Written Answers Nos. 47-62
47. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the steps her Department is taking to develop a strategy to identify the type of major sporting events Ireland can and should bid for. [6974/24]
View answerThe Government continues to support the hosting of major sports events in Ireland and to explore further hosting opportunities.
This is evidenced by the Government’s support for events such as the US College Football Classic every August from 2022 – 2026, the hosting of the UEFA Europa League Final in 2024, the Ryder Cup in 2027 in Limerick and the EURO 2028 football championships.
In line with the commitment in the Programme for Government, a Major International Sports Events Policy is currently being developed by my Department. The aim is to establish whether and how government should support major international sports events, the benefits it should seek to derive from them, the supports it could offer and the kind of events it should prioritise for support. This will provide the basis for the development of a strategy to support and attract major international sports events and for an assessment model based on the identified priorities.
As part of this policy development, focused consultations with key stakeholders have been held and a public consultation has been completed. My Department has also undertaken research, including consideration of the policies and strategies in place in other countries.
A draft high level policy paper has been the subject of consultation with other Government departments and it is intended to submit a refined policy to the Government in the coming weeks. The policy and subsequent strategy will inform the approach to bidding for major sports events in the future.
48. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the steps her Department is taking to ensure similar access to sporting facilities for men and women. [7031/24]
View answer51. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the position regarding the criteria promoting equality in project applications to the large scale sport infrastructure fund and in particular the requirement for all successful applicants to publish their similar access policies, in respect of men and women having access to the facilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6973/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 48 and 51 together.
Addressing female participation in sport and physical activity is an important element of the National Sports Policy 2018-2027. Since the introduction of the Women in Sport Programme in 2005, the participation gradient between females and males has reduced from 15.7% to 5% in 2022. Further narrowing and ultimate elimination of the gradient remains the policy objective.
The Sports Capital and Equipment Programme (SCEP) is the primary vehicle for Government support for the development of sports and recreation facilities and the purchase of non-personal sports equipment throughout the country. Over 13,000 projects have now benefited from sports capital funding since 1998 bringing the total allocations in that time to over €1.15 billion. The Programme for Government commits to continuing the SCEP and to prioritising equal access to sport for all.
The scoring and assessment system for the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme is designed to favour projects that promote female participation in sport. SCEP funding will not be allocated unless the applicant confirms that it is in compliance with the provisions of the Equal Status Acts. In relation to applications for local projects which accommodate both men and women, applicants that do not provide access to their facilities, on similar terms, to men and women will not be eligible for funding. Applications for local projects that do not benefit both men and women will not be eligible for funding unless there are alternative similar facilities available locally.
In relation to applications for SCEP national/regional projects, applicants will be required to set out their facility access policy providing for similar access for men and women. However, as one of the stated objectives of the SCEP is to increase female participation, all applications (i.e. local and regional) for funding of women-only facilities will be deemed valid for consideration.
Finally, Minister Martin and I also recently announced that a new round of the Large-Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF) will open for applications in 2024, with the dates, terms and conditions to be published on the Department’s website. For the first time, it will be a requirement for all successful applicants to publish their Similar Access Policy, in respect of men and women having access to the facilities on similar terms.
49. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her Department's plans to support businesses in the hospitality sector that are dependent on tourism; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6955/24]
View answerMy role and that of my Department in relation to tourism lies primarily in the area of national tourism policy development and in securing resources to assist the tourism agencies, Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland, in implementing that policy. In Budget 2024 I secured funding of €218 million to continue the support for tourism development at home and amongst overseas visitors; whilst supporting continued recovery in the sector.
While elements of the hospitality sector are important parts of the wider tourism ecosystem, as Minister for Tourism I do not have responsibility for the general hospitality sector which is ultimately an important segment of the wider enterprise economy.
However, the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment and I co-chair the Hospitality and Tourism Forum which brings together on a regular basis these two important and inter-related sectors. Key stakeholders from the tourism and hospitality sectors are represented in this Forum. The Forum provides a platform for structured engagement between the tourism and hospitality sectors and the relevant Government Departments where key matters can be discussed with a view to identifying practical solutions. Key stakeholders within tourism and hospitality sectors were present when this Forum recently met in person on 24 January 2024.
In this regard it is worth pointing to the Increased Costs of Business Scheme introduced by my colleague, the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment and the recent announcement by the Minister of Finance, Michael McGrath, of significant changes to the Tax Debt Warehousing scheme with a reduction in the interest rate applying to warehoused tax debt to 0%. Both these measures will be of direct benefit to a wide range of businesses within the tourism sector.
50. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her proposals to support the increase in hotel capacity in County Monaghan in order to attract tourists to the county. [6884/24]
View answerI am advised that Fáilte Ireland has completed a number of Accommodation Audits to establish a baseline on existing tourism accommodation capacity for local authorities in each destination and region. This includes a quality and gap analysis for additional accommodation development on a county-by-county basis along with the projected accommodation requirements. Additional capacity supply growth projections have been identified for all counties based on best estimates of demand recovery to 2030, the current gaps in the market by location and type, and changing consumer preferences for accommodation categories. These projections recommend a phased pipeline of new supply in line with location specific demand drivers based on identified gaps in the market.
Full audits have been completed for 18 counties to date and these audits have been issued to the respective local authorities which will draw on them as they shape their own tourism accommodation strategies. In regard to County Monaghan, I am advised that Fáilte Ireland has engaged with the local authority to explore the potential for tourist accommodation in Monaghan and has finalised projections for supply growth in the county. This data provides sufficient information to support the development and delivery of additional accommodation capacity and Fáilte Ireland will continue to work with the local authority to support this.
This year, Fáilte Ireland intends to secure services for the development of a monitoring system to track the pipeline of tourist accommodation in Ireland focusing on planning, construction commencement and opening phases of development. This will allow Fáilte Ireland to pinpoint challenges that exist in terms of the development of tourism accommodation and to measure the impact arising.
County Monaghan is included in Fáilte Ireland’s new Ireland’s Ancient East Regional Tourism Development Strategy 2023 – 2027. This roadmap for the tourism industry and all stakeholders involved in tourism in the region will help navigate the current challenges and steer a course towards a sustainable recovery and continued success. The plan sets out a strategic approach to unlocking the commercial potential of Ireland’s Ancient East. It will ensure focus on tourism development is sustainable and regenerative and that the benefits accrue to local communities and to nature.
Furthermore, my Department is progressing the development of a new national tourism policy framework that will seek to mainstream sustainability – environmental, economic and societal – across the entire tourism sector. The new framework will shape how our tourism industry develops in the period to 2030. While I want to see the tourism sector grow, I want it to do so in a manner that is consistent with our broader sustainability targets and ultimately ensures that Ireland will be a brand leader in sustainable tourism practices. While initial consultations with key stakeholders were completed last year, I have established a focus group to look at sustainable targets which should meet in the next few weeks. Once the group meets, I will also launch a public consultation and hope to have the new policy framework finalised and published in the coming months. Issues around accommodation stock will be considered as part of the new Policy Framework and subsequent Action Plan.
52. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she has considered the potential inclusion of a standalone indicator on language and culture in our Well-being Framework, using either the Welsh or the New Zealand model as an exemplar; if she has discussed same with the Department of the Taoiseach; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6747/24]
View answerThe National Well-being Framework is an important tool for improving our understanding of how people’s quality of life is changing across a number of varied dimensions. The Department of the Taoiseach, which has responsibility for the National Framework in conjunction with the Central Statistics Office, has chosen a rich set of indicators for the national well-being dashboard, that conveys a concise, yet much more rounded picture, of how people’s lives are changing than would be given by purely income-based measures.
A formal review of the Framework has been committed to in approximately three years. While Government continues to assess the best indicator sets for inclusion in the Well-being Dashboard, the CSO (which hosts the well-being indicators) remains of the view that changing the indicators at any earlier point would undermine the credibility of the dashboard and the trends being measured. Maintaining the number of indicators at a reasonably small number to ensure accessibility is also considered important.
My Department is in the process of developing a separate Well-being Framework that will evaluate the sectors under its remit, which play such an important role in enriching people’s lives and have a significant impact on their well-being. The development of the Departmental Framework has been informed by a wide range of evidence and existing practice, including both our own National Framework and those that have been implemented in other jurisdictions such as Wales and New Zealand. Indicators for language and culture are likely to be key components of our Well-being Dashboard, which is building on the work already done by my officials in identifying appropriate data sources that can provide indicators across each sector.
As part of our interaction across Government on the Well-being Framework and related matters, my officials have had discussions with their colleagues in the Department of the Taoiseach to ensure that our framework aligns with and supports the National Framework. The work we are doing on how language-related and cultural activities interact with people’s well-being will feed into the future development of the National Framework and the inclusion of indicators on language and culture will be considered in this context.
53. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media for an update on the reform of the TV licence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6870/24]
View answerPublic service media is critical to a well-functioning democracy, as well as for our cultural development, social cohesion and wellbeing. As such it requires a funding model that provides certainty, is sustainable and importantly protects the independence of media providers.
Successive Governments have failed to address this issue, however, this Government is committed to bringing forward a new funding model no later than the Summer. It would not be appropriate for me to disclose the options being considered or the detail of the discussions that are continuing with relevant Cabinet colleagues in advance of Government making its final decision.
The funding model which we decide upon is not only vital for our public service broadcasters, but also for the independent producers and the wider national, local and community broadcasters who are supported through the Sound and Vision Scheme. Any new funding model must also support print and online media outlets delivering public service content. This will be delivered through the new Media Fund, and Coimisiún na Meán is currently developing the first schemes in that regard in respect of local democracy and Courts reporting.
There are a range of options through which this funding can be delivered, and as I have stated previously, and again in response to Parliamentary Questions today, direct Exchequer funding is one option that needs to be considered.
High-level discussions on the options open to Government, including those contained in the report produced by the Technical Working Group on TV licence reform which was established by Government following its consideration of the Future of Media Commission report, are taking place. A final decision will be made after the reports of the two independent expert advisory committees have been received.
54. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media what measures are being taken to progress and develop a local amenity (details supplied) in a standalone tourism plan for the Lee Valley area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6944/24]
View answerMy role and that of my Department in relation to tourism lies primarily in the area of national tourism policy development and in securing resources to assist the tourism agencies, Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland, in implementing that policy.
In this regard, Fáilte Ireland is working with Cork County Council, the Office of Public Works, Údarás na Gaeltachta, Local Development Companies, industry and community representatives and others across the area to ensure that the tourism development actions and experiences are supported through the work of a representative Destination and Experience Development Plan (DEDP) Implementation Group.
The West Cork & Kenmare Destination and Experience Development Plan (DEDP), launched in October 2023, combines the Three Peninsulas DEDP, the draft West Cork Coast DEDP and also includes the actions of the Muscraí Gaeltacht Tourism Development plan, bringing all of West Cork including the Lee Valley together in terms of tourism development for the destination.
Recognising the positive impact on the wider Lee Valley, Fáilte Ireland has included representation from the area on the implementation group. This is to ensure that the Peninsulas area is not developed in isolation of the wider area and that lessons learned can be utilised where appropriate in the Lee Valley area in a supported way.
The DEDP implementation group works with West Cork and Kenmare as one destination promoting it as a destination with authentic language and cultural experiences that are grounded in the local area. It is through this approach, with all areas in the destination working together, supporting and learning from each other, that West Cork will achieve its tourism development objectives and therefore realise its full potential as a compelling and authentic sustainable destination.
Fáilte Ireland has a number of sub-groups under the West Cork and Kenmare Implementation Group including:
• West Cork & Kenmare Food and Drink: an action plan is to be finalised in March 2024
• West Cork & Kenmare Outdoor Activities: workshops held in December and January and businesses from Lee Valley were invited to engage as was the case with the first sub-group.
55. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if any study has been undertaken on the impact of pay-per-view on sport considering the current situation with an organisation (details supplied) and the potential impact on hurling. [6901/24]
View answerA challenge for sports bodies is striking a balance between generating revenue and ensuring as wide an audience as possible for games. Obviously all sports fans would like to see more games free to air, and especially those involving their own counties. However, it would not be practical to broadcast all matches. The championship structure and the length of the season means there is bound to be fixture congestion.
Ultimately, other than those events designated under legislation for broadcast as free to air, the question of which sporting events are broadcast, and how they are broadcast, is primarily a matter for the sports body concerned and their broadcast partner.
With regard to the potential impact of pay-per-view broadcasting on sports, the management of broadcasting and commercial rights and the decision as to whether to enter commercial arrangements, including in respect of pay-per-view, are a matter for each sports body. As such the GAA is free to enter commercial agreements to generate revenue to support the continued development of Gaelic Games from grassroots to elite levels.
It is also important to remember that our public service broadcasters have an obligation to provide a broad range of programmes for the benefit and enjoyment of the entire community, not just sports fans. As such, designating all hurling matches is not feasible.
With regard to protecting free to air broadcasting, the designation of major events is provided for in the Broadcasting Act 2009. A review is currently underway in to the potential designation of additional events, with a public consultation open until 20th February.
Additional events for consideration include the quarter and semi-finals of the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship as well as the final of the Senior Hurling Provincial Championship. The final of All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship has already received a designated status.
As part of the process to determine the final list of events for designation, each of the relevant sports bodies have been given the opportunity to make a submission on the proposed list of events. An independent external consultant will assess the responses to the consultation. This will include assessing the potential impact of designation on sports bodies, and will form a part of the consideration as to whether events will be designated. Upon consideration of this independent report, the view of all parties consulted, including any submissions made by the sports bodies concerned, there will be engagement with the European Commission prior to laying a draft order of the final list before the Oireachtas.
The purpose of this process is not to designate all games in a competition as free to air but, rather, events of major importance to the country as a whole.
56. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media for an update on the latest round of the sports capital and equipment programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6735/24]
View answerThe Sports Capital and Equipment Programme (SCEP) is the primary vehicle for Government support for the development of sports and recreation facilities and the purchase of non-personal sports equipment throughout the country. Over 13,000 projects have now benefited from sports capital funding since 1998 bringing the total allocations in that time to over €1.15 billion. The Programme for Government commits to continuing the SCEP and to prioritising investment in disadvantaged areas.
The latest round of the SCEP (2023) closed for applications on Friday 8 September, 2023. A preliminary examination of the submitted applications demonstrates that the Programme has again generated a very large number of applications. The total number of 3,210 applications, exceeds the record number submitted under the previous (2020) round.
The "Scoring Assessment and Assessment Manual" for the 2023 round has been finalised and published along with the full list of all applications received by county and the relevant sport type for each application received.
The detailed assessment work has commenced and it is planned to assess the "equipment-only" applications first and announce these grants in the coming months. Work will then commence on assessing the capital applications with the allocations to be announced later.
57. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to give an update on the Government’s latest thinking on the central funding of RTÉ and public service broadcasting; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7004/24]
View answerPublic service media is critical to a well-functioning democracy, as well as for our cultural development, social cohesion and wellbeing. As such it requires a funding model that provides certainty, is sustainable and importantly protects the independence of media providers.
Successive Governments have failed to address this issue, however, this Government is committed to bringing forward a new funding model no later than the summer. It would not be appropriate for me to disclose the options being considered or the detail of the discussions that are continuing with relevant Cabinet colleagues in advance of Government making its final decision.
The funding model which we decide upon is not only vital for our public service broadcasters, but also for the independent producers and the wider national, local and community broadcasters who are supported through the Sound and Vision Scheme. Any new funding model must also support print and online media outlets delivering public service content. This will be delivered through the new Media Fund, and Coimisiún na Meán is currently developing the first schemes in that regard in respect of local democracy and Courts reporting.
There are a range of options through which this funding can be delivered, and as I have stated previously, and again in response to Parliamentary Questions today, direct Exchequer funding is one option that needs to be considered.
High-level discussions on the options open to Government, including those contained in the report produced by the Technical Working Group on TV licence reform which was established by Government following its consideration of the Future of Media Commission report, are taking place. A final decision will be made after we receive the reports of the two independent expert advisory committees.
58. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the steps that Monaghan County Council should now take in order to secure funding to deliver a public swimming pool and ancillary facilities in Carrickmacross. [6883/24]
View answerThe National Sports Policy, which was published in 2018, provided for the establishment of a Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF). The aim of the LSSIF is to provide Exchequer support for larger sports facility projects where the Exchequer investment would be greater than the maximum amount available under the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme (SCEP).
The first call for proposals under the LSSIF closed in 2019 with new swimming pool projects and the refurbishment of existing swimming pools eligible to apply for LSSIF grant funding subject to published guidelines and regulations. The first LSSIF allocations were announced in January 2020 and thus far €124 million has been awarded to 33 different proposals including 8 swimming pool projects.
Minister Martin and I recently confirmed that a new round of the LSSIF will open for applications in 2024, with the dates, terms and conditions to be published on the Department’s website in due course. While the 2019 LSSIF programme was aimed primarily at National Governing Bodies of Sport (NGBs) and local authorities it was also open to other bodies, philanthropic funders, clubs and voluntary organisations to apply but such applications would necessarily have to be made and prioritised by a local authority and/or an NGB.
I would encourage all eligible projects to consider applying for this competitive application process when it opens later this year.
59. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will consider resurrecting plans for Ireland to host future stages of the Tour de France; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6693/24]
View answerA joint North-South letter of interest was submitted on 19 October 2022 by Minister Martin and her counterpart in Northern Ireland, the then-Minister for the Economy, to the organisers of the Tour de France to indicate a shared interest in potentially hosting a future iteration of the Grand Départ of the Tour de France.
Officials from my Department, together with representatives of Tourism Ireland, Fáilte Ireland and Sport Ireland, met with counterparts from Northern Ireland on a number of occasions to examine the proposal. Engagement also took place with the Tour de France organisers.
However, in July 2023, notification was received from the Department for the Economy in Northern Ireland that, due to funding pressures, it had decided to cease its work on the proposed joint bid. Accordingly, given that the project was envisaged as a north-south all-island initiative, the Department did not proceed further with the proposal and this was communicated to the event organisers.
Should the opportunity arise again to consider a bid to host the Grand Départ, the experience gained in the process outlined above will be of use to any such future consideration. The recent restoration of the Northern Ireland Executive opens up the possibility of considering a joint-hosting proposal at a point in the future.
In the wider context of support for cycling increased funding of €120,000 has been provided for his year’s Rás Tailteann and Rás na mBan. This increased level of funding was provided on an equal basis of €60,000 to both the men’s and women’s races for the first time, will help ensure that Ireland’s premier stage races for both men and women are delivered to the highest standard.
60. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will provide details of the local community radio stations being supported by her Department; her views on the further expansion of the community radio station network in the State; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6714/24]
View answerFirstly, I wish to acknowledge the important role that the community radio sector plays within the overall media landscape, and I commend these stations as they fulfil a vital role in community engagement, cohesion, and in the promotion of social inclusion in our communities large and small.
Funding for the sector is not administered by my Department but rather by Coimisiún na Meán, through the Sound and Vision Scheme, which provides dedicated funding rounds for the sector. A major innovation in the current scheme has been the establishment of Social Benefit rounds for community broadcasters.
In 2020, a total of €670,000 was awarded to 22 community radio projects focused on social benefit, through a round exclusively dedicated to Community Radio projects. The following year, in 2021, a total of €516,300 was awarded to 19 community radio station projects, and last year funding of €710,000 was provided to 20 community radio projects. The most recent round of community radio funding recently closed for applications and up to €750,000 will be made available.
In addition to these dedicated funding rounds, community radio stations may also apply for open rounds of Sound and Vision, from which community radio has benefits from funding amounting to €1.14m in the period from 2020 to 2022.
I wish to assure the Deputy that I, as Minister, and our media regulator Coimisiún na Meán, are both fully committed to the continuing development and support of the wider media sector, and in particular regional, local and community media outlets, which fulfil a unique role in our media environment. However, it has to be noted that as the independent statutory regulator with responsibility for media development, the question of awarded contracts and licences for commercial, community and local radio stations rests with Coimisiún na Meán.
61. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will provide an update on the legislative programme. [3502/24]
View answerIn respect of the current legislative programme, my Department is currently progressing the Registration of Short- Term Tourist Letting Bill and the Údarás na Gaeltachta (Amendment) Bill.
Registration of Short- Term Tourist Letting Bill
The Registration of Short Term Tourist Letting Bill 2024 provides for new regulatory controls requiring short-term and holiday lets to register with Fáilte Ireland with a view to ensuring that housing is used to the best effect in areas of greatest housing need.
On 7 December 2022 the Government approved
(i) the drafting of the Registration of Short-Term Tourism Letting Bill on a priority basis, and
(ii) publication of the General Scheme, and authorised the referral of the General Scheme to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport and Media for pre-legislative scrutiny.
On 21 December 2022, the proposed Short Term Tourism Letting (STTL) Bill was submitted to the EU Commission pursuant to the Technical Regulations Information System (TRIS) EU Directive 2015/1535 that requires EU Member States to notify the Commission of any draft technical regulations concerning products and information society services before they are adopted in national law.
Such a notification triggers a standstill period of 3 months during which the proposed Bill cannot be enacted. On 22 March 2023, the EU Commission extended the standstill period until 22 December 2023. The Commission extended the standstill period as it considered that the STTL Bill concerns a matter covered in part by the proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on data collection and sharing relating to short-term accommodation rental services and amending Regulation (EU) 2018/1724 of 7 November 2022 (EU STR).
As part of the ongoing engagement with the Commission, officials from my Department, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and from Fáilte Ireland held a meeting with Commission representatives in Brussels in June 2023. This meeting facilitated greater clarification as to the provisions proposed by both the STTL Bill and the EU STR proposal.
On 15 November 2023, the European Parliament and Council reached a provisional political agreement on the EU STR proposal. It is understood that the proposal could be endorsed and formally adopted by both institutions by end-March 2024. This political agreement provides clarity as to the provisions within this new EU STR regulation.
My Department has engaged extensively with the Commission in relation to the alignment of Ireland’s proposed STTL Bill and the EU STR once adopted. Officials from my Department and from Fáilte Ireland met with Commission representatives in Brussels in December 2023, providing a formal response to the Commission’s communication of 22 March 2023.
On 9 February 2024, the Commission responded to note that the principles outlined in Ireland’s formal response appear to go in the right direction to ensure consistency with the principles of the STR Regulation but that some further consideration may be required to ensure complete alignment. My officials are due to meet with the Commission again during the week commencing 19th February to discuss its response and observations and to provide further clarifications on the proposed approach.
Údarás na Gaeltachta (Amendment) Bill
My Department is engaged in discussions with the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel to the Government (OPC) regarding the drafting of the Údarás na Gaeltachta (Amendment) Bill on an ongoing basis. A lot of work has been undertaken on the General Scheme since it was first published in December 2022.
The goal of the Office Parliamentary Counsel to the Government (OPC) is to draft Bills and statutory instruments of a consistent high quality on behalf of the Government and Government Ministers. Work and engagement on this bill is ongoing and it is hoped that elections will be held later this year.
Approval to prepare legislation to give effect to a new approach in relation to how the board of Údarás na Gaeltachta is appointed was granted in December 2022. As a result, an election/selection process will replace the current nomination/selection process that has been in place for the last ten years under Acht na Gaeltachta 2012.
On foot of these changes, the board will consist of 16 members instead of the current 12 members when the two-year life-cycle of the current board ends in 2024. In place of 7 members being nominated to the board by local authorities that have a Gaeltacht region within their area of jurisdiction, 10 of the members will be elected on behalf of Gaeltacht areas and a further six members will be appointed on foot of a public competition.
A further change will see the three smallest Gaeltacht areas; Gaeltacht Mhúscraí, Gaeltacht na Mí and Gaeltacht na nDéise respectively, have permanent representation on the board under the new arrangement, similar to the other Gaeltacht areas.
The Joint Oireachtas Committee for the Irish Language, the Gaeltacht and the Irish-Speaking Community was requested to undertake pre-legislative scrutiny of the General Scheme and published its report in July 2023. There were over twenty recommendations in the report and these recommendations had to be considered by my Department’s officials prior to undertaking further work in terms of legislative drafting.
My Department will be reverting to Government shortly to obtain a new Government decision for a revised General Scheme with a view to drafting the Bill this term.
62. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Catherine Connolly den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán maidir le Ceist Pharlaiminte Uimh. 68 den 5 Nollaig 2023, cén dul chun cinn atá déanta ar an obair athbhreithniúcháin a rinne Údarás na Gaeltachta i ndáil leis na córais agus leis an gcur chuige atá i ngníomh ag an Údarás chun tacú le cur chun cinn na Gaeilge sna cliant-chuideachtaí agus i ndáil leis na bealaí ina ndéantar an t-ábhar a bhaineann leo a riaradh; cén dul chun cinn atá déanta ar an scéim nua tacaíochta dá chliaint le tacú leo an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn sa ghnó; an dtabharfaidh sí soiléiriú ar an scéim nua; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [6816/24]
View answerI 2023, thionscnaigh Údarás na Gaeltachta athbhreithniú ar chur chuige agus córais na heagraíochta i dtaobh chur chun cinn na Gaeilge ina chuid cliantchomhlachtaí de. Mar chuid den athbhreithniú sin, tugadh aird ar chur chuige reatha na heagraíochta, ar chórais riaracháin, ar an tseirbhís tacaíochta don chliant agus nithe eile. Rinneadh taighde freisin ar riachtanais na gcliant de réir mar a bhain sé le tacaíochtaí teanga, úsáid na Gaeilge sa ghnó agus i measc na bhfostaithe agus gnéithe eile nach iad.
Léirigh an taighde seo go raibh 58% d’fhostaithe na gcliantchomhlachtaí líofa sa Ghaeilge. Mar chuid den taighde, chuir cliantchomhlachtaí an Údaráis moltaí chun cinn maidir le brandáil, cumarsáid, margaíocht, freagracht shóisialta chorparáideach, cumasú agus cothú caidrimh, agus seirbhísí agus gníomhaíochtaí sa phobal.
Ag eascairt ón taighde seo, tá forbairt déanta ag Údarás na Gaeltachta ar scéim nua tacaíochta dá chliaint d'fhonn tacú leo an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn sa ghnó. Díríonn an scéim nua ar struchtúir agus gníomhaíochtaí tacaíochta leanúnacha a thairiscint dá chliaint. De réir thaighde an Údaráis, is iad na mórchomhlachtaí is deacra dul i bhfeidhm orthu ó thaobh nósmhaireacht teanga de agus, dá bharr sin, tá gá ar leith bainteach le tacaíochtaí teanga a chur ar fáil do na gnólachtaí sin. Táthar ag súil go rachaidh an scéim nua tacaíochta i bhfeidhm ar líon níos mó daoine ar shlí éifeachtach.
Tá an scéim tacaíochta seo dírithe ar chomhoibriú le cliant-chomhlachtaí Údarás na Gaeltachta a bhfuil 30 nó níos mó fostaí ag obair iontu. Déanfar cliaint a spreagadh le tabhairt faoi Phleananna Forbartha Gaeilge a fhorbairt agus a fheidhmiú sa ghnó thar tréimhse trí bliana le tacaíocht maoinithe ón Údarás. Is gníomhaíochtaí tacaíochta teanga iad seo a bheadh treoraithe ag torthaí an taighde agus ag an bpróiseas comhairliúcháin.
Mar chuid den phlean seo, cheapfaí baill foirne mar Áisitheoirí Teanga ag oibriú i gcomhar leis an Údarás le Plean Forbartha Gaeilge a fheidhmiú sa ghnó thar tréimhse trí bliana. Déanfaidh an tÚdarás na hAisitheoirí Teanga a chumasú sa réimse seo trí chlár oiliúna a sheachadadh dírithe ar spriocanna an Phlean Forbartha Gaeilge bhaint amach. Díríonn an Plean Forbartha Gaeilge ar réimse leathan gníomhaíochtaí a chur i bhfeidhm bunaithe ar riachtanais an ghnó féin, riachtanais na bhfostaithe ar an láthair oibre chomh maith lena riachtanais teanga ag sa mbaile nó sa phobal, agus cultúr inmheánach an ghnólachta. Is múnla é seo a bhfuil sé mar aidhm aige úinéireacht, comhoibriú, tuairisciú agus leanúnachas a spreagadh sna comhlachtaí.
Beidh tacaíocht maoinithe bhliantúil idir €5,000 agus €10,000 á chur ar fáil do na cliaint chun gníomhaíochtaí teanga-dhírithe a eagrú, a chomhordú agus a chur chun cinn sa ghnó. Tá múnla, maoiniú, agus cruth na scéime seo pléite le Bord an Údaráis.
Tá roinnt maoinithe ar fáil do 2024 sa chaoi is gur féidir le hÚdarás na Gaeltachta na chéad chéimeanna a thógáil agus an scéim seo a thairiscint ar bhonn phíolótach do roinnt cliaint. Measann Údarás na Gaeltachta go bhfuil i ndóthain maoinithe ar fáil le tabhairt faoin scéim in idir 8 agus 10 gcliantchomhlacht ag brath ar an líon fostaíochta sna cliaint seo. Beidh na céimeanna cuí á dtógáil ag an Údarás sna míonna amach romhainn chun an scéim seo a thairiscint do líon aontaithe cliaint.
