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SELECT COMMITTEE ON THE ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT, CULTURE AND THE GAELTACHT debate -
Wednesday, 6 Jul 2011

Vote 33 - National Gallery of Ireland (Revised)

Chairman

Today's meeting has been convened the allow the sub-committee to consider the 2011 Revised Estimates for Vote 35 - the Office of the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, and Vote 33 - the National Gallery of Ireland. I welcome the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Deputy Deenihan. I congratulate him on his appointment as Minister. It is good to see him before the sub-committee for the first time. I also welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Deputy McGinley. I welcome the officials from the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht - Mr. Joe Hamill, who is the Secretary General of the Department; Mr. John Collins and Mr. Niall Ó Donnchú, both of whom are assistant secretaries; Ms Máire Killoran, who is the Department's director of Irish; Mr. Conor Falvey and Mr. Conor Ó Raghallaigh, who are principal officers; and Mr. Trevor Donnelly, who is an assistant principal officer. I thank them for their attendance.

I remind members that the previous Minister for Finance requested that Estimates debates should have a particular focus on the outputs to be achieved for the moneys being voted. In other words, in our consideration today we should look at what is being achieved and not just as the moneys being spent. Both issues are important. We have a duty to establish that moneys are being allocated and spent wisely and prudently. It is also essential that we are fully aware of the results such expenditure hopes to achieve and the impact of such results on the provision and ability of services throughout Ireland.

I propose that we begin by hearing an opening statement from the Minister, followed by opening statements from the Opposition. I will call on Opposition Deputies in order before calling on Government Deputies in order. Deputies can make further contributions thereafter if they so wish. Is that agreed? Agreed. I invite the Minister, Deputy Deenihan, to address the sub-committee.

Is mór agam an deis seo a fháil teacht os comhair an choiste seo inniu chun Meastacháin mo Roinne do 2011 a phlé. Members of the sub-committee will be aware that the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht was formed in its current structure as part of the reorganisation of certain departmental functions that was announced by the Taoiseach in March. The Department retained responsibility for the arts function from the former Department of Tourism, Culture and Sport and the key responsibilities for the heritage and Gaeltacht functions transferred with effect from 1 May.

I will begin by explaining the apparent increase of 46% in my Department's administration subhead for 2011. In reality, there has been no such increase. The 2010 figures shown for comparison purposes do not include the administration costs of the former Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs, as shown in Vote 27. Nor do they include the salary costs of the National Parks and Wildlife Service, included last year as programme costs in Vote 25. I understand the format adopted in this Revised Estimates Volume was necessary for Government accounting purposes. I make it clear to the committee, however, that there have been no increases in staff or administration costs as a result of the reconfiguration of my Department.

In addition to the Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht Vote, I also have responsibility for the Vote for the National Gallery. I propose to refer briefly to some of the key areas of expenditure for which I have direct responsibility. I will then hand over to my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Dinny McGinley, who will speak about the relevant aspects of the Gaeltacht, Irish language and island programmes.

The 2011 gross allocation from my Department is over €269 million, with a further €10.1 million allocated to the National Gallery Vote. The Estimate reflects full year funding regarding the arts and heritage subheads. Funding for certain subheads covering the Gaeltacht, the Irish language, the islands and North-South co-operation is for the period from 1 May to 31 December only. Funding for these subheads from January to April and the outturn for 2010 are reflected in Vote 27 - Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs.

The culture and heritage sectors have always been of huge importance to us and have helped to shape the nation and our unique identity as a people. They must be valued in themselves and as a heritage for future generations which we have an obligation to maintain and protect. The richness of Ireland's culture and heritage, as well as its environmental qualities, are continually cited in Fáilte Ireland's research as important reasons tourists choose to visit here. It is important that we value these sectors as part of our unique heritage and what we are, as well as recognising their contribution to Ireland's tourism product.

The programme for Government emphasises the importance of tourism for national recovery and specifically improving our tourism product. Tourism remains a large, strategically important industry and employment generator which is deeply embedded in the economy. The World Tourism Organization has estimated that cultural tourism which spans traditional culture, living culture and natural and built culture represents about 35% and 40% of all tourism worldwide and is estimated to be growing.

Each of the sectors of my Department plays a significant role with regard to cultural tourism and its importance for national recovery. With regard to the arts and culture subheads, including the National Gallery, almost €115 million has been allocated this year. The arts and culture sectors are vibrant and vital sectors of the economy. They are primary economic contributors, real businesses, enduring employers and differentiate us as a cultural entity and tourist destination.

Rebuilding Ireland's reputation in key territories around the world has been one of the Government's top priorities from day one. Culture must be at the heart of this promotional strategy. It is the most powerful, positive connection for the 70 million global Irish and the hundreds of millions more who have come to know and love Ireland for its culture, as identified at the first Global Irish Economic Forum at Farmleigh.

With the year long strategic initiative of Imagine Ireland, Culture Ireland is show-casing more than 1,000 contemporary artists in all art forms to new audiences across America. It demonstrates the energy, ambition and can-do spirit of the Irish arts and culture community in promoting the best of Ireland in this key market and is just one example of Culture Ireland's programmes show-casing and supporting Irish arts and artists worldwide.

Our national cultural institutions continue to attract large numbers of visitors and are a vital component of Ireland's cultural tourism product. In 2010 over 3.5 million people visited cultural institutions funded by my Department. For example, the National Museum of Ireland alone attracted almost 1 million visitors across its four sites last year, putting it on a par with many other notable galleries and museums internationally. I am pleased to say visitor numbers to our cultural institutions for the first quarter of 2011 were continuing to grow.

The direct benefits that accrue to the country by way of cultural tourism represent a significant return on the investment in our cultural institutions and cultural infrastructure generally. However, it must not be forgotten that cultural institutions also play a significant role in defining and fostering the cultural profile of the country abroad and make a crucial contribution to the collective national effort to restore and promote the country's international image.

The funding provided from subhead B4 for Culture Night allows it to continue to grow and develop from a relatively small-scale cultural event staged only in Dublin in 2006 to the significant national culture event it now is, with over 500 cultural venues across 20 locations throughout the country participating in Culture Night 2010. Plans for the 2011 event are well under way, as are discussions regarding the most appropriate way to build on the success and popularity of Culture Night for 2012 and beyond. These discussions include the feasibility of making Culture Night a twice yearly event as proposed in the programme for Government.

My Department is also pleased to fund Dublin Contemporary 2011, a major exhibition of leading and emerging Irish and international contemporary art spread across a number of landmark sites in Dublin city centre over a period of eight weeks from 6 September to 31 October. Dublin Contemporary 2011 will be the largest contemporary art event of its kind and scale ever held in Ireland and will feature over 90 artists from 40 countries across five continents. The project will provide a highlight for cultural tourism in Ireland on a global scale, with an anticipated audience in the region of 150,000 visitors and clearly demonstrates the resilience and renewed confidence of the nation and, in particular, the creative vitality of Dublin as our capital city.

With regard to the Irish audiovisual sector, I am pleased to say it continues to perform well. In 2010 a total of 57 projects were approved for funding with an Irish spend of €164.7 million, up from 44 projects and a spend of €106.7 million in 2009. That is an increase in the Irish spend of €58 million or 54%. This was a significant achievement and is something on which I hope we can continue to build. In that regard, a strategic review of the audiovisual content industry has recently been completed and will be considered shortly by the Government. It will provide a road map for the next few years and assist in enabling the domestic audiovisual content production sector to develop into an internationally traded sector for product and services over a five year period, 2011 to 2015.

Throughout the past year Ireland has continued to build on its excellent international reputation for film talent. Highlights include the Irish film industry receiving five Academy Award nominations, three of which were for the Irish films, "The Secret of Kells", "Granny O'Grimm's Sleeping Beauty", and "The Door", while the Irish animator, Richard Baneham, and his team picked up the Oscar for the best visual effects for his work on "Avatar".

The allocation for cultural infrastructure and development is significantly reduced in 2011 compared to 2010, down by 47% to €7.8 million. That will prove to be a challenge in delivering on the projects approved for funding in my Department's cultural infrastructure programmes. It will require careful scheduling and monitoring to ensure all of the projects approved for funding remain sustainable and relevant in the context of tightening resources. This is an important programme as it builds the number of quality art centres, galleries, theatres, performance spaces and so on which play an important part in attracting visitors and tourists to the country.

I now turn to the heritage programmes, for which €24 million has been allocated this year. To harness the increase in global interest in heritage related tourism, my Department has identified the sector as an area that could help to stimulate economic growth. This can be achieved by co-operating with and assisting tourism interests to improve, enhance and expand the range and quality of the information generally available on Ireland's wealth of archaeological heritage, with the objective of enhancing its tourism appeal and raising its profile to potential overseas visitors and on the domestic market. A working group has been set up to establish how my Department's considerable knowledge and expertise could be brought to bear to best effect.

My Department has overall responsibility for protecting Ireland's built heritage through legislation; protecting structures in local authority development plans; the recording of that heritage through the national inventory of architectural heritage; the provision of capital funding for the built heritage; and the provision of professional guidance. It also has responsibility for policy on world heritage sites in Ireland. Separately, it promotes overall Government policy on architecture which has a central built heritage element. Funding for built heritage in 2011 is reduced quite significantly on previous years. However, my Department is still committed to the conservation and protection of Ireland's built heritage for the enjoyment of present and future generations and for our national and international visitors.

As demonstrated by the recent State visits of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and US President Barack Obama, heritage properties in State care, such as the Rock of Cashel, Dublin Castle and the Phoenix Park, play an important role in showcasing our heritage, culture and national uniqueness. My Department will continue to provide assistance this year to the Office of Public Works for conservation works to heritage properties in State care in the context of sustaining the intrinsically linked heritage and tourism industries.

The Heritage Council, which is tasked under legislation with the promotion and protection of heritage, will continue to be supported in 2011 in the amount of €7.5 million. Schemes such as the walled towns initiative, the significant places of public worship scheme and the conservation plan-led projects grants scheme will continue to operate this year.

In the context of the suspension of the local authority conservation grants scheme and the civic structures conservation grants scheme, my Department introduced a structures-at-risk fund this year to assist with structures that are at serious risk of deterioration and which are protected under Part IV of the Planning and Development Acts 2000 to 2010. With the limited fund available of €650,000, we are able to assist 23 local authorities with conservation works to 31 projects, including landmark buildings such as Aldborough House in Dublin, several thatched cottages, churches and private dwellings.

While acknowledging the important statutory role of my Department in meeting our national and international obligations on protecting our natural heritage, I must allude to my Department's role in developing and improving our cultural tourism product. Our national parks have traditionally been managed largely for conservation and educational purposes. More recently, the tourism dimension of national parks has been recognised and this has been borne out by surveys carried out by Fáilte Ireland.

Investment in the conservation of our natural heritage has the dual benefit of preserving our natural environment for future generations while also improving the local and national economy through the generation and expansion of responsible tourism. Our heritage sites, both natural and built, are "core assets" that will play a very important role in stimulating a much-needed resurgence in the tourism industry.

The National Parks and Wildlife Service sites, such as Glendalough, the Burren and Killarney National Park, feature prominently in Fáilte Ireland's publicity campaigns to attract international visitors. The term "national park" is perhaps one of the most recognised international brands. I am conscious that our international brand equity which has been built up over many years must not be eroded through reduced investment or under-investment as this will inevitably lead to loss of market share in the very competitive international tourism market.

Keeping national parks open, apart from providing opportunities for private commercial operations within the parks, is of critical importance to the service industry in the regions where parks are situated. Studies in other jurisdictions show that national parks have a positive economic impact on the local economy in supporting employment both directly and indirectly and more generally in boosting visitor numbers and tourism. I will be seeking to build on and maximise this valuable natural and economic asset.

I would like to refer to the issue of turf cutting and the protection of designated bogs, which will draw some €6 million from the financial resources available to me this year, between voted expenditure and funding from the environment fund. It is useful to recall the facts of this issue. Under EU law, Ireland is required to protect various species and natural habitats of international importance, including by designating areas as special areas of conservation, SACs. Ireland's raised bog SACs were designated between 1997 and 2002. In 1999, the then Minister announced a ten-year derogation for domestic turf cutting in order to allow the transition for turf-cutters to other arrangements.

In May 2010, the previous Government confirmed that the derogation was over and that turf cutting must cease on a phased basis, starting immediately with 31 sites and by the end of this year for all raised bog SACs. However, it did not put in place the long-term compensation arrangements necessary to facilitate this cessation.

Turning to this year, Ireland received a letter of formal notice from the European Commission in January last alleging systematic and ongoing failure to comply with the provisions of the habitats directive with regard to the protection of active raised bogs. Since coming into office, both the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Hogan, and I have spoken to the Environment Commissioner on several occasions and have given him assurances that the matter will be dealt with satisfactorily.

Within weeks of assuming office, this Government established a substantial long-term compensation package for turf-cutters, offering an annual index-linked payment of €1,000 for 15 years or, where feasible, the option to relocate to alternative non-designated bog to continue cutting.

We have also established the Peatlands Council - the first forum created that is inclusive of turf-cutting, environmental and Government interests - to review independently all the issues surrounding turf cutting, in addition to contributing to a long-term strategy for the management of designated peatlands.

On 1 June last, the council achieved a significant breakthrough when an agreed way forward was reached by its members and a commitment was given that no more turf cutting would take place on the sites where the derogation has ended. To the credit of the IFA and the Turf Cutters and Contractors Association, which made these undertakings, there have been no further incidents of cutting on these bogs. I understand a Commission spokesperson asserted mistakenly there had been but this is not the case. I am happy to set the record straight in this regard.

In recent weeks, the European Commission further signalled the seriousness it attributes to this issue by presenting Ireland with a reasoned opinion. It is clear that we must act immediately to comply with European law. This means the law must be enforced in regard to turf cutting in raised bog SACs. We must also ensure the turf-cutters in these sites who have been compelled to stop cutting are treated fairly in terms of compensation or relocation. In the longer term, we must put in place measures to restore the active raised bog that we have lost and provide compensatory habitat.

It is clear that we cannot waver from this course of action and failure to address these issues now will certainly see us referred to the European Court of Justice. Ireland is likely to face significant fines if found against by the court and the imposition of such fines would not in any way negate the need to take the actions required to comply with the habitats directive.

In regard to North-South co-operation, some €46.9 million is available this year to support the two North-South implementation bodies, Waterways Ireland and An Foras Teanga. The latter comprises Foras na Gaeilge and the Ulster-Scots Agency. My colleague the Minister of State, Deputy McGinley, will speak about An Foras Teanga.

Waterways Ireland is responsible for the management, maintenance, development and restoration of the inland navigable waterway system, principally for recreational purposes. Its allocation is currently funded 85% by this State and 15% by Northern Ireland. Waterways Ireland aims to develop and promote the waterways as national assets for future generations. The waterways are a key recreational resource, a tourist attraction in their own right and also a vehicle for the regeneration of waterside communities. Through opportunities for activities including fishing, walking and cycling, the waterways provide a catalyst for urban and rural regeneration of local communities and bring opportunities for the development of local businesses through increased visitor activity.

Members will be aware that funding for these bodies is provided by my Department and the Northern Ireland Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure in accordance with budgets approved by the North-South Ministerial Council. I look forward to these matters being discussed at the council meeting to be held in Armagh tomorrow.

I will be happy to expand on any matter the members may wish to raise. I will now pass over to the Minister of State, Dinny McGinley.

Fáiltím roimh an deis teacht i láthair an roghchoiste chun léargas gairid a thabhairt ar na cláir thacaíochta atá idir lámha ag an Roinn Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta i dtaca le cúrsaí Gaeilge, Gaeltachta agus oileán. Ba mhaith liom ar dtús eolas a thabhairt faoin dul chun cinn atá déanta ag an Roinn i ndáil le cur i bhfeidhm an Straitéis 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge os rud é go bhfuil na cláir thacaíochta Ghaeilge agus Ghaeltachta atá ag an Roinn fite fuaite go dlúth leis an straitéis. Tá spriocanna dúshlánacha, uaillmhianacha leagtha síos sa straitéis don tréimhse 20 bliain atá amach romhainn maidir le líon na ndaoine a úsáideann an Ghaeilge go laethúil a mhéadú go substaintiúil laistigh agus lasmuigh den Ghaeltacht.

Tá tiomantas an Rialtais do chur i bhfeidhm na straitéise léirithe go láidir sa mhéid is go bhfuil sé ráite go soiléir sa chlár Rialtais go dtabharfaidh an Rialtas tacaíocht don straitéis 20 bliain. Chomh maith leis sin, tá an coiste Rialtais faoin Gaeilge agus faoin Gaeltacht athbhunaithe ag an Taoiseach faoina chathaoirleacht féin. Tá cinntí sonracha tógtha ag an Rialtas le gairid maidir le cur i bhfeidhm na straitéise ag eascairt as an bplé a rinneadh ag cruinnithe den choiste Rialtais.

Mar thoradh ar na cinntí Rialtais a tógadh ar na mallaibh, is mar seo a leanas a bheidh na struchtúir fhorfheidhmithe faoin straitéis: coimeádfaidh an Roinn Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta an lárfhreagracht maidir le gnóthaí Gaeilge; leanfaidh Foras na Gaeilge ag comhlíonadh a dhualgas i gcomhthéacs uile-oileáin mar áisíneacht den bhForas Teanga Forfheidhmmithe Thuaidh-Theas; beidh an fhreagracht maidir le forfheidhmiú na straitéise lasmuigh den Ghaeltacht ar an Roinn i gcomhpháirtíocht le páirtnéirí Stáit ábhartha agus breathnófar ar na féidearthachtaí go bhféadfadh Foras na Gaeilge seachadadh a dhéanamh ar eilimintí áirithe den straitéis ar bhonn comhaontaithe; agus beidh an fhreagracht maidir le forfheidhmiú na straitéise laistigh den Ghaeltacht ar Údarás na Gaeltachta.

I cannot hear clearly on these headphones. Can somebody do something about the crackling and the bad quality?

Chairman

If the Deputy is okay now, the Minister of State should proceed.

Mar thoradh ar na cinntí Rialtais faoi na struchtúir fhorfheidhmithe faoin straitéis, tá an Rialtas ag iarraidh a chinntiú go mbainfear leas, oiread agus is féidir, as na struchtúir atá ann cheana féin ar mhaithe leis an straitéis a sheachadadh. Chomh maith leis sin, caithfear a chinntiú nach mbeidh aon dúbláil soláthair ann idir na príomhpháirtithe forfheidhmithe, is iad sin an Roinn Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta, Údarás na Gaeltachta agus Foras na Gaeilge.

Faoin straitéis 20 bliain, tá cinneadh tógtha ag an Rialtas go mbeidh sainmhíniú úr ag an nGaeltacht a bheidh bunaithe feasta ar chritéir theangeolaíocha seachas ar chritéir thíreolaíocha mar atá faoi láthair. Déanfar foráil reachtúil do phróiseas pleanála teanga faoina n-ullmhófar pleananna teanga ag leibhéal pobail do limistéir Ghaeltachta. Déanfaidh an tAire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta na pleananna teanga seo a fhaomhadh agus déanfar athbhreithniú orthu ó am go chéile. Tá an Roinn ag obair ar na cinn a dhréachtú don Bhille Gaeltachta, a thabharfaidh feidhm don sainmhíniú úr don Ghaeltacht. Táthar ag súil go mbeidh an Bille Gaeltachta foilsithe san fhómhar. Cé is moite de na limistéir Ghaeltachta seanbhunaithe a n-éireoidh leo a stádas Gaeltachta a choinneáil faoin sainmhíniú úr don Ghaeltacht, tabharfar deis do cheantair eile a bheith áirithe sa Ghaeltacht chomh maith. Déanfar foráil reachtúil faoin mBille Gaeltachta do cheantair "Gaeltacht Gréasáin" a bheidh lonnaithe i gceantair uirbeacha don chuid is mó, áit a bhfuil tacaíocht shubstaintiúil pobail agus Stáit don Ghaeilge. Chomh maith leis sin, déanfar foráil reachtúil do bhailte seirbhíse Gaeltachta atá lonnaithe taobh le ceantair Ghaeltachta.

Agus an Bille Gaeltachta á dhréachtú, tá gnáth obair na Roinne sa Ghaeltacht ag dul ar aghaidh ar ndóigh. Is é scéim na bhfoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge an scéim is mó ráchairte de chuid na Roinne a imríonn tionchar thar a bheith dearfach ar dhearcadh an aosa óig i leith na Gaeilge agus a théann chun sochair do gheilleagar na Gaeltachta féin. Faoi scéim na bhfoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge, d'fhreastail beagnach 24,000 foghlaimeoir ar chúrsaí Gaeilge sa Ghaeltacht i 2010 agus bhí caiteachas €4.7 milliún i gceist ó thaobh na Roinne de. Íoctar deontas laethúil, de €9.50 an fhoghlaimeora i mbliana, le teaghlaigh cháilithe sa Ghaeltacht, is é sin leis na mná tí mar a thugtar orthu, a choinníonn foghlaimeoirí Gaeilge ar iostas fad agus a bhíonn siad ag freastal ar choláistí Gaeilge. Maireann na cúrsaí Gaeilge ar feadh trí seachtain go hiondúil agus is i mí an Mheithimh, mí Iúil agus mí Lúnasa a eagraíonn na coláistí na cúrsaí. Bhí an Roinn Oideachais agus Scileanna freagrach as monatóireacht a dhéanamh ar riarachán na gcoláistí go dtí 2010. Déantar an obair sin sa Roinn Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta ó shin le hionchur ó chigirí na Roinne Oideachais agus Scileanna. Cabhraíonn na coláistí Gaeilge, ní hamháin le cur chun cinn na Gaeilge sa Ghaeltacht agus go náisiúnta, ach le heacnamaíocht na Gaeltachta chomh maith. Mura mbeadh na coláistí Gaeilge ann, níl aon amhras orm ach go mbeadh an Ghaeltacht níos boichte dá bharr. Chomh maith leis sin, cruthaíonn na coláistí Gaeilge dea-thoil don teanga ag an leibhéal náisiúnta, ach go háirithe i measc déagóirí agus a gcuid tuismitheoirí.

Ar ndóigh tá scéim na gcúntóirí teanga ar cheann de na gníomhaíochtaí is nuanósaí atá maoinithe ag an Roinn sa Ghaeltacht. Bhí caiteachas de €0.65 milliún i gceist i mbliana. Faoin scéim seo, ceaptar cainteoirí líofa Gaeilge mar chúntóirí i scoileanna Gaeltachta chun cuidiú le páistí nach bhfuil an Ghaeilge mar phríomhtheanga acu nó i gcásanna a theastaíonn a thuilleadh cabhrach uathu. Déantar é seo neamhspleách ar an múinteoir ranga le scéalaíocht, rannta, drámaí beaga, cluichí agus a leithéid. Fostaítear suas le 85 cúntóir faoin scéim agus iad ag obair i scoileanna ó cheann ceann na Gaeltachta. Chomh maith leis sin, tá an Roinn ag leanúint arís i mbliana leis an gcúnamh airgeadais do choistí a eagraíonn campaí samhraidh oiriúnacha trí Ghaeilge d'aos óg na Gaeltachta agus a bhfuil sé mar aidhm acu an Ghaeilge a threisiú trí mheascán d'imeachtaí oideachasúla agus spórt a eagrú.

Déanann an Roinn deontais a cheadú fosta chun cabhrú le coistí áitiúla áiseanna caitheamh aimsire, páirceanna imeartha, seomraí feistis, cúirteanna liathróide láimhe, cúirteanna leadóige, cúirteanna cispheile agus araile a sholáthar nó a fheabhsú sa Ghaeltacht. Bíonn cúnamh bliantúil ar fáil ón Roinn chomh maith d'eagraíochtaí atá ag obair le sealbhú agus le buanú na Gaeilge sa Ghaeltacht agus a bhaineann úsáid as na háiseanna caitheamh aimsire atá luaite agam cheana. Cuireann an Roinn deontais ar fáil chomh maith i leith imeachtaí cultúrtha ina bhfuil ról lárnach ag an nGaeilge nó a théann chun tairbhe na Gaeilge agus saol cultúrtha agus sóisialta na gceantar Gaeltachta. Ní miste a rá go bhfuil na gníomhaíochtaí seo go léir fite fuaite leis na spriocanna atá leagtha síos sa straitéis 20 bliain don Ghaeilge. Cé go bhfuil na hacmhainní atá ar fáil don Roinn do na gníomhaíochtaí seo thar a bheith teoranta, baintear an leas is fearr astu ar mhaithe le pobal na Gaeltachta.

Tá cinntí sonracha tógtha ag an Rialtas i gcás Údarás na Gaeltachta agus a chuid feidhmeanna reachtúla siúd. I gcás Údarás na Gaeltachta, tá sé socraithe go mairfidh an status quo maidir le feidhmeanna reatha an údaráis go ginearálta, a chuid feidhmeanna fiontraíochta san áireamh, faoi réir: (a) foráil reachtúil a dhéanamh chun cumhacht a thabhairt don Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta treoir a thabhairt don údarás a chuid acmhainní teoranta a dhíriú i dtreo earnálacha fiontraíochta ar leith, le toil an Aire Caiteachais Phoiblí agus Athchóirithe; agus (b) meicníocht a fhorbairt chun go mbeidh Údarás na Gaeltachta in ann comhoibriú le háisíneachtaí fiontraíochta eile i gcás tograí substaintiúla Gaeltachta a bhfuil poitéinseal ard acu. Chomh maith leis sin, déanfar foráil faoin mBille Gaeltachta chun Bord Údarás na Gaeltachta a laghdú go substaintiúil agus chun deireadh a chur leis an riachtanas do thoghcháin.

Maidir leis an maoiniú d'Údarás na Gaeltachta i mbliana, tá soláthar iomlán de €19.6 milliún curtha ar fáil ón Státchiste chun cuidiú leis an údarás tacú le forbairt eacnamaíoch, shóisialta agus cultúrtha na Ghaeltachta. Maidir le hairgead reatha, cuirfear €10.3 milliún ar fáil don údarás i mbliana chun costais riaracháin na heagraíochta a ghlanadh agus costais reatha eile a íoc. Tá airgead reatha de €3.3 milliún curtha ar fáil chomh maith le caitheamh ar imeachtaí atá dírithe go huile agus go hiomlán ar chur chun cinn na Gaeilge. Cuirfear soláthar €6 milliún ar fáil chun infheistíocht chaipitil a dhéanamh agus beidh foinsí eile maoinithe de luach €7.5 milliún ag an údarás le cur leis an mhéid seo. Tugadh treoir don údarás cheana 20% den soláthar seo a dhíriú ar thograí teanga-bhunaithe agus leanfar leis an treoir seo i mbliana.

Maidir le cothabháil na Gaeilge ar bhonn náisiúnta, tá suim de €7.27 milliún curtha ar fáil ag an Roinn i mbliana ar mhaithe le cur chun cinn na Gaeilge ar fud na tíre. Tá an Roinn ag tacú le cláir fhorbartha teanga faoi na scéimeanna tacaíochta Gaeilge agus faoin tionscnamh ardscileanna Gaeilge d'institiúidí tríú leibhéal chun an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn mar theanga bheo lasmuigh den Ghaeltacht agus chun freastal ar riachtanais oiliúna i ndáil le húsáid na Gaeilge mar theanga oifigiúil agus oibre ag leibhéal an AE. Tá soláthar d'Oifig an Choimisinéara Teanga san áireamh san fhigiúr seo chomh maith. Tá an Roinn ag tacú le cláir fhorbartha teanga faoi na scéimeanna tacaíochta Gaeilge agus faoin tionscnamh ardscileanna Gaeilge d'institiúidí tríú leibhéal chun an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn mar theanga bheo lasmuigh den Ghaeltacht agus chun freastal ar riachtanais oiliúna i ndáil le húsáid na Gaeilge mar theanga oifigiúil agus oibre ag leibhéal an AE. Tá soláthar d'Oifig an Choimisinéara Teanga san áireamh san fhigiúr seo chomh maith.

Is gné thábhachtach d'obair na Roinne tacú leis an gcomhoibriú Thuaidh Theas agus tá suim iomlán de €16.6 milliún curtha ar fáil ón Státchiste chun tacú leis an bhForas Teanga. Tá dhá áisíneacht ar leith i gceist leis an bhForas Teanga, is iad sin Foras na Gaeilge atá freagrach as cur chun cinn na Gaeilge ar fud an oileáin agus Gníomhaireacht na hUltaise a bhfuil freagracht air maidir le cur chun cinn teanga agus cultúr na hUltaise i dTuaisceart Éireann agus ar fud an oileáin.

Cé is moite den tacaíocht a chuireann an Roinn ar fáil don Ghaeilge agus don Ghaeltacht, tá an Roinn freagrach freisin as tacaíocht a thabhairt do mhuintir na n-oileán. Tá dul chun cinn mór déanta ó thaobh feabhas a chur ar chaighdeán saoil na n-oileánach le blianta anuas mar thoradh ar infheistíocht na Roinne ar na hoileáin. Ó na nóchaidí ar aghaidh, tá méadú substaintiúil tagtha ar líon na seirbhísí farantóireachta atá maoinithe ag an Stát. Tá sé aitheanta le fada gurb í an tseirbhís iompair ceann de na nithe is tábhachtaí do phobal na n-oileán. Tá infheistíocht mhór déanta ag an Roinn thar na blianta, idir infheistíocht in infreastruchtúr agus i seirbhísí farantóireachta, chun a chinntiú gur féidir le muintir na n-oileán maireachtáil ina gceantair féin. Faoi láthair, tá 23 conradh ag an Roinn chuig 15 oileán, lena n-áirítear seirbhísí farantóireachta, aeir, lastais agus bus.

Tá breis is €100 milliún caite ag an Roinn ar thograí infreastruchtúir ar an mórthír agus ar na hoileáin le deich mbliana anuas. Go deimhin tá ceann de na tograí is mó a rinneadh riamh ar oileán - forbairt ar Ché Chill Rónáin ar Inis Mór in Árainn - gar le bheith críochnaithe anois ar chostas níos mó ná €40 milliún. Ar ndóigh, tá tábhacht ar leith ag baint leis an gcalafort seo don oileán agus don réigiún, go háirithe ó thaobh na turasóireachta de. Baineann ós cionn 300,000 paisinéirí úsáid as calafort Chill Rónáin in aghaidh na bliana.

Mar fhocal scoir, a Chathaoirligh, tá léargas tugtha agam ar an réimse leathan clár agus gníomhaíochtaí a bhfuil an Roinn ag tacú leo chun cuidiú le cur chun cinn na Gaeilge agus na Gaeltachta. In ainneoin na ndúshlán móra atá le sárú againn faoi láthair mar gheall ar chúinsí eacnamaíocha an Stáit, tá mise dóchasach gur féidir linn leanúint orainn ag déanamh dul chun cinn suntasach ar mhaithe leis an Ghaeilge agus an Ghaeltacht, go háirithe leis an straitéis 20 bliain mar dhúshraith láidir again.

Chairman

I thank the Minister of State. I will now take questions from Deputies Luke ‘Ming' Flanagan, Robert Troy, Noel Coonan and Gerald Nash.

I congratulate the Chairman on his election. While I am interested in many issues, the issue of turf cutting takes precedence over all others. Is it appropriate to discuss it now?

Chairman

The Deputy may ask the Minister or the Minister of State questions on expenditure and so on.

How much of next year's budget of €6 million will go towards the compensation package announced for turf cutters? Also, will some of this money be used to pay individuals who accepted compensation packages in the past in respect of the sale of their land to the National Parks and Wildlife Service? I am curious to know how the €6 million will be spent.

Ireland's raised bog SACs were designated between 1997 and 2002. In 1999 the then Minister announced a ten year derogation for domestic turf cutting. While it may have been announced, it was never given effect. This points need to be clarified. From information I have received from the Turf Cutters and Contractors Association, the Environment Commissioner has stated there was no derogation. I would like to know whether there was or was not a derogation. As far as we are concerned, there was no derogation. If this is not the case, it should not be stated here that there was. A derogation may have been announced, but it was never given effect. We have discovered during the years that announcements by Governments do not mean something will happen.

It has stated that in May 2010 the previous Government confirmed that the derogation was at an end. The Turf Cutters and Contractors Association has in its possession a letter from the then Minister, Deputy Eamon Ó Cuív, following a withdrawal from government by the Green Party, stating we could continue to cut turf this year. The confusion among turf cutters is understandable. The Turf Cutters and Contractors Association pretty much wrote Fine Gael's policy on this issue. The association held a massive rally in the Hudson Bay Hotel in Athlone in advance of the general election and in the run-up to that meeting received several communications from Deputies Denis Naughten and Frank Feighan on what would satisfy it with regard to the policy to be followed by the next Government. Everything from a roll-over derogation was proposed, with which we disagreed. We eventually reached an agreement which we now believe has not been honoured. Some 4,000 turf cutters were put in one area and they cheered to the rafters Fine Gael policy at election time. One can only conclude that that meant everyone would be happy with its policy. However, it is clear that is not the case. We believe some Members were elected under false pretences.

The Minister has stated a substantial long-term compensation package has been offered. If "substantial" means "generous" or "a good offer", the committee needs to consider the following. The sum of €1,000 is not, by any means, substantial or generous. It will not heat a person's home. We do not have access to natural gas or any other cheap fuel; we must use coal or purchase turf or oil. The sum of €1,000 becomes even less when one takes into account that the package will be for a maximum of 15 years. Also, it has been stated the compensation payment is indexed linked. Index linked is not the same as linking it to fuel price inflation in the next 15 years. If one index links it, what will it be worth in fuel terms in 15 years? Also, the payment of €1,000 is only on offer to the named bog owner. I will give an example to show how that is flawed. I own Cloonchambers bog which was my grand-uncle's beforehand. My aunt Veronica Coyne and sister Fiona Flanagan also take turf from that turf bank. In effect, if we were dumb or naive enough to take such an offer, it would work out at €333 each to buy fuel in the next year. As a Member of this House, despite having taken a 50% pay cut, I am on a good salary and might be able to stretch to heating my house if I were to accept this offer. However, my aunt and sister would not be able to do so. In some cases, four or five people are taking turf from a turf bank, each of whom would receive only €200 in compensation for a 15 year period index linked, which means they would receive even less than I would.

Why are people cutting turf from the one turf bank? That is excessive use.

It is traditional for people to take turf from one turf bank.

Chairman

Deputies must address the Chair.

My apologies. May I answer Deputy Coonan's question?

Chairman

I ask the Deputy to direct his comments through the Chair to the Minister.

The vast majority who are eligible for compensation have cut turf this year and as such, will not be entitled to compensation under the scheme. They are bad citizens and will not be entitled to compensation. If one decides to accept it and can receive it, what will happen if the State decides to flood one's bog in order to raise the water levels and it subsequently floods one's neighbour's land. Who will be held liable for this? Of course someone will say it is not the landowner. However, when something goes wrong I believe we will discover it is the landowner. To call the compensation scheme substantial - unless the meaning of "substantial" has changed - is misleading. It is not substantial so one cannot say it is.

A significant breakthrough was achieved on 1 June, and I use the past tense because it no longer exists as a result of the Turf Cutters and Contractors Association's meeting yesterday with the Peatlands Council. Our interpretation - which is very important because we are the main stakeholder - of the statement released after the 1 June meeting was that no further turf cutting would take place on the SACs. The twist was that a certain amount of the 55 bog complexes would no longer be SACs after a review and negotiations with the turf cutters to establish from which of the bogs they could reasonably relocate to a short distance away where they could cut good quality turf. The Turf Cutters and Contractors Association roughly estimates-----

Chairman

Deputy Flanagan, just one moment. I will bring you back in later. I am giving you a good degree of latitude.

Chairman

You are in order to discuss how the Estimates affect turf cutting-----

Chairman

However, I want to bring in other members and I want to bring you back in.

I am nearly there. It will save you the trouble.

Chairman

I thank the Deputy

Our understanding was that on certain sites where there would be a problem, we would seek to have the SAC designation removed from them. If that were not possible we would have to continue cutting turf on them. However, the agreement whereby no turf would be cut on the sites is on the basis that some of the sites would no longer be SACs. It is a twist in the English language but that was what was required to satisfy everyone at the meeting.

I am speaking on behalf of turf cutters. I am not telling them what to do. I am merely bringing their word to the committee. If alternate bogs cannot be found for people and the designation cannot be removed from the bogs, people have told me they will continue to cut on these sites because they cannot afford to stop and it would not be reasonable to expect them to stop. It appears the Turf Cutters and Contractors Association has a different understanding of the press release issued on 1 June than most of the members of the Peatlands Council. We have a major problem with this. In recent weeks we have held meetings with turf cutters and will continue to do so between now and September. The feeling is that this is not fair. Unfortunately, people will not put up with it. I put the committee on notice that the compensation package is not too generous; what we thought we agreed does not seem to be what the committee thought we agreed; and to use a phrase from my area, it is all up in a "hape" again. I will say no more for now.

In the Minister's statement, he referred to an apparent increase of 46% in the Department's administration subhead which came about as a result of an amalgamation of Departments. What Department would have seen a comparable decrease as a result? Not taking into account the new structure of Departments, how do the Department's figures compare to the figures for 2010?

The Minister stated our national cultural institutions continue to attract large numbers of visitors. I welcome the initiative announced today by the Minister of State with responsibility for the OPW whereby OPW sites will be free on the first Wednesday of every month for the rest of the year. It was promoted in a lackadaisical way as the first we heard of it was today, which is the first Wednesday of the month. To have obtained better benefits from it there should have been more advertising. The very welcome Dublin Contemporary event will begin on September 6. From what subheading will funding for this come? A figure of 150,000 visitors was mentioned, which would be most welcome.

In recent years, we have seen significant reductions in the level of heritage funding. Will the Minister confirm we will not see further significant reductions in heritage spending? The heritage budget has been reduced far more excessively than the general reduction in other Departments. It has borne the brunt of the economic downturn. Quite rightly, the Minister has highlighted how important heritage is to the economy and our culture. The previous Government reduced the heritage budget significantly in recent years and I hope the Minister will put a halt to this and state that will not happen this year.

I congratulate the Minister and the Minister of State on their appointments and I wish them well in their portfolios. Deputy Flanagan raised a number of concerns with regard to turf cutting. Most people in rural Ireland have concerns about this. Will the Government consider raising again this issue at European level in view of the changes in economic life in Ireland and the EU? It is in the national interest to protect our customs and heritage.

I must express concern at how people in rural Ireland, particularly small farmers, are being treated. Some years ago, we adopted a scheme of planting rural Ireland and now we are moving people off the bogs. I know there is a reason for this but it does not have to happen to the extent that it does. Many people consider the birds, bees and fauna are treated better than human beings and have better facilities available to them. Has the Minister raised this matter at European level? Will he continue to do so with a view to limiting the number of bogs and people affected?

Will the Minister discuss the matter of compensation? Many people from a rural background, particularly a farming background, believe compensation is fine the first year one receives it but in subsequent years they find it is withdrawn, reduced or not paid on time. People have commitments to meet. While the Department can shift its deadline, people with commitments to their families and to banks and financial institutions cannot do so.

With regard to turf cutting, the Minister mentioned SACs but did not mention national heritage areas, NHAs. Will he outline the position on these? For how long will people be able to continue cutting on them? I come from Tipperary where people are not allowed to cut. There is a bog on the outskirts of Roscrea which has the largest housing estate in Europe. Many of the people living in that housing estate look forward to cutting turf in the bog and reducing their expenses which will help them get out of the recession. I would also like the Minister to give us a brief on commercial cutters in these areas.

The Government introduced substantial incentives and initiatives to promote tourism in the country under the jobs initiative scheme. One of those was the reduction in VAT and service charges. Is the Minister of State satisfied those are being passed on, particularly in the tourism trade? Has the Department an update on restaurants and entertainment across the country? The Daily Mail, which claims to champion the working people of Ireland, continues to highlight discrepancies yet it has refused to pass on the 5% VAT reduction; the paper is the same price as it was prior to the reduction.

Chairman

The VAT issue falls under the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport Estimates, not the Estimates for the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.

It is on tourism, yes?

Chairman

No, it is under the Estimates for the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport.

I am only making the point that the Irish Independent saw fit to reduce its price by 5 cent. I am asking in that sense about the effect of the decrease in the VAT rate. Is the Minister satisfied it is being passed on across the country?

Gabhaim comhghairdeas leis an Aire Stáit faoin phost atá aige anois agus tá súil agam go n-éireoidh go maith leis. I find it easier to listen to Munster Irish than to the northern dialect so I will speak in English on Gaeltacht areas, the promotion of the Irish language in general and the policy on the language. It was mooted at one stage that Irish would no longer be compulsory after junior certificate. Is that still the position or will that policy be implemented?

In his address, the Minister of State spoke about traditional Gaeltacht areas but he did not mention outside areas or the role of the Gaelscoil. A Gaelscoil was set up in Ballaghmore. There was great promotion of the language through the Gaelscoileanna but now we find the teacher-pupil ratio has reached that of ordinary schools and many schools are losing their teachers. That is of huge concern to the families who have supported the Gaelscoileanna in the area. Has the Government any plans to extend Gaeltacht areas? Ballaghmore is a thriving area where many families have resorted to the role of speaking Irish fluently in that area but they do not get any incentives. Does the Government have any plans to include areas like that where Gaelscoileanna have been set up?

Many people look at Gaeltacht areas and say there is a great deal of investment put into them, with landing strips and ports built while we cannot get those in other areas. People might look on it as discrimination in the direction of funding to Gaeltacht areas as distinct from other rural areas. The effort should be made to promote Irish on a national and general basis more than on a regional basis. I would like the Minister for State to announce or briefly address the proposals he has for non-Gaeltacht areas.

Like previous Deputies, I congratulate both Ministers on their appointment and wish them well in their terms of office. They can be sure of my constructive engagement and assistance in the coming months and years.

Generally speaking, I welcome the contributions from both Ministers on the Estimates. I particularly welcome the acknowledgement and recognition of the economic potential of the arts and promotion of our culture. We can view this whole area through the economic prism and in these times of austerity that is important, particularly in terms of convincing the Minister for Finance and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform about the efficacy of continuing to invest in the arts. I have every confidence the Minister will fight his corner when it comes to ensuring sufficient resources are made available. That has been reflected in our discussions today.

Subhead B5 on cultural infrastructure shows there has been an unfortunate dip of around 40% in the allocation. Some positive work has been done on the access programme in recent years for a variety or arts centres and organisations. Quite a number of the arts centre developments took place 20 to 30 years ago and many are in need of refurbishment. I accept why cuts are proposed for the area but I hope in better times we will make more funding available on the capital side, although I recognise that substantial work has been done in recent year. Many organisations in which I have been involved have benefited from that support.

The Minister has made statements in the past about the potential use of the Bank of Ireland building on College Green as a national literary centre. That would be a positive option to explore. Could we get an update on the negotiations with the bank? Has this been included in the Estimates for next year?

Subhead B6 covers Culture Ireland and we all recognise the important contribution it makes in the promotion of the cultural agenda and some of the work it is doing around economic investment through the arts and culture, particularly in the United States. The Government has a strategy to attract and promote investment in the BRIC countries. Has Culture Ireland got a policy of focusing work in those countries and in other key areas across the world where we hope to do additional business in the coming years?

Under subhead B7 we are looking at a potential decrease in funding to the Arts Council. In the current situation that is understandable and it is clearly a matter for the Arts Council, as a statutory agency, to disperse funds as it sees fit and to use its resources in the best possible way. I am glad that we recognise the positive role of the Irish Film Board and that there will only be potentially a small reduction in its budget. There is a multiplier effect in investment in film; it has huge potential in marketing the country, even as a film location.

Subhead C2 refers to built heritage. Although this may not be in the Minister's remit, he mentioned the suspension of the conservation grant scheme by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government. Could the Minister raise this issue with his Cabinet colleague? There is some latitude to be explored in perhaps reviving that grant scheme. We are now in a position where there is a reduction in tender prices and construction inflation and I would not like to see local town or village built heritage sacrificed on the altar of austerity. Some value for money could be achieved by providing small additional resources to the scheme and considering improvements in the built heritage that is under the remit of the Minister's Department.

On Irish language policy, I welcome the comments on redefining the Gaeltacht and looking at the potential to develop Gaeltacht networks, perhaps in our urban areas. I know there is an appetite for such an approach in areas I represent, such as Drogheda and Dundalk, where there are vibrant gaelscoileanna and communities that would like to pursue the development of the Irish language on a better basis. Improved guidance and support from the Department, in conjunction with the Department of Education and Skills and local authorities, would be welcome in trying to achieve that objective. I look forward to seeing exactly what is in mind when that Gaeltacht Bill is produced in the autumn.

Ar an chéad dul síos, ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas a ghabháil leis an Aire agus an Aire Stáit, agus an Roinn le haghaidh an tacaíocht a thug siad do Taibhdhearc na Gaillimhe, the only Irish language theatre in the country. Funding of €300,000 was recently made available, and that theatre has been closed for the past three years despite promises by the Minister's predecessors. Those promises were reneged on and I very much welcome the support provided. Galway is a thriving centre of excellence for the arts, literature, music and language, and if we are to grow our tourism industry again, we must keep language as a vibrant part of the process. How was the funding sourced and how will it be advanced to Taibhdhearc na Gaillimhe? Will the funding be up-front or will the funds be advanced on a phased basis?

With regard to the islands policy, I visited Inishboffin in recent weeks. The great thing about tally men, the peann luaidhe and the piece of paper is that we can identify the support we get in certain areas. I hope to improve on the support I got from the island, which was modest, although it is part of my constituency. The previous Government invested in the region of €10 million on two airstrips on Inishboffin and Cleggan, not far from Clifden. Both of the strips have been completed to a very high standard, although they remain idle and unlicensed. I noticed that in recent weeks the Department lodged a planning application for some terminal buildings on those airstrips. Has the Department decided to provide funding for operational purposes for an air service to Inishboffin, which is one of the only islands not served by an air service?

How much has been budgeted this year for the compensation package for turf cutters? Does the Department expect many turf cutters to avail of the relocation option under the scheme?

I join previous speakers in congratulating the Minister and Minister of State in their new roles and I know both are committed to the brief. There is no doubt that they will fight their corner for funds for the Department.

I welcome the work ongoing in the cultural institutions, which are the first points of call for visitors to the country, and the staff in them do us proud. One would have to travel far and wide before finding such excellent buildings and staff. Culture night has expanded to the rest of the country, which is to be welcomed, and I would like to see every effort made to ensure all our cultural infrastructure around the country participates in it. It is very important and I welcome the initiative.

I am very interested in what will happen with Dublin Contemporary 2011, which has the potential to be very exciting and put Dublin on the map. I would like to see opportunities for regional involvement in future, although it might be a bit late this time. Coming from Laois-Offaly I see that the process can be a little Dublin-centred in the provision of culture for us and for visitors, so I would like to see events in the regions as well as the cities.

I note that the audio-visual sector and Culture Ireland are doing fantastic work in putting us on the map and providing work for people. I am glad to see that the funding, although it is dropping, will not decrease to any great extent. Nobody wants to see cuts but I welcome the continuation of funding. The work of the Irish Film Board and Filmbase - another organisation promoting the involvement of young people in film-making and providing courses and training to people emerging from college - gives practical and hands-on experience which has not been widely recognised. Those bodies deserve great credit.

I am disappointed to see that funding to the Arts Council is dropping, as is the funding for the cultural infrastructure across the country. we must focus on tourism and the benefits of having a quality tourism product but we must also consider the impact of cultural experiences on our people and the right of everybody - children, adults, the elderly or disabled - to quality cultural experiences. The Arts Council did well in providing funding for development of projects in communities around the country and I would like to see it continue at current funding levels rather than at a reduced rate. Ultimately, people who provide the quality experiences are employed to do so and the process can be seen from a jobs perspective in that regard. It saddens me that theatre companies which for years provided such good entertainment and jobs for people are not able to continue in their roles. I hope we can pick ourselves up and such bodies will be able to continue.

I have two questions on turf cutting. What is the take-up of relocation? I thought it was a good idea when I heard it initially. I hoped that would soften the blow for people who not only need to cut turf for economic benefit but who also enjoy the tradition and social side. I am keen to see as many people as possible take that up.

Chairman

I have been informed that another committee meeting will commence in this room at 12 p.m. so I ask Deputies to conclude so the Minister can contribute again.

I have another question. There is fantastic work ongoing in the Gaeltacht areas in the provision of Irish language experiences and the teaching of young people during the summer. Few may be able to afford that. Are there sufficient scholarship schemes to give youngsters with a grá for Irish the opportunity for such study if the financial circumstances of their families do not allow it? Is the experience of the Gaeltacht confined for young people who attend those colleges during the summer? In other words, are there Irish clubs for young people to build on what they learn during the three weeks at Irish college?

Chairman

I would have liked to put questions to the Minister, but I do not have the time to ask them. I request the Minister to be brief and succinct.

In response to Deputy Luke ‘Ming' Flanagan, the designation of SACs and the implementation of the EU directive is not easy for anybody. The measures should have been taken years ago, including the establishment of a Peatlands Council, in order to ensure there would be a smooth transition when the derogation ceased and the directive would be enforced. This did not happen. The compensation is €6 million, of which €1 million is for the present compensation for turf cutters; €1 million is for the purchase scheme, €4 million is available for other measures - that is compensation for commercial cutters as well. Deputy Flanagan referred to the Fine Gael Deputies who made commitments before the election. Fine Gael said it would set up a Peatlands Council, which it did; we gave a commitment that if we got into government we would look at management of bogs, which we are doing, and specifically at natural heritage areas, the NHAs to which Deputy Coonan referred, for which management plans would be set up. When we were giving those commitments before the election, nobody knew of the letter of formal notice that was issued in January from the European Commission. I am convinced-----

It sounds like our hospitals.

If Deputies were aware of that letter, it would certainly have changed the attitude they took. That letter of formal notice of the ending of the derogation was not made public by the then Government, so obviously we were not aware of that letter, which would have influenced the policy and direction we would have taken. In the meantime we have set up a compensation scheme, the Peatlands Council - Deputy Luke ‘Ming' Flanagan is part of it - and we are making every effort to resolve this issue.

The Peatlands Council is going well. I am aware that a problem arose yesterday, but I hope the council can meet as soon as possible and that any differences or misunderstandings can be resolved. The only way forward for this project is through the Peatlands Council and the compensation that has been made available to look after turf cutters. As a person from a country area, I understand the difficulty that will be created for people when they are asked to cease cutting turf and to relocate to another bog. That is not easy, but we are landed with this problem and must deal with it.

It is worth noting that we were issued with a reasoned opinion from the European Commission and we will be responding to it in the next two weeks. If we are not seen to be taking serious action, which we have not been doing-----

Chairman

I have been informed that we must vacate the room at noon. I ask the Minister to be succinct.

-----on turfcutting and compensation

May I register my protest at the way the meeting is proceeding? This is a farce.

I am trying to reply to the Deputy.

I know the Minister is doing his best, but time wise, this is a disaster. We had the same at the meeting of the environment committee the other day. I am also on the Belfast agreement committee and both meetings were held at the same time.

Chairman

The Deputy's point is noted. I find the system unsatisfactory, but it would have assisted the committee if members had kept their questions short and succinct rather than making Second Stage statements. The Minister would then have had more time to respond. I am not satisfied with the situation, so I agree with the Deputy.

The Dáil is sitting at the same time. If one organised a university like this-----

Chairman

If the Deputy wants to run the clock down, he can proceed like this. The fact is that Members are elected to the Dáil and the Dáil sometimes sits at the same time as committees.

Deputy Flanagan is wasting time.

Chairman

This interruption is actually wasting time.

We will hear a great deal more on this issue in the weeks and maybe years ahead. Deputy Troy asked which Department will lose out. None will lose out really because the Departments in their previous forms ceased, for example the Department of Arts, Culture and Sport and the Department of Gaeltacht, Community and Rural Affairs are no longer in existence. The additional funding for staffing in the new Department because of the new alignments would be approximately €300,000 more than the previous arrangement.

In response to Deputy Coonan, we have more control over natural heritage areas, NHAs which were designated by the Government than SACs, which were designated by Europe. The Fine Gael proposal to put management plans in place for NHAs can be done and I hope that will be acceptable to the Commission, whereas there is a.different approach to SACs.

On the question of passing on the VAT reductions, my Department no longer deals with tourism, which is now part of the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport. However, Deputy Varadkar has set up a group to review the policy to see how effective it will be at passing on the reduction to the consumer. I have been to a number of restaurants and asked about the reduction in VAT. They have changed their menus and are passing on the reduction to the consumer.

The Minister is living well.

Thank you Deputy, people must eat. I spend a lot of time on the road so I must go to restaurants unless I bring sandwiches.

Deputy Nash raised a number of issues. There has been a significant reduction in the money available for the built heritage. We are working off the Estimates of the previous Minister as they were based on the budget of last December. The heritage Estimate was really decimated and that is obvious from the figures in the Estimate. As regards the built heritage, there was a 76%-----.

Chairman

As the Minister of State, Deputy McGinley needs a few minutes, I propose that the Minister's officials write to the joint committee, addressing the outstanding points that were not addressed this morning.

I must mention the other two Deputy, Deputies Brian Walsh and Majella Corcoran Kennedy and thank them for their contributions. I will hand over to my colleague.

I have just a minute or two to acknowledge the contributions that have been made and the questions that have been asked.

Deputy Coonan has concerns about the pupil-teacher ratio in gaelscoileanna being the same as in the ordinary national school. That did happen, but nevertheless this is a significant demand for places in the gaelscoileanna. I come from a Gaeltacht and I believe these schools are doing excellent work in promoting the language and we will give them every support we can. The point was made that Gaeltacht areas should be expanded and we all are focused on the 20 year strategy for the Irish language. It is specifically mentioned in that strategy - and Deputy Nash made the same point - that in whatever areas Irish is spoken by a significant number of people, they will have an opportunity under the 20 year strategy of preparing a language development plan. It can be in Tipperary, Louth, Wexford or any part of the country. They will have two years to do that and it will be monitored for a number of years. It is referred to as Gaeltacht networks outside the Gaeltacht. In fact the Gaeltacht is based in geographic locations right along the western seaboard. Often having a Gaeltacht status is not the same as having a linguistic basis. In future the Gaeltacht will be based on the linguistic ability of the people and the prominence of Irish in the area. Of course all this information will be available to the public. We are preparing the heads of a Bill and we hope to have it before the end of the year; there will be plenty of time to discuss it and pursue the points Members have made.

Deputy Walsh mentioned the Taibhdhearc, a cultural icon since the 1920s which has given a platform to Irish actors all over the world, and to Irish writers as well.

It is regrettable that it has not been operational for a number of years owing to a fire. The Minister and I met the board separately and we were glad that we were able to come up with an allocation. It had been decided in 2010 that €300,000 would be provided from the Department's Estimate to help with the restoration of the Taibhdhearc and the money had to be spent before the end of that year. There were a number of difficulties, but they have been addressed. We will be able to provide the €300,000, as promised, in the next two years. Some €85,000 will be provided this year and the remaining €215,000 in the next year or two. The money is coming from subhead D2(2), Irish language support schemes.

The last point I would-----

Chairman

No, I have to stop the Minister of State there.

My final point will be brief. Deputy Corcoran Kennedy mentioned the Irish colleges. Approximately 24,000 people went to the coláistí Gaeilge last year. The number will be the same, or slightly smaller, this year. It is expensive in difficult economic times. Therefore, we would like more scholarships to be made available. In this regard, I commend the local authorities which provide scholarships. The last point-----

Chairman

No.

I will follow up on the matter.

Chairman

I do not want to rule the Minister of State out of order.

Gabh mo leithscéal. Go raibh maith agat.

The Chair is totally impartial.

Chairman

I thank the Minister, Deputy Jimmy Deenihan; the Minister of State, Deputy Dinny McGinley; and the officials from the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht for attending today's meeting of the select committee.

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