Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 January 2009
882 Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the progress made regarding the programme for Government proposal to change the law to enable Údarás na Gaeltachta to provide development services on a contract basis to non-Gaeltacht islands thus ensuring parity between all islands; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47863/08]
View answerMy Department's recent progress report in relation to the Programme for Government can be accessed on the Department of the Taoiseach's website at:
http://193.178.1.117/attachedfiles/Pdf%20files/CommunityEnglish.pdf
As set out in that report, the position is that legislative proposals in regard to the powers and functions of Údarás na Gaeltachta are being considered in the general context of the recommendations contained in the Report of the Linguistic Study of the Use of Irish in the Gaeltacht and the work of the Cabinet Committee on the Irish Language and the Gaeltacht.
884 Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the progress made regarding the programme for Government proposal to invest through the community employment scheme, the job initiative scheme, the rural social scheme and the community services programme in providing top class community services on islands; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47866/08]
View answerMy Department's recent progress report in relation to the Programme for Government can be accessed on the Department of the Taoiseach's website at http://193.178.1.117/attachedfiles/Pdf%20files/CommunityEnglish.pdf The position in relation to the specific commitments referred to by the Deputy is set out below. My Department has made considerable progress in relation to the development of community services on our islands through the Rural Social Scheme (RSS). The RSS programme on the islands, which is implemented by the new integrated local development company for the islands ‘Comhar na nOileán Teoranta’, has a quota of twenty participant places. Eleven projects were undertaken under the scheme in 2007. The number of projects undertaken in 2008 increased to 20. While the islands benefit from the skills and talents of local farmers and fisher persons, participants also have the opportunity to improve existing, or develop new skills and perform valuable work to the benefit of Island communities.
Under the Community Services Programme (CSP) support has been approved for eight community enterprises located on seven islands in counties Donegal, Galway, Kerry, Cork and Mayo; the islands are Arain Mhór, Inis Oirr, Inis Mór, Inishbofin, Valencia, Bere and Achill. The CSP support is in the form of a contribution to employment of a total of five managers and 28 full-time equivalent workers (some comprising part time workers) as well as an allocation for non-wage expenses. The services provided through the community enterprises include support for tourism initiatives, services in the form of transportation, recycling, literacy, translation, social care, services for older persons, youth support and maintenance of community halls and facilities.
The operation of the Community Employment and Job Initiative Schemes on islands is a matter for the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment.
885 Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the progress made on the programme for Government proposal to ensure that play facilities are provided on islands where necessary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47867/08]
View answerMy Department's recent progress report in relation to the Programme for Government can be accessed on the Department of the Taoiseach's website at:
http://193.178.1.117/attachedfiles/Pdf%20files/CommunityEnglish.pdf
While the matter of providing playground facilities is primarily for the relevant local authorities, significant funding has been allocated by my Department in recent years to provide play facilities and other social amenities on islands, and information regarding this assistance is provided in the following table:
|
Island |
Details |
Amount Approved |
|
€ |
||
|
Inis Oírr |
Playground development |
133,075 |
|
Toraigh |
Playground development |
35,000 |
|
Árainn Mhór |
Playground development |
35,000 |
|
Clare Island |
Football pitch |
106,658 |
|
Inisturk |
Football pitch |
195,446 |
|
Inishbofin |
Football pitch |
27,294 |
|
Bere Island |
Football pitch |
352,000 |
