the first since the changes were introduced, in particular with regard to the islands. The electricity is not supposed to go off so often in other areas but there may be a problem.

Mr. Wall

It is an issue that concerns me.

Mr. N. Ahern

It was the first time it happened.

On drugs, the questions are much the same from both sides. The drugs area has received €43 million and approximately €20 million to €25 million of the funding that was originally provided at local and community level has now been mainstreamed. The Department's funding will never increase to €200 million because as projects are piloted and evaluated, they become mainstreamed and the funding and responsibility is transferred to another Department.

At least €70 million worth of projects began as local drugs task forces. There are now 600 jobs in this area, with another 50 approved, if not in place. That is significant. I am sorry we did not ask some of the local community activists ten years ago how many people they thought would need to work in this area to deal adequately with it. They might have said that 30 or 40 were required but to have 600 jobs in this area now represents a major investment, and that is only what we do at community level. The HSE spends more again on its more statutory side. In any event, an extraordinary investment is being made.

We were originally considering a budget of €1 million for the emerging needs fund, which was for new, innovative projects. There are now approximately 50 projects receiving funding of just over €3 million and I am still considering other projects. Four pilot projects on cocaine use are being evaluated and some of the emerging needs funds are also cocaine related.

Deputy Wall referred to Sr. Stanislaus's project at Citywest. I visited the project this morning for the official opening and I will return tomorrow. The Department is the main funder of that project, providing €250,000 per year. There were 2,200 transition year students there this morning, shouting their heads off. Overall, approximately 3,500 children throughout the country are involved in projects. It is a great scheme and we have committed ourselves to funding it for three years.

Last year's projects mostly involved action on drink, drugs and sex but the projects are now more serious and increasingly involve what I would call social action. This is a key part of our policy on volunteering, whatever form it takes in the future. Perhaps students will get involved in political parties, voluntary groups or otherwise, if that is their wish. However, it is a very positive development and the Department is priming the process. This year there have been a number of regional outreach programmes, one of which I visited in Swords. The Department is the major funder of these programmes and believes them to be a good investment.

Overall, we spent some €2 million last year through partnerships and county development boards on different forms of volunteering. The Citywest project is our major second level project. When I visited it today, I could see it was a major development and I understood that the projects are getting more serious and have more weight to them.

We do not fund sniffer dogs, as our funding is very much from the community side at local or regional drugs task force level. The number of dogs has increased but not by much — perhaps from four to eight — and there is a great deal of new equipment. The Taoiseach launched a new mobile X-ray scanner for Customs and Excise, which can scan a 40-foot truck in the same way one's bag is scanned at an airport. The scanner came from China and represents a major investment in equipment.

We have not got our hands on CAB money but the amount of money involved is not serious. CAB money is ring-fenced for seven years and I do not think much has been released from the fund yet.

Chairman

What of the drugs money seized?

Mr. N. Ahern

Not all CAB money is drugs money. I am more interested in the quantity. I would much rather get €20 million from the Exchequer than €1 million from the CAB. I would also like to obtain the CAB money but it would not necessarily last forever. However, we have not succeeded in getting it. The Department of Finance is very particular about retaining its various sources of finance and controlling where money comes from and where it goes. However, the fact that overall finance is up by 30% is of more interest to me than the source of the money to which I refer.