Comhchoiste na Gaeilge, na Gaeltachta agus Phobal Labhartha na Gaeilge díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 24 Nov 2021

Tithíocht agus Cúrsaí Pleanála Fisiciúla sa Ghaeltacht: Plé

Chairman

Tá leithscéal faighte againn ón Teachta Daly agus beidh moill ar an Teachta Connolly toisc go bhfuil sí gafa sa Dáil faoi láthair. Cuirim fáilte roimh na baill ar fad agus roimh na finnéithe atá ag teacht isteach. Feicim roinnt acu ar an scáileán faoi láthair. Tá gach duine ag freastal ar an gcruinniú go fíorúil. Is iad na daoine atá le bheith anseo ná ó Chomhairle Contae Dhún na nGall, John McLaughlin, príomhfheidhmeannach; Liam Mac an Bhaird, stiúrthóir forbartha pobail agus seirbhísí pleanála; agus Eunan Quinn, pleanálaí sinsearach; ó Chomhairle Contae na Gaillimhe, Valerie Loughnane, pleanálaí sinsearach; Brendan Dunne, pleanálaí feidhmiúcháin; agus Úna Ní hEidhin, oifigeach forbartha na Gaeilge; agus ó Chomhairle Contae Mhaigh Eo, Kevin Kelly, príomhfheidhmeannach; Catherine McConnell, stiúrthóir pleanála; agus Tomás Ó Giollagáin, stiúrthóir tithíochta. Tá a fhios agam go raibh fadhbanna ag roinnt daoine teacht isteach. Nuair a ghlaoim ar na finnéithe chun labhairt, tabharfaidh mé deis do pé duine atá ar fáil. Cuirim fáilte chuig an gcruinniú roimh na finnéithe go léir.

Sula leanfaimid ar aghaidh, tá dualgas orm na rialacha agus na treoracha seo a leanas a leagan faoi bhráid na ndaoine atá ag freastal ar an gcruinniú seo. Is mian liom a mheabhrú do chomhaltaí, d’fhinnéithe agus do bhaill fhoirne a chinntiú go bhfuil a ngutháin soghluaiste múchta le linn an chruinnithe toisc go gcuireann siad isteach ar an gcóras fuaime agus ar an gcóras taifeadta má tá siad ar siúl. Faoi láthair, tá rogha ag comhaltaí freisin freastal ar an gcruinniú go fisiciúil sa seomra coiste nó freastal go fíorúil ar Microsoft Teams. I gcás cruinnithe phoiblí, caithfidh siad é sin a dhéanamh óna n-oifigí i dTithe an Oireachtais. Is é sin atá á dhéanamh ag na comhaltaí atá ann go dtí seo. Meabhraím do chomhaltaí go gcaithfidh siad achar fisiciúil a choimeád chun iad féin agus an fhoireann a chosaint má thagann siad isteach sa seomra. Má ghlaoitear vóta, leanfar leis de réir mar is gnáth trí vótáil rolla na gcomhaltaí i seomra an choiste. Níl mé ag súil le haon vóta inniu. Iarraim ar chomhaltaí agus finnéithe gan suí ar shuíocháin ach amháin na suíocháin atá leagtha amach dóibh. Chun críocha Thuarascáil Oifigiúil Thithe an Oireachtais, tá sé iarrtha orm comhaltaí agus finnéithe a ainmniú sula labhróidh siad. Déanfaidh mé é sin. Glaofaidh mé ainm daoine má táim ag iarraidh orthu freagra a thabhairt. Iarraim ar chomhaltaí agus ar fhinnéithe a gclúdaigh aghaidhe a bhaint dóibh sula labhraíonn siad chun cuidiú linn ó thaobh an chóras taifeadta.

Cé go bhfuil na finnéithe ar fad linn go fíorúil, cuirim ar a n-aird go bhfuil finnéithe, de bhua Bhunreacht na hÉireann agus reachtaíochta araon, faoi chosaint ag lán-phribhléid maidir leis an bhfianaise a thugann siad don chomhchoiste, chomh fada agus atá siad lonnaithe laistigh de phurláin na Dála ag an am a thugann siad an fhianaise sin. Ní féidir leis na finnéithe atá os ár gcomhair inniu brath ar an gcosaint sin toisc go bhfuil siad lasmuigh de phurláin Thithe an Oireachtais. Mar sin, molaim dóibh a bheith cúramach. Má ordaíonn an comhchoiste dóibh éirí as fianaise a thabhairt i leith ní áirithe, ba chóir go ndéanfaidh siad amhlaidh láithreach. Ordaítear dóibh gan fianaise a thabhairt nach fianaise í a bhaineann le hábhar na n-imeachtaí atá á bplé ag an gcomhchoiste. Ba chóir dóibh a bheith ar an eolas go ndéanfar na ráitis tosaigh a chuirfear faoi bhráid an chomhchoiste a fhoilsiú ar shuíomh gréasáin an chomhchoiste tar éis an chruinnithe seo.

Fiafraítear d’fhinnéithe agus do chomhaltaí araon cleachtadh parlaiminte a urramú nár chóir, más féidir, daoine nó eintiteas a cháineadh ná líomhaintí a dhéanamh ina n-aghaidh ná tuairimí a thabhairt maidir leo ina ainm, ina hainm nó ina n-ainmneacha nó ar shlí a bhféadfaí iad a aithint. Fiafraítear dóibh gan aon rud a rá a d’fhéadfaí breathnú air mar ábhar díobhálach do dhea-chlú aon duine nó eintiteas. Mar sin, dá bhféadfadh a ráitis a bheith clúmhillteach, ordófar do na finnéithe éirí as na ráitis sin láithreach. Tá sé ríthábhachtach go ngéillfeadh siad leis an ordú sin láithreach.

Cuirfimid tús anois lenár mbreithniú ar ábhar an chruinnithe seo. Is cruinniú de shraith a bheidh againn chun tithíocht agus cúrsaí pleanála fisiciúla sa Ghaeltacht a phlé. Ar dtús báire, glaofaidh mé ar phríomhfhinné Chomhairle Contae Dhún na nGall. Níl a fhios agam an bhfuil John McLaughlin nó duine eile den fhoireann chun an ráiteas tosaigh a thabhairt.

Mr. John McLaughlin

I thank the committee for the invitation. As the Cathaoirleach indicated, I am joined by Liam Mac an Bhaird and Eunan Quinn. Mr. Mac an Bhaird has better Irish than me and, if the committee is content to allow it, he will read our summary statement into the record. We also have a translator, Seán Ó Daimhín, in the room to assist us if needed.

Mr. Liam Mac an Bhaird

Is é seo ár ráiteas achoimrithe don choiste. Labhróidh mé ar an gcomhthéacs ar dtús. Is príomhchuid de chuspóir na comhairle daonra Dhún na nGall a mhéadú go dtí 200,000 í Gaeltacht Dhún na nGall. Clúdaíonn sí an tríú cuid den chontae agus cuimsíonn sí limistéar de 1,502 km cearnach. Is í an dara Gaeltacht is mó in Éirinn agus tá daonra de 25,000 inti. Is iad na tréithe atá aici ná pobal beoga, oidhreacht shaibhir, tírdhreach ar leith agus tionchair mhuirí, cé go bhfuil dúshláin shuntasacha bhonneagair agus eacnamaíochta os a comhair fosta.

Leagann an ráiteas seo amach straitéis na comhairle maidir le tithíocht agus pleanáil fhisiciúil sa Ghaeltacht. Soláthraíonn sé comhthéacs le haghaidh patrún forbraíochta i gceantair uirbeacha agus tuaithe na Gaeltachta, léiríonn sé na treochtaí forbartha le béim ar leith ar chúrsaí tithíochta, agus leagann sé amach cuid de na srianta a théann i bhfeidhm ar dheiseanna le haghaidh forbairt inbhuanaithe laistigh den Ghaeltacht. Cuirfidh an ráiteas síos fosta ar an chomhoibriú agus an rannpháirteachas atá ar siúl ar bhonn leanúnach maidir le cúrsaí forbartha sa Ghaeltacht. Ar an dara leathanach dár ráiteas scríofa, tá léarscáil den Ghaeltacht i gContae Dhún na nGall.

Maidir le straitéis an chontae, tá treochtaí i dtreo meatha aitheanta i roinnt staidéar tábhachtacha. Is treochtaí iad atá á dtiomáint ag dinimicí sóisialta, mar shampla, pobail Ghaeltachta á nascadh le gréasáin níos leithne an Bhéarla, ag gluaiseachtaí déimeagrafacha agus ag sóisialú daoine óga trí Bhéarla. D’aithin cuid de na conclúidí go raibh gá le hidirghabháil a dhéanamh ar fud na gceantar Gaeltachta leis an Ghaeilge a chothabháil mar phríomhtheanga an phobail agus an teaghlaigh, chomh maith le chomh tábhachtach agus atá sé an céatadán cainteoirí gníomhacha Gaeilge a choinneáil os cionn 67%.

Faoi Acht na Gaeltachta, 2012, aithníodh ocht gcinn de limistéir phleanála teanga i nDún na nGall mar limistéir a bhfuil pleananna teanga pobalbhunaithe á bhforbairt ag ceanneagraíochtaí. Lena chois sin, aithníonn an tAcht Leitir Ceanainn, an Clochán Liath agus baile Dhún na nGall mar bhailte seirbhíse Gaeltachta a bhfuil ról suntasach acu i bhfreastal ar cheantair Ghaeltachta.

Aithníonn Comhairle Contae Dhún na nGall an riachtanas straitéiseach a bhaineann leis an Ghaeilge a chothú agus a neartú mar theanga an phobail agus creidtear gur féidir leis an chomhairle, trína feidhm phleanála, ról tacaíochta a imirt chun an straitéis fhoriomlán seo a bhaint amach trí chuspóirí agus pholasaithe sainiúla na Gaeilge a chur i bhfeidhm, arna ghlacadh trí phlean forbartha Chontae Dhún na nGall don tréimhse ó 2018 go 2024, arna leasú.

Tá réimse sainchuspóirí sa phlean chun tacú leis an teanga agus í a fhorbairt trí na nithe seo a leanas: comhoibriú le ceanneagraíochtaí agus le hÚdarás na Gaeltachta; deiseanna tithíochta tuaithe agus uirbeacha a éascú do chainteoirí dúchais Gaeilge; tacú le forbairt áiseanna oideachais na luathbhlianta; cumasú fhorbairt Pháirc Ghnó Ghaoth Dobhair chun tacú le bonn fostaíochta na Gaeltachta; forbairt inbhuanaithe bhailte agus shráidbhailte na Gaeltachta a chinntiú; agus obair le gníomhaireachtaí Stáit eile agus leis an phobal chun cosaint na Gaeilge agus tábhacht chultúrtha na Gaeltachta a chinntiú.

Maidir le forbairt iltithíochta, tá beartas sonrach phlean forbartha an chontae mar bhonn agus mar thaca leis an tacaíocht don teanga trí mheasúnuithe tionchair teanga a chur i bhfeidhm d’iarratais ar fhorbairtí iltithíochta nuair atá sé seo i gcomhréir le beartas a dhíríonn ar bheocht na mbailte agus na sráidbhailte Gaeltachta a neartú chun acmhainn forbartha eacnamaíochta an cheantair a fhorbairt, rud atá tábhachtach. Tá sé seo ag teacht go láidir leis na cuspóirí beartais náisiúnta atá leagtha amach in Éire 2040: An Creat Pleanála Náisiúnta agus tá sé léirithe i straitéis réigiúnach spásúil agus eacnamaíoch Thionól Réigiúnach an Tuaiscirt agus an Iarthair.

Maidir le tithíocht tuaithe, chun freastal ar riachtanas tithíochta tuaithe na bpobal tuaithe ar fud an chontae, tá an plean forbartha contae láidir ina chur chuige dearfach maidir le fíor-riachtanas tithíochta i bpobail tuaithe a aithint le go bhféadfaidh pobal na tuaithe maireachtáil ina gceantar féin agus cur le saol an phobail. Tá an dearcadh seo, atá chomh hinfheidhme céanna laistigh den Ghaeltacht, le feiceáil sa chuspóir sonrach, “A chinntiú go soláthraíonn forbairt chónaitheach nua i gceantair thuaithe d’fhíor-riachtanas tuaithe.”

Tabharfaidh mé roinnt staitisticí maidir le próifíl na n-iarratas pleanála i nDún na nGall. Ó 2010 go dtí Samhain 2021, bhí 23,202 iarratas san iomlán le haghaidh forbairt tithíochta. Ceadaíodh 95% acu. Bhain 42% de na hiarratais ar fad le tithe aonair. Ó 2010, b'ionann iarratais ar fhorbairtí iltithíochta agus 4.75% de na hiarratais uilig agus ní raibh measúnú tionchair teanga riachtanach ach in aon chás amháin. Is féidir go mbaineann an líon íseal iarratas ó 2008 le tionchar an chúlaithe eacnamaíochta. Tógtar thart ar 400 teach úr gach bliain. Is ionann an figiúr sin agus 45% d’iarratais ar thithe aonair gach bliain ó 2010. Sa Ghaeltacht, bhí tuairim is 367 iarratas tithíochta gach bliain, ar an mheán. Bhain 92.8% de na hiarratais sin le tithe aonair. In 2020, ceadaíodh 93%, nó 277, d'iarratas sa Ghaeltacht.

Maidir le comhoibriú agus cur i bhfeidhm, tá Comhairle Contae Dhún na nGall ag comhoibriú ag leibhéal náisiúnta trí ghrúpa oibre Roinne ar chúrsaí pleanála Gaeltachta, agus fáiltíonn sí roimh an deis a sholáthraíonn an fóram suntasach polasaí seo chun dul i ngleic le hábhair imní chomhroinnte maidir le polasaí agus cur chun feidhme. Cuimsíonn comhoibriú fadbhunaithe na comhairle le hÚdarás na Gaeltachta obair chun an stoc tithíochta folaithe a d’fhéadfadh a bheith ann sa Ghaeltacht a scrúdú, leas a bhaint as deiseanna cianoibre, agus aghaidh a thabhairt ar fhoirgnimh atá gan chónaí nó tréigthe trí iad a athmhúnlú.

Tá seirbhísí pleanála na comhairle ag obair le coistí pobail chun plean forbartha comhtháite a ullmhú do limistéar pleanála teanga Ghaoth Dobhair agus íochtar na Rosann. Tá an tionscnamh pobail seo ina chéim thábhachtach i bplean straitéiseach don cheantar Gaeltachta sin a fhéachann le aghaidh a thabhairt ar chúrsaí fisiciúla, eacnamaíocha, comhshaoil agus teanga ar bhealach comhtháite.

Bíonn tionchar ag réimse fachtóirí atá straitéiseach ó thaobh nádúir ar sholáthar tithíochta ar fud an chontae, lena n-áirítear an Ghaeltacht. Is minic a léirigh siad iad féin mar fhadhbanna córasacha a éilíonn cur chuige cuimsitheach bunaithe ar aimsiú réitigh. Bhí Comhairle Contae Dhún na nGall, trínár struchtúir agus seirbhísí iomadúla, i gcroílár na hinfheistíochta poiblí i dtaca le bonneagar fisiciúil agus sóisialta a sheachadadh. Bhí seachadadh tithíochta sóisialta agus inacmhainne, trí mheicníochtaí éagsúla, lárnach chun freastal ar riachtanais tithíochta na Gaeltachta i gcomhar le creat beartais tithíochta forbartha chun tacú le fíor-riachtanais an phobail áitiúil maidir le tithíocht. Níl na roghanna tithíochta a d’fhéadfaí a sholáthar, arna thacú ag polasaithe pleanála a ndéantar athbhreithniú agus nuashonrú orthu go rialta, ag croílár na saincheisteanna agus na ndúshlán a bhfuil ár bpobail tuaithe ag tabhairt fúthu. Tá an ceathrú ráta folúntais is airde sa tír ag Dún na nGall ag 10.1% agus tá os cionn 23% de na tithe saoire uilig sa tír againne. Cuir é seo leis na sócmhainní ábhartha a léiríonn an 20,000 aonad tithíochta atá folamh agus tréigthe, agus tá soláthar folaithe, nár úsáideadh, againn chun freastal ar riachtanais tithíochta a d’fhéadfadh a bheith ag na glúnta chun freastal ar fhás uaillmhianach daonra an chontae agus chun athchothromú a dhéanamh ar athnuachan agus athdhaonrú na Gaeltachta. Tá na dúshláin, a éilíonn cur chuige comhordaithe agus ilghníomhaireachta a thógann ar an timpeallacht chomhoibritheach atá ann cheana féin sa réigiún, ag brath ar muid aghaidh a thabhairt ar an tearcinfheistiú córasach atá ann thar na glúnta chun an bonneagar fisiciúil i mbailte agus sráidbhailte na Gaeltachta a atógáil agus bonneagar sóisialta a sholáthar chun tacú lenár bpobail tuaithe inbhuanaithe. Léiríonn na dúshláin seo a thuilleadh go bhfuil gá le deiseanna fostaíochta atá bunaithe sa Ghaeltacht chun ioncaim inbhuanaithe theaghlaigh a sholáthar a fhéadfaidh cúrsaíocht tríd an phobal agus cuidiú le stíl mhaireachtála láidir, inbhuanaithe Ghaeltachta a chinntiú cosúil leis na hionchais atá sa chuid eile den tír.

Ms Valerie Loughnane

Ba mhaith linn buíochas a ghabháil leis an gcomhchoiste as an gcuireadh chun aitheasc a thabhairt dó maidir le tithíocht agus cúrsaí pleanála fisiciúla sa Ghaeltacht. I thank the committee for this opportunity. Our Irish language officer will read our statement into the record. Ms Úna Ní Eidhin is our Irish language officer and Mr. Brendan Dunne is our senior executive planner. We have the facility to answer questions through English but if the committee wishes to ask a question as Gaeilge we will be able to facilitate that.

Ms Úna Ní Eidhin

Seo achoimre den ráiteas tosaigh iomlán atá seolta ar aghaidh chuig an gcomhchoiste cheana féin. Ní dhéanfaidh mise ach achoimre air agus má tá aon cheisteanna ag na baill táimid ar fáil anseo. Aithníonn Comhairle Chontae na Gaillimhe an tábhacht a bhaineann leis an gceantar Gaeltachta is mó sa tír a bheith lonnaithe i gContae na Gaillimhe agus is mór againn é. Ceantar Gaeltachta is ea an dúiche idir Bhaile Chláir, atá ar an taobh thoir den chathair, agus Cloch na Rón in iarthar Chonamara, achar de thart ar 100 km, agus sa cheantar ó na hOileáin Árann ansin ó thuaidh go dtí an teorainn le Contae Mhaigh Eo. Tá an pobal is láidre sa tír ó thaobh labhairt na Gaeilge de lonnaithe i gContae na Gaillimhe freisin, sa cheantar idir Bhearna agus Carna den chuid is mó, na hOileáin Árann san áireamh.

Oidhreacht luachmhar faoi leith is ea teanga agus cultúr na Gaeltachta, agus aidhm náisiúnta atá ann an teanga agus an cultúr sin a chaomhnú agus a chosaint. Tá an aidhm sin cumhdaithe anois san Acht um Pleanáil agus Forbairt, 2000, arna leasú. Beartas bunúsach de chuid an Stáit is ea an Ghaeilge a chaomhnú. An ról atá ag an údarás pleanála ná a chinntiú go mbíonn an fhorbraíocht cheart san áit cheart ag an am ceart, rud a rachaidh chun sochair do phobail agus don gheilleagar. Tá ról ríthábhachtach ag baint le cúrsaí pleanála ar chúiseanna éagsúla: na forbairtí atá ag teastáil agus áit dóibh a aithint; agus na ceantair ar chóir iad a chosaint nó a fheabhsú a aithint agus measúnú a dhéanamh ar chomh feiliúnach agus atá forbraíocht bheartaithe. Sa bhliain 2008, bhí Comhairle Chontae na Gaillimhe ar an gcéad údarás áitiúil a rinne plean Gaeltachta, ó 2008 go 2018, a ullmhú. Ina dhiaidh sin, rinneadh athrú in 2018 ar phlean forbartha Chontae na Gaillimhe 2015 go 2021. Tá caibidil shaincheaptha maidir leis an nGaeltacht mar chuid de phlean forbartha Chontae na Gaillimhe 2022 go 2028 anois agus tá an plean sin á cur le chéile faoi láthair.

Tá méid áirithe codanna beaga den tír ar an iomlán ainmnithe mar cheantair Ghaeltachta. Is é tuairim Chomhairle Chontae na Gaillimhe nach foláir an Ghaeltacht a chaomhnú agus a chur chun cinn, lena n-áirítear ó thaobh na teanga de. Aithníonn Comhairle Chontae na Gaillimhe go bhfuil laghdú tagtha ar an daonra in áiteanna éagsúla sa Ghaeltacht. Déantar tionchar tograí forbraíochta sa Ghaeltacht a mheas ó thaobh an tionchair a d’fhéadfadh a bheith acu ar an nGaeilge agus ar an nGaeltacht. Déanfaidh Comhairle Chontae na Gaillimhe aon fhorbraíocht chuí i gceantar na Gaeltachta a mheas ar bhonn dearfach chun tacú leis an nGaeltacht. Tá Comhairle Chontae na Gaillimhe ag obair ar bhonn leanúnach leis na gníomhaireachtaí cuí agus comhlachtaí Stáit chun Gaeltacht agus oileáin na Gaillimhe a chosaint.

Aithníonn an chomhairle gur teanga bheo í an Ghaeilge agus an tábhacht a bhaineann leis an teanga a chaomhnú agus, san am céanna, timpeallacht a chruthú ina mbeidh an teanga in ann fás sna pobail sin. Tá a bpleananna lonnaíochta agus léarscáileanna féin ag cuid de na bailte móra agus sráidbhailte atá suite sa Ghaeltacht i gcomhréir leis an ordlathas lonnaíochta a thugtar i gcaibidil a dó, an chroístraitéis inár bplean forbartha, an straitéis lonnaíochta agus an straitéis tithíochta. Tá Bearna agus Baile Chláir sa phlean straitéiseach nua don cheantar cathrach. Tá Maigh Cuilinn sa chatagóir le haghaidh bailte beagfháis agus tá an Cheathrú Rua agus an Spidéal sa chatagóir le haghaidh sráidbhailte beagfháis. Tá na bailte móra agus sráidbhailte sin go léir le fáil in imleabhar a dó de dhréachtphlean forbartha Chontae na Gaillimhe 2022 go 2028. Tá ról tábhachtach ag na bailte móra sa metropolitan area strategic plan, MASP, agus ag an gcatagóir le haghaidh bailte beagfháis i dtaca leis na seirbhísí a chuirtear ar fáil iontu in aice le cathair na Gaillimhe. Meastar gur lonnaíochtaí tuaithe iad an chuid is mó de na lonnaíochtaí a aithnítear sna sráidbhailte beagfháis, ach is seirbhísí tábhachtacha iad don phobal áitiúil mar gheall ar na háiseanna atá iontu cheana féin: scoileanna, siopaí, tithe tábhairne agus oifigí poist ina measc.

Aithníonn an chomhairle an infheistíocht shuntasach, idir gheilleagrach agus sóisialta, atá déanta ag Údarás na Gaeltachta i gceantair Ghaeltachta na Gaillimhe le blianta beaga anuas. Beidh áiseanna mar líonra digiteach na Gaillimhe, Gteic, ina n-ionaid nuálaíochta agus chruthaitheachta, go háirithe chun gnólachtaí nua a spreagadh agus chun gnólachtaí nuathionscanta ardacmhainneachta a mhealladh chomh maith le cianoibrithe a thabhairt ar ais go dtí a gceantar dúchais. Leanfaidh an chomhairle ar aghaidh ag tacú le hÚdarás na Gaeltachta a ról a chomhlíonadh mar ghníomhaireacht forbartha don réigiún seo.

Aithníonn an chomhairle an tábhacht a bhaineann le gréasán náisiúnta Gteic. Leis an mbonneagar sin, cuirtear ar a gcumas do dhaoine gnó a dhéanamh nó a bheith ag obair sa Ghaeltacht mar aon le gnólachtaí nua a fhorbairt. Measann an chomhairle go bhfuil na moil sin bunriachtanach mar chabhair chun pobail na Gaeltachta a fhorbairt amach anseo. Chomh maith leis sin, aithníonn an chomhairle an tábhacht a bhaineann leis an ngeilleagar muirí do phobail sa Ghaeltacht agus ar na hoileáin chun deiseanna fostaíochta a chruthú. Tabharfar faoi na ceisteanna tábhachtacha sin i gcaibidil 5, forbairt gheilleagrach, forbairt fiontar agus miondíola; agus i gcaibidil 9, bainistíocht mhuirí agus chósta.

Tá áit lárnach ag an tionscal turasóireachta i bpobail na Gaeltachta agus na noileán. Tá líon mór cuairteoirí meallta chuig an nGaeltacht mar gheall ar an tírdhreach ar leith atá ann mar aon leis na háiseanna ansin le haghaidh gníomhaíochtaí uisce, gníomhaíochtaí taobh amuigh agus gníomhaíochtaí cultúrtha. Tá forbairt déanta ar Shlí an Atlantaigh Fhiáin le himeacht na mblianta agus tá níos mó comharthaí agus áiseanna ann anois chun cuairteoirí chun na háite a mhealladh agus a choinneáil. Tá na coláistí samhraidh sna ceantair Ghaeltachta an-luachmhar maidir leis na himeachtaí cultúrtha, geilleagracha agus sóisialta a mheallann daltaí agus múinteoirí ón tír ar fad.

I dtaca le tithíocht uirbeach agus tuaithe a sholáthar sa phobal, tugtar roinnt cuspóirí beartais maidir le cúrsaí tithíochta agus an Ghaeltacht i gcaibidil 3, tithíocht uirbeach agus tuaithe, i bplean reatha Chontae na Gaillimhe 2015 go 2021. I gcuspóir eile, ráitis maidir le tionchar teanga, déantar tagairt do ráitis maidir le tionchar teanga don tithíocht i gcás dhá theach nó níos mó agus beidh clásal feidhme teanga 15 bliana i gceist le forbraíocht. I gcuspóir eile, tithíocht uirbeach i lonnaíochtaí Gaeltachta, luaitear go sonrach na riachtanais teanga agus áitíochta i gcás iliomad teach; dhá cheann nó níos mó. I gcás chuspóir na tithíochta tuaithe, crios tithíochta tuaithe, déantar soláthar tithíochta tuaithe a éascú. Is cuspóir de chuid na comhairle é go ndéanfar breithniú ar chainteoirí Gaeilge atá in ann an cumas atá acu Gaeilge a labhairt a chruthú i gcomhréir le riachtanais Chomhairle Chontae na Gaillimhe, agus atá in ann a léiriú go gcuirfidh siad go fadtéarmach le líonraí traidisiúnta cultúrtha agus teanga phobail bhríomhara na Gaeilge.

Tá dréachtphlean forbartha Chontae na Gaillimhe 2022 go 2028 ar bun faoi láthair mar a luaigh muid. I gcaibidil 4, luaitear maireachtáil agus forbairt tuaithe, agus ainmnítear crios tithíochta tuaithe uimh. 5, an Ghaeltacht, mar chuspóir beartais faoi leith atá ar aon dul le cuspóir RHO4. Anuas air sin, baineann caibidil 13, Gaeltacht agus oileáin na Gaillimhe, go sonrach le Gaeltacht na Gaillimhe. Sa chaibidil sin tugtar cuspóirí beartais a thugann tacaíocht do phobail na Gaeltachta ó thaobh an gheilleagair agus na turasóireachta de. Léiríonn fís na caibidle tiomantas láidir Comhairle Chontae na Gaillimhe i leith Ghaeltacht na Gaillimhe. Maítear ann gur áiteanna speisialta ar leith iad Gaeltacht agus oileáin na Gaillimhe, agus go bhfuil oidhreacht chultúrtha agus áilleacht nádúrtha ag baint leo. Maítear freisin go dtabharfar tús áite do riachtanais agus mianta mhuintir na háite agus cuairteoirí i gcás forbairtí amach anseo sa timpeallacht bhríomhar ar leith seo. Gabhaim míle buíochas arís as an deis an t-aitheasc seo a thabhairt don choiste maidir leis an ábhar thuasluaite. Má tá aon cheisteanna ag na baill, i nGaeilge nó i mBéarla, táimid ar fáil anseo.

Mr. Kevin Kelly

Tá brón orm nach bhfuil an ráiteas tosaigh i nGaeilge ach beidh cóip ar fáil i nGaeilge. I am the chief executive of Mayo County Council and I am joined by Ms Catherine McConnell, director of services who has responsibility for planning; and Mr. Tom Gilligan, director of services who has responsibility for housing. I thank to the committee for the opportunity to participate in this discussion on housing and physical planning in Gaeltacht areas. Mayo is one of only seven counties in the State with a designated Gaeltacht and we are proud of our language and Gaeltacht traditions and of the people who have kept these alive. Members will no doubt be aware that the Mayo Gaeltacht, like some other Gaeltacht areas, has experienced the impact of emigration and population decline over the centuries.

Our submission outlines the Gaeltacht in Mayo in terms of location, extent and population trends, as well as highlighting relevant policies of Mayo County Council that impact on the Gaeltacht as set out in the current and draft Mayo county development plans and the local economic and community plan, together with council housing policy and delivery in Gaeltacht areas. We include maps which show the population density in the county as well as the population change from 1996 to 2016. As is evident from these maps, the Gaeltacht is largely characterised by low population density, which is no doubt impacted by the nature of the terrain in the Gaeltacht areas, with uplands and mountainous and poor quality land and areas that are geographically distant and poorly connected to the key centres of population.

The county development plan is a land-use plan which sets out a vision and an overall strategy for the proper planning and sustainable development of the county for a six-year period. The policies and objectives directly relating to the Gaeltacht include the objective:

To strengthen the unique linguistic and cultural heritage of Gaeltacht Mhaigh Éo, by supporting and facilitating improved physical, social and economic infrastructure at appropriate locations throughout the Gaeltacht areas and [requiring] a Language Impact Statement in respect of significant developments within or close to Gaeltacht areas, or where deemed appropriate, to determine their impact on the usage of Irish as the community language.

The general policies and objectives that apply throughout the county also apply to Gaeltacht areas, such as those relating to new rural residential developments, environmentally sensitive designations, scenic routes and sensitive landscapes. The county development plan contains planning policies in relation to rural areas under strong urban pressure in Mayo but our Gaeltacht areas are not affected by this designation or any of the restrictions therein. In the current draft county development plan, no restrictions apply to the development of housing in the Mayo Gaeltacht, other than those that apply universally due to environmental, landscape protection, road safety or normal planning constraints. However, as previously set out, the Gaeltacht areas tend to coincide with areas of high landscape amenity, poorer ground conditions and environmental constraints and it is these factors that have predominantly influenced the outcome of applications for development in Gaeltacht areas of the county.

The Mayo local economic and community plan includes objectives such as:

To maintain and support the communities of Gaeltacht Mhaigh Éo and Mayo’s inhabited islands by facilitating sustainable social and economic development through the provision of infrastructure (social and physical), housing and services and the need to protect the cultural and natural heritage of the Gaeltacht and the Islands where it can be demonstrated that there will be no significant adverse effects on the environment, particularly on the Natura 2000 network.

Mayo County Council has 272 social housing units in the Gaeltacht, of which 13 are demountable dwellings and a further 266 people have expressed a preference for housing in Gaeltacht areas. Mayo County Council has recently built 13 social housing units in its Gaeltacht areas and 24 units are being progressed in the social housing programme for 2022 to 2023. I thank members again for the invitation to appear before the committee and we look forward to providing any further assistance that we can.

Senator Seán Kyne

Cuirim fáilte roimh na finnéithe ó Chomhairle Contae Mhaigh Eo agus ó Chomhairle Chontae na Gaillimhe. Tá cúpla ceist agam do na finnéithe ó Chomhairle Chontae na Gaillimhe amháin agus cuirim fáilte roimh Valerie, Brendan agus Úna. I thank the witnesses from Galway County Council for their contributions on planning in Galway. Enurements are something that crop up from time to time. I have a question about the Irish-clause enurements within estates. For rural housing, they last for seven years. On estates there does not seem to be a time-bound enurement. Is it a lifetime clause? It is impacting on people being able to secure mortgages. The banks will find an excuse not to lend to somebody where there is an Irish enurement that does not state how long it lasts.

Could any of the Galway representatives or anyone else answer that with regard to their own counties? I am sure it is an issue across the board.

Ms Valerie Loughnane

We have Irish language enurements attached to two or more houses in our Gaeltacht areas. Effectively, the reason for the enurement is to ensure that Irish speaking communities are protected and enhanced and that people would be in engaged in conducting their business and lives through the Irish language. The enurement clause is an Irish language enurement clause. The house or property would always have the clause that an Irish speaker or somebody with Irish would be occupying that house.

I understand what Senator Kyne is speaking about with respect to securing funding for mortgages for these houses, but we would have a position that if a person had purchased a house, had an Irish language enurement, qualified under our criteria in Galway County Council through an interview and so on, but found sometime into the future that they would have to dispose of that house for whatever reason, we would be and have been open to transferring that enurement to another Irish speaker in order to facilitate the sale of that house.

The idea behind the enurement is obviously to protect and enhance the Irish language. In essence, what we want to do is continue the restriction on the house with respect to the Irish language to facilitate Irish speakers, but we also acknowledge the fact that people have different situations throughout their lives and they may have to dispose of the property. We would allow the transfer of that enurement to another Irish speaker or somebody who qualifies under Irish language criteria in Galway County Council. I hope that gives some clarity to the question.

Senator Seán Kyne

It does. Gabhaim buíochas leis an bhfinné as sin. Le bheith soiléir faoi, she is saying these are lifetime clauses, even though they are not written into the conditions of the planning.

Ms Valerie Loughnane

Yes, with respect to the use of these properties for Irish speakers. However, there would be some discretion with respect to the occupation of those properties. If it is the case that somebody had to dispose of their property for whatever reason, the enurement is attached to the property. In other situations, we have the enurement attached to the applicant; for example, when we have seven-year enurement clauses on houses in restricted areas in our county and all over the country. The idea behind it is that the language enurement attaches to the property; the reason being we are trying to ensure we maintain and enhance the Irish language in those areas.

Senator Seán Kyne

In terms of the local housing need issue within Gaeltacht areas and all else being equal in terms of the site, sight lines and all of that, can Irish speakers qualify for housing need in an area they are not originally from? If a garda or a nurse with Irish moves into an area and satisfies a test that Úna Ní Eidhin, as the Irish language officer, puts to them, can they be deemed to qualify for housing need within a Gaeltacht region, even if they have no connection to it?

Ms Valerie Loughnane

We have a policy in our plan that facilitates that. If somebody can prove they will add to, enhance and use Irish through their everyday life, even though they may not be native to that Gaeltacht but may be native to another Gaeltacht elsewhere in the country and can satisfy the criteria, we allow people to be granted individual one-off houses. When we spoke about the other enurements, we were talking about them in estates. There is a policy in our plan that allows native Irish speakers an opportunity to live in the Gaeltacht, perhaps not the Gaeltacht from which they originated, and this also applies to speakers who are proficient in Irish.

For clarity, there are Gaeltacht areas around Galway city that are within Galway County Council's jurisdiction, but are under severe urban pressure. Although they may be in the Gaeltacht, there may be situations where there are other things that are at odds with that. We would have to look at the idea in the sustainable rural housing guidelines and so on. There may be other issues which mean a native Irish speaker would not be able to achieve planning for a one-off house in a location around the city even though it is in the Gaeltacht.

However, in other Gaeltacht and strong Gaeltacht areas, we have a policy in our plan that facilitates that. Over the years, we have facilitated a number of Irish speakers for individual houses in the Gaeltacht area, where they have proved they will enhance and carry not just the Irish language, but the Irish culture as well.

Senator Seán Kyne

I am sure Ms Loughnane is referencing Barna, Moycullen, Boleybeg, Tonabrocky and those areas which are in high demand. There would not be preferential treatment for Irish speakers in those areas, which are some of the weaker Gaeltacht regions, despite strong community spirit in parts of them in terms of speaking and trying to enhance Irish. However, Irish speakers are not prioritised in those areas. Their Irish-speaking ability and their desire to pass that on and to raise a family trí mheán na Gaeilge would not supersede other issues such as development pressures.

Ms Valerie Loughnane

If somebody makes an application under that policy in our plan, they would have to qualify with respect to whether they would enhance the Irish language and so on. We look at every application on its merits. Even some of the areas Senator Kyne mentions are under more urban pressure than others, albeit in very close proximity to the city. However, we would still look at that policy and take the individual in each application on their merits, based on the case they make and the contribution they would make to the Irish language and culture in those areas.

We have to be cognisant of the fact that in the past we have had one or two cases where planning permission was granted and appealed to An Bord Pleanála, which ruled that there would be an issue because the local area was under such urban pressure. When we are advising people on our policies in the development plan, we have to advise them of that as well, because it is a risk factor. That is why we have to assess applications based on urban pressure, taking into account all of the objectives that were in place in the past in the national spatial strategy and are now in the national planning framework, the regional spatial economic strategies and our current county development plan.

Deputy Dara Calleary

Cuirim fáilte roimh gach cainteoir, go háirithe roimh fhoireann Mhaigh Eo: Kevin Kelly, Catherine McConnell agus Tomás Ó Giollagáin. Feicim go bhfuil Danny O'Toole ar an nguthán freisin. Part of our role involves ensuring services are delivered in Irish to both Gaeltacht communities and Irish-speaking communities. In each of the local authorities, is there someone in the planning department who could manage an application as Gaeilge? Would I, as a resident or potential resident in a Gaeltacht area, or as someone who uses Irish as my primary language of day-to-day work, be able to complete a planning application with any of the councils entirely trí Ghaeilge?

Tá sé suimiúil nach bhfuil Gaeilge ag a lán de na daoine ar an gcomhrá anseo, seachas oifigigh na Gaeilge. Ní sheasann sé sin go maith i gcomhthéacs na n-aidhmeanna atá ag na hudaráis áitiúla an Ghaeilge a spreagadh. It is interesting that it was the Irish language officers who were in some cases giving the presentations today. All of the county development plans have aspirations about promoting Irish and there is certainly a fantastic programme in Mayo County Council on Irish and on using Irish education. I did something back in 2018.

How useful is that in terms of delivering the services? That is also part of our remit.

Mr. Kelly referred to how the Mayo Gaeltacht does not really come under areas under severe urban pressure. Obviously, it is an issue in Galway and probably less so in Donegal. What kind of consideration is given by the seven local authorities in which there are strong Gaeltacht areas? Do these authorities ever meet collectively or cohesively to discuss what they can do as a unit to promote Irish language services and planning within an area?

In that context, what about an area in the Gaeltacht that is under severe pressure to maintain Gaeilge as a living language and a language of day-to-day use? A planning application may tip the pressure in a negative direction, were it to proceed. What kind of collective action is taken? It is the flip side of being under severe urban pressure. Is any consideration given to a Gaeltacht area under severe pressure, where a planning application might change that?

Mr. Liam Mac an Bhaird

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta as na ceisteanna sin. Tá seirbhísí trí mheán na Gaeilge ag baint le cúrsaí pleanála ar fáil do mhuintir Thír Conaill. Tá siad in ann teacht isteach chuig an oifig atá againn sa Chlochán Liath. Tá an pleanálaí atá ag tabhairt seirbhísí sa cheantar sin, an ceantar is mó de Ghaeltacht Chontae Dhún na nGall, ábalta dul i dteagmháil leis na hiarratais trí mheán na Gaeilge agus más mian le hiarrthóir ar bith a chuid iarratais a dhéanamh go huile trí mheán na Gaeilge, tá an deis sin acu agus tá an chomhairle chontae sásta glacadh lena n-iarratais trí Ghaeilge. Táimid sásta na hiarratais a phróiseáil trí mheán na Gaeilge agus an cinneadh a chur amach i nGaeilge chomh maith.

Maidir leis an dara ceist faoi na ceantair Ghaeltachta tríd an tír, níl an struchtúr sin curtha i bhfeidhm ag an am seo. B'fhéidir gur rud maith é an struchtúr sin a chur i bhfeidhm agus an deis a thabhairt do na comhairlí contae ina bhfuil ceantair Ghaeltachta iontu teacht le chéile agus an t-ábhar seo a phlé ionas go mbeimid ábalta níos mó tacaíocht a thabhairt do na ceantair sin chun an teanga a choinneáil beo agus feabhas a chur uirthi amach anseo.

Mr. Kevin Kelly

I will make two points in response to Deputy Calleary's questions. First, in Mayo, we can facilitate a planning application through the process, but it would be with the assistance of staff who could transact business as Gaeilge. It is probably fair to say that in my experience in local authorities, there are not enough staff who can deal fluently and efficiently in Irish to do the business as Gaeilge. The Deputy has pointed out that much work has been completed in Mayo County Council over a number of years. It still leaves the scenario where staff are hesitant and lacking in confidence in those interactions, especially on technical matters relating to planning applications and so forth.

While we would be able to accommodate it, we are not at the level of proficiency in order to make that a good service for the members of the public. As I understand it, a working group has been established and met previously on planning matters in Gaeltacht areas throughout the Gaeltacht counties, which included our department and Údarás na Gaeltachta. That might not have met recently, but the idea behind that was to ensure there would be some degree of consistency of approach on similar issues throughout local authority areas in which there are Gaeltacht areas.

Deputy Aindrias Moynihan

Gabhaim buíochas leis na finnéithe as an gcur i láthair. Cé go raibh mé cúpla nóiméad déanach ansin, bhí deis agam na tuairiscí a léamh. Chuala mé an-chuid agus na ceisteanna roimhe chomh maith. Gabhaim buíochas leis na finnéithe as an eolas. Tuigim go bhféachann Comhairle Chontae na Gaillimhe ar an éifeacht a bheadh ar phobal na Gaolainne nuair a bhíonn iarratas á phlé, ach cad faoi na húdaráis eile? An ndéanann siad é sin a mheas? Conas a chuireann siad aon choinníollacha i bhfeidhm? Conas a dhéanann siad meas air sin?

Nuair a bhíonn iarratais phleanála á meas, an dtugtar buntáiste nó deis bhreise do na Gaeilgeoirí sa Ghaeltacht? An moltar nó an ndéantar éascú i gcomhair daoine a bheadh ag teacht isteach sa cheantar? Tá cuid den fhreagra tugtha ag muintir na Gaillimhe ach iarraim ar an dá chomhairle eile é a fhreagairt chomh maith.

Má fhágaimid tithe ar leataobh ar feadh nóiméid, má tá infreastruchtúr eile á phleanáil, amhail feirm ghaoithe nó sreang leictreachais ag teacht tríd an gceantar, b'fhéidir nach mbeifí ag súil go mbeadh éifeacht aige sin ar chúrsaí teanga. An ndéantar aon mheasúnú air sin? Bheadh maoiniú amhail community development fund agus a leithéid á gcur ar fáil ó na feirmeacha gaoithe agus na sreanga leictreachais agus mar sin de. An leagtar síos aon choinníollacha teanga? D'fhéadfadh sé sin a bheith ag dul i dtreo fhorbairt teanga.

Tá mé ag smaoineamh chomh maith mar gheall ar fheirmeacha gaoithe amuigh san fharraige. Caithfidh siad sin teacht i dtír agus an chumhacht a thabhairt i dtír in áit éigin. Má tá sí ag teacht isteach sa Ghaeltacht, an ndéantar measúnú air sin? An leagtar coinníollacha ar a leithéid? An mbíonn aon bhuntáiste ann i gcomhair na Gaeltachta má tá a leithéid d'infreastruchtúr á chur in airde uirthi?

Maidir le tithe sóisialta, an bhfuil an córas choice-based letting in úsáid chun na tithe a scaipeadh amach? Má tá, an ndéantar aon mheasúnú ar chúrsaí teanga ansin? An mbíonn aon éifeacht ag teanga nó an bhfuil aon bhuntáiste ann chun Gaolainn a bheith ag duine chun teach sóisialta a fháil sna cheantair Gaeltachta? An ndéantar aon mheasúnú ann?

An bhfuil aon tuairim ag na finnéithe cé atá ag déanamh na haighneachtaí? An bhfuil aighneachtaí ag teacht chucu óna leithéidí Údarás na Gaeltachta, baill den phobal atá ag déanamh aighneachtaí, eagrais amhail An Taisce nó aon ghrúpa eile?

An bhfuil aon aighneachtaí? An cuma le haon duine? An bhfuil siad ag seoladh isteach aon aighneachtaí ar na hiarratais?

Cé chomh sinsearach is atá an t-oifigeach Gaolainne sa chomhairle? An bhfuil sé nó sí ar dhuine de na directors of service? Cén leibhéal atá ag an oifigeach Gaolainne sna húdaráis?

Ms Valerie Loughnane

We have gone through the language enurement question. One of the other questions was on the social housing element of it. We have exactly the same policy that relates to everybody. The social housing policy also relates to the county development plan. It is the same policy insofar as it relates to anybody who would have qualified for any kind of housing. It is treated exactly the same in our county development plan. There is a certain allocation for social housing in the Gaeltacht and people who qualify for it.

Our Irish officer is currently at staff officer level.

With respect to wind farms, our draft county development plan is at chief executive's report stage. There were a number of queries on wind farms. Signage and anything to do with interpretation would be through Irish for any wind farms permitted in the Gaeltacht areas.

Deputy Aindrias Moynihan

Cé nach bhfuil éifeacht go díreach ag na feirmeacha gaoithe agus sreanga leictreachais ar chúrsaí teanga, bheadh ciste nua ann. An leagtar aon choinníollacha orthu chun a chinntiú go dtéann aon chuid den chiste sin i dtreo fhorbairt teanga? An bhfuil aon bhuntáiste ann do phobal na Gaeltachta má tá a leithéid á chur in airde?

Mr. Kevin Kelly

I have also had some experience in Galway. My view is there will always be a certain tension between the protection of the Irish language and the development of areas experiencing rural decline. We know from the last inter-census period that practically the entire western seaboard has experienced population decline over that period, with the exception of County Galway, due to the influence of the city.

At any point in time, one is trying to, on the one hand, protect the Irish language and those communities and on the other hand, ensure that the county and area develops in terms of infrastructure and also that each individual settlement develops in accordance with its needs. My experience is that the impact of some of those infrastructural developments including wind farms, during construction phase, is limited. People come into the area for that construction phase, but it does not have that much of an ongoing effect thereafter, other than the physicality of what is left behind.

If there is development within a Gaeltacht area, the community funds provision from those developments would be the positive impact on the community. I am not so sure how one could attach conditions to those types of developments in a legal way, in a way which would be positive for the Gaeltacht communities or in a way which would, in a real way, protect or advance the Irish language of the Gaeltacht communities in our counties.

Mr. Liam Mac an Bhaird

Bhí an chéad cheist ag baint leis an bpolasaí tithíochta tuaithe. Ag an am seo, níl polasaí ná coinníoll ar bith leagtha síos sa phlean forbartha contae atá againn maidir le tithe aonair sa cheantar Gaeltachta atá ceadaithe ag baint leis an nGaeilge. Níl polasaí ar bith againn agus ní chuirimid coinníollacha ar bith ar na ceadanna sin. Tá polasaí againn maidir le forbairt iltithíochta. Caithfidh measúnú thionchar teanga teacht le haon iarratas ar bith a thagann isteach chugainn sa cheantar Gaeltachta agus déanaimid assessment ar an measúnú sin. Táimid ag tosú ar athbhreithniú ar an bplean forbartha contae sa bhliain seo chugainn, áfach, agus b'fhéidir gur rud é a gcaithimid a chur san áireamh ach tá deacrachtaí leis, mar a dúirt Kevin Kelly. Caithfimid a bheith cúramach faoi sin.

Maidir leis an gceist eile ag baint le hinfheistíocht eile cosúil leis na feirmeacha gaoithe, táimid in áit dheacair ag an am seo mar nach bhfuil polasaí ar bith ag baint le wind energy sa phlean atá againn ag an am seo. Táimid ag déanamh variation ar an bplean forbartha ag an am seo, ag cur polasaithe maidir le wind energy isteach sa phlean. Ní raibh rud ar bith sa pholasaí a bhí againn ag baint leis an nGaeltacht nó le buntáistí a thabhairt don Ghaeilge.

Bhí an community fund ann agus bhí ar na forbróirí an community fund sin a chur ar fáil do na grúpaí éagsúla sa cheantar ina raibh na feirmeacha gaoithe á gcur suas. Ní raibh rud ar bith ag baint leis an nGaeilge ann.

Maidir leis an gceist faoin bpolasaí atá ag an gcomhairle chontae maidir le tithe a chur ar leas, níl polasaí ar bith againn sa chás sin, ag baint leis an nGaeilge. Níl dualgas ar bith ar dhuine ar mhaith leo teach sóisialta a fháil sa Ghaeltacht maidir leis an nGaeilge. Is é sin an dóigh a bhfuil sé ag an am seo.

Maidir leis na grúpaí a bhfuilimid ag dul i dteagmháil leo, bíonn an chomhairle chontae i dteagmháil le hÚdarás na Gaeltachta go minic maidir leis an nGaeilge agus táimid ag obair anois le coiste pobail chun plean forbartha comhtháite a ullmhú do limistéir phleanála teanga i nGaoth Dobhair agus in íochtar na Rosann. Táimid ag obair le roinnt grúpaí eile chomh maith faoin ábhar sin.

Bhain an cheist dheireanach a bhí ag an Teachta leis an oifigeach Gaeilge tá againn.

Tá beirt oifigeach Gaeilge lánaimseartha ag an gcomhairle contae anseo. Tá siad ar leibhéal 5 nó staff officer level sa chomhairle contae.

Deputy Aindrias Moynihan

Tá cúpla ceist nach bhfuair mé freagraí orthu ansin. Táim an-bhuíoch as na freagraí, go háirithe ó mhuintir Dhún na nGall. B’fhéidir go raibh míthuiscint éigin ann. Nílim ag lorg go mbeadh coinníoll teanga ar thithe sóisialta. Táim ag fiafraí an mbíonn buntáiste ann i gcomhair Gaeilgeoirí. Má tá cinneadh le déanamh agus é síos go dtí an bheirt nó triúir deireanach, an mbeadh an buntáiste ag duine le Gaeilge ó thaobh an teach a fháil, chun an Ghaeltacht a chothú? Sin atá i gceist agam. Ní hé go bhfuilim ag lorg aon choinníollacha ar na hiarratais.

Níor freagraíodh an cheist mar gheall ar na tithe sóisialta agus an t-oifigeach Gaolainne i Maigh Eo. An bhféadfainn breis eolais a fháil air sin? Cén leibhéal ar a bhfuil an t-oifigeach Gaolainne i gContae Mhaigh Eo? Maidir le tithíocht shóisialta, an bhfuil buntáiste ann do Ghaeilgeoirí má tá measúnú á dhéanamh ar iarrthóirí i gcomhair teach? An mbíonn an chomhairle ag cothú na Gaeltachta nó an mbíonn an Ghaolainn san áireamh in aon chor nuair a bhíonn tithe sóisialta á scaipeadh amach?

Mr. Kevin Kelly

I will ask Mr. Gilligan to come in on the question of whether preference is given in Gaeltacht areas to Irish speakers in the housing allocation. The oifigeach Gaeilge is at grade 5 staff officer level in Maigh Eo.

Mr. Tomás Ó Giollagáin

Bhí ceist amháin maidir le choice-based letting, nó ligean rogha-bhunaithe. Níl sé againn ach táimid ag féachaint air. Braitheann sé ar chostas i gcoinne sochar. Tá aimsitheoir HAP againn. There was a question about choice-based letting. We do not have choice-based letting but we are looking at it. It will depend on the cost versus benefit. We have what we call a HAP finder and that has proven very useful for the finding of properties, particularly here in Mayo where the rental situation is very acute. On the Deputy’s other question, there is nothing in our allocation policy that allows any preferential treatment if someone is a Gaeilgeoir.

Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív

Tá sé seo thar a bheith úsáideach mar tá muidne ag iarraidh tionchar a imirt ar an Aire maidir leis an bpolasaí pleanála Gaeltachta nua atá sé ag caint air. Chomh maith leis sin, is gearr go bhfoilseoidh sé dréacht-rialacha a bhaineann le pleanáil tuaithe agus tithíocht tuaithe. Beidh muidne ag iarraidh ionchur a bheith againn sna rudaí sin agus táimid ag iarraidh foghlaim ó inniu céard gur cheart dúinn a bheith ag moladh don dá pholasaí sin. Nuair a bhí na trí chomhairle chontae ag leagan amach na pleananna contae, an ndearna siad aon staidéar teangeolaíochta ar an tionchar a bhíonn ag an bpátrún lonnaíochta ar an teanga? Sin le rá, má athraítear chuile dhuine amach ón tuath agus isteach i mbailte, an mbeadh tionchar dearfach nó diúltach ar an teanga? An bhfuil staidéar déanta air sin? Tá brú sa treo sin.

An bhfuil aon chóras monatóireachta neamhspleách ann do na contaetha a leagann síos caighdeán Gaeilge do thithe le coinníoll Gaeilge iontu in eastáit tithíochta? Go hiondúil nuair atá caighdeáin leagtha síos, tá dream éigin a dhéanann monatóireacht go bhfuil siad sásúil agus cothrom an t-am ar fad.

Baineann an cheist seo le Maigh Eo agus Tír Chonaill, ach sílim gur fhreagair muintir Thír Chonaill é cheana féin. An bhfuil coinníoll leagtha síos go gcaithfear cuid de na tithe a choinneáil do lucht labhartha na Gaeilge? Is fiú dúinn ar fad suntas a thabhairt i láthair na huaire don bhreithiúnas Ard-Chúirte i gcás na forbartha tithíochta a bhí molta do Ráth Chairn. Beidh an-tionchar aige sin ar pholasaithe pleanála teanga amach anseo.

Ní fhaca mé go raibh a leithéid de rud ar nós an pholasaí neartú Gaeltachta in aon aighneacht ach an ceann ó Chontae na Gaillimhe. Tá cúpla ceist shonrach agam faoi sin. Luaigh Valerie Loughnane go mbeadh daoine ó Ghaeltacht taobh amuigh de Chontae na Gaillimhe, ar nós mé féin as Baile Átha Cliath, cáilithe faoin bpolasaí neartú Gaeltachta. An mbeadh duine as Gaeltacht na Gaillimhe cáilithe faoin bpolasaí sin, dá mbeadh siad ag iarraidh bogadh go háit eile taobh istigh de Ghaeltacht na Gaillimhe? An bhfuil mapaí ar fáil den cheantar lena mbaineann an polasaí neartú Gaeltachta? Ní fhaca mé mapa riamh a thaispeáin na háiteanna taobh istigh den cheantar ina nglactar le hiarratais faoin bpolasaí neartú Gaeltachta agus na cuid taobh amuigh de. Má tá mapa ann, an bhfuil sé bunaithe ar láidreacht na Gaeilge sna ceantair sin nó ar tiús an daonra nó an brú daonra? An dtugtar suntas do na ceantair phleanála teanga statúideach atá ann anois ag Roinn na Gaeltachta?

Tá rud amháin nach féidir liom meabhair a fháil air riamh. B’fhéidir go bhfaighidh mé soiléiriú air inniu. Luadh go bhfuil riachtanas teanga sa pholasaí neartú Gaeltachta, sé sin, go mbeadh duine in ann Gaeilge a labhairt go líofa, agus luadh "the Irish culture". Éiríonn dhá cheist as sin. An gcaithfidh daoine an dá rud a bheith acu? An gcaithfidh siad teanga na Gaeilge agus "the Irish culture", mar a tugadh air, cultúr na hÉireann nó cultúr Gaelach, a bheith acu, nó an ndéanfaidh ceann amháin? An bhféadfadh daoine fáil isteach leis an Irish culture gan an teanga a bheith acu? Cuirfidh mé ar bhealach eile ar fad é. Abair go raibh duine ina chainteoir dúchasach Gaeilge agus go raibh sé ag tógáil a chlann le Gaeilge, ach go raibh spéis acu i rac-cheol agus rugbaí agus na rudaí ar fad nach luaitear mar chultúr dúchasach Éireannach. Fiú gur Gaeilge a bheadh ag an gclann mar theanga, go hiomlán agus go huile, ó mhaidin go hoíche, an mbeadh siad dícháilithe mar nach mbeadh an Irish culture seo, cibé céard é féin, acu? Tá soiléiriú ag teastáil faoi céard a chiallaíonn sé sin. Níor thuig mé riamh cén fáth go raibh an tagairt ann do Irish culture mar tá an Ghaeltacht bunaithe ar an teanga. Níl sí bunaithe ar aon rud eile.

D’fhéadfadh duine a bheith ag imirt rugbaí sa Ghaeltacht agus spéis a bheith acu i gceol nach bhfuil aon bhaint aige le ceol dúchasach agus mar sin de agus ina chainteoir dúchasach Gaeilge, sa chaoi chéanna go bhfuil cainteoirí Fraincise sa Fhrainc gan aon spéis acu i gceol na Fraince nó aon rud eile sa Fhrainc. Ba mhaith liom soiléiriú ar an ábhar seo.

Mr. Liam Mac an Bhaird

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta Ó Cuív. Bhain a chéad cheist leis an bpróiseas maidir leis an bplean forbartha contae. D’fhiafraigh sé an ndéanann muid measúnú tionchar teanga ar an bpróiseas nó ar an bplean ina iomláine go ginearálta. Caithfimid sin a dhéanamh agus tá sé mar pháirt den phróiseas. Ag éirí as an cheist sin, chuir an Teachta ceist eile maidir leis an gcaighdeán comhsheasmhach don assessment ar na pleananna sin. Ag an bpointe seo, is rud é sin a dhéanann muid in-house. Sin an assessment a dhéanann muid ar na pleananna sin.

Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív

Níl aon mhonatóireacht neamhspleách á dhéanamh air sin.

Mr. Liam Mac an Bhaird

Níl faoi láthair.

Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív

Go raibh maith agat.

Mr. Liam Mac an Bhaird

Dúirt an Teachta gur thug muid freagra ar an gceist maidir le coinníollacha ag baint le tithe aonaracha sa Ghaeltacht-----

Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív

Is tithe in eastáit a bhí i gceist.

Mr. Liam Mac an Bhaird

Níl coinníoll ar bith ar thithe aonaracha maidir leis an nGaeilge. Sílim gurb iad sin na ceisteanna uilig a bhain le Dún na nGall.

Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív

Is eastáit a dúirt mé.

Chairman

Ní tithe aonaracha atá i gceist ach eastáit tithíochta. An bhfuil coinníollacha orthu siúd?

Mr. Liam Mac an Bhaird

Fá choinne na tithe in eastáit, dúirt muid go raibh requirement ann chun measúnú tionchar teanga a chur isteach leis na hiarratais sin. Sin a bhí mé ag rá. Déanann muid assessment ar an measúnú sin taobh istigh den chomhairle. Ní aon monitoring ann air sin taobh amuigh den chomhairle.

Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív

Dúirt an finné go ndearna an chomhairle staidéar tionchar teanga agus í ag réiteach an phlean chontae ach cé a rinne é? An teangeolaí a rinne é nó an í an chomhairle féin?

Mr. Liam Mac an Bhaird

Déanann muid féin é.

Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív

Go raibh maith agat. Bhí sé sin an-soiléir.

Mr. Kevin Kelly

The short answer to Deputy Ó Cuív’s question is that in Mayo we do not undertake a study or monitoring in respect of housing estates. Nine housing estates were developed in Gaeltacht areas of limited size between 2009 and 2021, which is one a year. None were developed in recent years. There have been a limited number of one-off housing developments within that area, notwithstanding the population of almost 9,500. There are probably 37 individual permissions granted yearly. We do not have the same set-up in terms of enurement clauses and so forth as might be in place in Galway. We do not have any monitoring of conditions or language usage within the estates in the Gaeltacht areas.

Ms Valerie Loughnane

We link in quite a lot with Údarás na Gaeltachta. Our linguistic study, with respect to the county plan and so on, is matched up with language planning areas or districts that are already in place. Our Gaeltacht plan and the Gaeltacht chapter in our draft development plan, as well as the variation of the current plan that has been in place since 2018, relate to and correlate with the language planning area. There is therefore a basis for the types of policies that are there from that perspective.

Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív

That was not the question. The question I asked was very specific. An ndearna an chomhairle aon staidéar teangeolaíochta ar an tionchar a bhíonn ag an bpátrún lonnaíochta ar an teanga? Did the council do any objective linguistic study, which would have to be done by a sociolinguist of some type, on the effect settlement patterns have on the Gaeltacht? We know that, by and large, the areas that stayed strong with the language had very dispersed settlements, for whatever reason, while towns like Dingle, Belmullet and so on that had conventional European-type settlements all lost the language. If we start changing that without studying the linguistic impact, we could destroy the thing we are trying to save. Sin an cheist. An bhfuil an staidéar teangeolaíochta seo déanta?

Ms Valerie Loughnane

It was not a direct study but because we matched it up, and all the studies we have done have looked at it from a policy perspective matching up with the language planning areas, we would have looked at all the different settlement patterns within those districts. Those districts vary. For example, Baile Chláir, which is on the edge of the city, is in the Gaeltacht area and the amount of spoken Irish there is much less than further out west like in Carna or beyond. From that perspective, the answer to the Deputy’s question is “Yes”, in a way. The language planning areas are so diverse that we would have intrinsically looked at different settlement patterns or dispersals of settlements, as they are so diverse within those districts.

Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív

There are still 70- and 80-year-olds in Baile Chláir who are native Irish speakers. It changed from a dispersed population when Baile Chláir grew dramatically population-wise and as a town. There are native Irish speakers from areas like Móinteach and Cathair Ghabhann who are still alive. When I got into politics 30 years ago there were quite a number of fluent speakers there, just as there were in Menlo in Galway. It seems that this drive for development destroyed the language very quickly because, as Ms Loughnane rightly pointed out, they are a dying breed and there is no succession of the language there. Sin an cheist atá agamsa. Má thosaíonn muid ag déanamh an rud céanna sa Cheathrú Rua, an ndéanfaimid an scrios céanna?

Ms Valerie Loughnane

What we are trying to do now is continue to promote and enhance the Irish language. From the point of view of going forward with it now, we are trying to keep what we have but also enhance it. That is what we are trying to do with our current draft county development plan. In the plan that is in place at the moment, we have policies with respect to rural housing, which is dispersed, as well as more centralised housing in towns and villages. We would have looked at all of that when dealing with the policy objectives in our new draft county development plan.

With respect to the enurements and so on, the Irish language enurements are signed in order to comply with the conditions attached to the permission.

We would therefore be notified if they were to be sold on. There is monitoring from that perspective because there must be compliance with conditions. That does not happen regularly but we have had a few cases over a long number of years.

With respect to enhancing and protecting the Irish language, it is a whole package. It is not about what particular sport or music people play. If they are Irish speakers they will immerse themselves in the Gaeltacht and promote and enhance the whole thing-----

Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív

I am sorry but what does that mean?

Ms Valerie Loughnane

-----and the whole package with respect to it.

Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív

With all due respect, I am an Irish speaker living in the Gaeltacht. My family are Irish-speaking. It is our language. We are living the dream, as they say. In all other aspects of life I do not see myself immersed in something that everyone else is as well. People in Kilkenny are immersed in hurling. What is more native than that? People in Clare are into music. I still find this very nebulous. The big difference between a Gaeltacht and somewhere that is very dúchasach in all sorts of other ways is the language. I do not get the idea that I would immerse myself in something else that half the country is immersing themselves in anyway. Look at Kilmacud Crokes. They have two county championships in their culture.

Ms Valerie Loughnane

For that very purpose, if someone is going to speak the Irish language and they do activities, it does not matter whether they are intrinsic to Irish culture. They could be playing our Irish national games or another game that originated somewhere else, but what they are doing is engaging with people through the Irish language. It is a complete package from that perspective. It is not one size fits all. That is why each application is taken on its merits under that neartú Gaeltachta policy in our development plan. We do our very best to ensure that people who will promote the Irish language, speak it and keep it alive in the Gaeltacht are facilitated through the policies that are there currently.

Deputy Catherine Connolly

Cuirim fáilte roimh na finnéithe uilig. Is tús maith leath na hoibre agus is céim chun tosaigh inniu go bhfuil na húdaráis áitiúla os ár gcomhair. Faraor, tháinig Covid agus níor éirigh linn é a dhéanamh ach bhí sé ar intinn ag an gcoiste seo é sin a dhéanamh le fada. D’aithin muid an fhadhb a bhí ar an talamh ó thaobh na húdaráis áitiúla, in ainneoin obair na bhfinnéithe. Ó thaobh na teanga de, tá easpa tuisceana agus easpa beartais chuí ann.

Díreoidh mé ar Ghaillimh mar is as Gaillimh mé agus tá an t-am srianta. Tá cúpla ceist phraiticiúil agam i dtús báire. B’fhéidir go bhfuil na ceisteanna seo freagartha cheana ach bhí mé déanach ag teacht isteach. An bhfuil oifigeach Gaeilge lánaimseartha ag an gcomhairle contae? Cé mhéad ball foirne líofa sa Ghaeilge atá ar an bhfoireann?

Ms Valerie Loughnane

We have a full-time Irish officer in Galway County Council. We have a number of staff members who are able to converse through Irish in most sections, across all sections.

Deputy Catherine Connolly

Cé mhéad agus cén céatadán den fhoireann uilig atá líofa sa Ghaeilge?

Ms Valerie Loughnane

I would not have those exact figures offhand.

Deputy Catherine Connolly

Tuigim é sin. Níl mé ag iarraidh an finné a chur i sáinn ach tá sé tábhachtach an díospóireacht seo a chur i gcomhthéacs ó thaobh na Gaeilge de agus ó thaobh tuisceana de. B’fhéidir go mbeadh sí in ann teacht ar ais chuig an gcoiste leis na figiúirí maidir leis an méid agus an céatadán.

Tá dréachtphlean ann faoi láthair ach beidh an plean atá ann críochnaithe ag deireadh na bliana seo. Cén uair a thiocfaidh an plean eile i bhfeidhm?

Ms Valerie Loughnane

Our draft county development plan is at the chief executive’s report stage. The chief executive’s report and the submissions were delivered to members at the end of October. We have some council meetings coming up before and after Christmas with a view to hopefully adopting the full plan by April or May 2022. We hope to have it adopted by the end of May at the latest.

Deputy Catherine Connolly

Laistigh den tréimhse sin, an mbeidh deis ag an bpobal aighneachtaí a chur isteach arís?

Ms Valerie Loughnane

Yes. The chief executive’s report is with the members. We will have council meetings both before and after Christmas and any material alterations that are made to the draft as a result of the members considering the report will be placed on public display. That should be towards the middle of February, provided that none of the material alterations bring up environmental issues that would require more assessment. The public will then have four weeks in which to make a submission on those material alterations.

Deputy Catherine Connolly

Rinne mé dearmad buíochas a ghabháil leis na finnéithe ar fad as ucht na ráitis tosaigh i nGaeilge agus i mBéarla. Go raibh maith agaibh.

Is cás faoi leith atá i nGaillimh. Mar atá ráite sa ráiteas tosaigh, tá na ceantair is mó Gaeltachta sa tír ann. Luaitear sé cheantar: Iorras Aithneach, Camas agus Ros Muc; Dúiche Sheoigheach; Ceantar na nOileán agus An Crompán; Cois Fharraige; na hOileáin Árann; agus imeall na cathrach. Cuireann sé iontas orm ach guím comhghairdeas le Comhairle Chontae na Gaillimhe ós rud é gurb í an chéad údarás áitiúil a chur béim ar an nGaeilge. Tá dearmad déanta agam ar an bhfoclaíocht a d’úsáid Valerie Loughnane ach dúirt sí gurb í an chéad chomhairle contae sa tír a chur béim ar an nGaeilge.

Ms Valerie Loughnane

The Irish language planning areas correlate with what we have in our draft county development plan and in our current county development plan, the Gaeltacht plan of which was a variation from 2018.

Deputy Catherine Connolly

Tuigim é sin. Deir an ráiteas, “Sa bhliain 2008, bhí Comhairle Chontae na Gaillimhe ar an gcéad údarás áitiúil a rinne plean Gaeltachta ... a ullmhú”

Ms Valerie Loughnane

Yes.

Deputy Catherine Connolly

Níl a fhios agam an bhfuil sé sin curtha i bhfeidhm ag na húdaráis áitiúla eile. B’fhéidir go mbeidh siadsan in ann teacht ar ais againn faoi sin.

Leagann an ráiteas tosaigh síos na haidhmeanna straitéiseacha. Tá ocht gcinn acu ann agus ina measc luaitear “Forálacha a dhéanamh ionas gur féidir lonnaíochtaí agus limistéir thuaithe i nGaeltacht agus Oileáin na Gaillimhe a neartú agus a fhás ar bhonn comhtháite.” Déantar tagairt freisin do chuspóir UHO 12 agus ráitis maidir le tionchar teanga. Cé mhéad ráiteas tionchar teanga atá déanta sa bhliain seo agus le cúig bliana anuas?

Ms Valerie Loughnane

To clarify, the first Gaeltacht plan was published in 2008. We were the first local authority in the country to do a Gaeltacht plan. We subsequently wrote a variation in 2018 and now we have it in the draft plan as well. On the linguistic impact statements, any housing estate of two or more houses would have a linguistic impact statement attached to it. In recent years there have not been that many of those applications but other types of applications have them as well. I do not have the exact number to date but anything within the Gaeltacht would be required to have one because it is a policy objective in the plan.

Deputy Catherine Connolly

Cén duine nó eagraíocht a dhéanann na ráitis sin?

Ms Valerie Loughnane

There are different ones. I do not have the names off the top of my head. Any of the statements that come in with planning applications form part of the planning application, and all of that is available on our website.

Deputy Catherine Connolly

Tuigim ach níl an fhreagracht ar an gcomhairle contae. An bhfuil an fhreagracht ar an bhforbróir?

Ms Valerie Loughnane

No, it is not. The responsibility is on the applicant in accordance with the policy and a development management, DM, standard we have in our plan. When an application comes in to the local authority for consideration, the applicant has to comply with that policy or DM standard and we then assess that as part of the planning application.

Deputy Catherine Connolly

Gabh mo leithscéal, ach b’fhéidir go bhfuilim beagáinín tuirseach inniu. Tá an fhreagracht ar an duine. Níl an fhreagracht ar an gcóras áitiúil.

Ms Valerie Loughnane

No.

Deputy Catherine Connolly

Déanann an chomhairle an measúnú. Tagann ráiteas teanga isteach in éineacht le hiarratas pleanála. An rud scríofa é?

Ms Valerie Loughnane

Yes, that is correct.

Deputy Catherine Connolly

Cén chaoi a dhéanann an chomhairle measúnú ar sin?

Ms Valerie Loughnane

It comes in with the application. The applicant makes it with the application. We assess it based on the type of application and we get input from other sections in the council depending on what the application is for. We also look at the background papers we have in dealing with putting policies and so on and the development plan in place.

Deputy Catherine Connolly

Tuigim é sin agus go bhfuil gá le hionchur ó a lán Ranna. Tá mise ag díriú ar an teanga. Nuair a bhíonn an chomhairle i mbun measúnú ar iarratas agus ráiteas teanga i gceist, cén saineolas atá ag an gcomhairle nó cad é an córas chun measúnú a dhéanamh ar na ráitis teanga a thagann isteach maidir le heastáit tithíochta?

Ms Valerie Loughnane

Again, criteria are set out within the linguistic impact statements that are submitted. We assess those in light of the statements they make within those and the validity of those statements. We offset that against any of the other background work we have done with respect to the number of Irish language speakers in the area. We look at it from the census perspective and from all the details in the census. We are somewhat at a loss currently and it is hoped we will have a census next year so it will be updated from that perspective. There are a number of parameters within which we look at those statements. When a submission comes in, we look at a number of parameters, reckon those statements against those parameters, and then make an assessment on it.

Deputy Catherine Connolly

B’fhéidir go mbeidh Valerie Loughnane in ann na figiúirí a sheoladh chugainn maidir leis na ráitis teanga le cúig bliana nó deich mbliana anuas. Is dócha liom go bhfuil siad ar ríomhaire. Maidir leis an saghas monatóireachta atá i gceist, agus b’fhéidir go bhfuil míthuiscint orm ó na ceisteanna a chur an Teachta Ó Cuív, ach ceapaim nach bhfuil aon mhonatóireacht ann. An féidir é sin a shoiléiriú? Cén saghas monatóireachta a bhíonn i gceist ó thaobh cúrsaí teanga de?

Críochnóidh mé anois. Tá a fhios ag an gcomhairle go bhfuil géarchéim ann ó thaobh na teanga de agus ó thaobh cúrsaí tithíochta de i lár na Gaeltachta uilig. Thaistil baill an choiste seo timpeall na tíre agus tháinig na téamaí ceannann céanna suas arís agus arís. Easpa tithíochta sna Gaeltachtaí agus easpa fostaíochta i gcuid acu, go háirithe i gContae Mhaigh Eo, a bhí iontu. Is í an cheist atá agamsa ná, agus mé ag smaoineamh ar dhuine pearsanta le pointí ginearálta a dhéanamh as, cad atá foghlamtha ag an gcomhairle maidir leis an ngéarchéim seo? Tá titim daonra i gceist i gceantair éagsúla - ní i ngach ceantar - ach mar shampla, i gConamara go háirithe. I gcroílár na Gaeltachta, tá laghdú daonra i gceist agus tá an Ghaeilge i mbaol. Is í an cheist atá agam go sonrach ná cad atá foghlamtha ag an gcomhairle? Cén cineál eolais atá ag an gcomhairle chun dul i ngleic leis an bhfadhb seo maidir le cúrsaí tithíochta agus patrún lonnaíochta a luaigh an Teachta Ó Cuív? An dtuigeann an finné mo cheist? Is í an chomhairle contae seo an chéad chóras áitiúil le plean ó 2008. Is é seo 2021 anois agus tá géarchéim i gceist. Cad iad na fadhbanna atá tagtha chun cinn arís agus arís maidir leis na ráitis teanga, mar shampla? Cad atá foghlamtha ag an gcomhairle nó cén córas atá ann chun na fadhbanna a anailísiú agus dul i ngleic leo? An bhfuil easpa acmhainní ann, easpa tuisceana nó easpa córais chun anailís a dhéanamh?

Críochnóidh mé trí thagairt a dhéanamh do dhuine gan an t-ainm a lua. Chuir mé féin agus Teachta eile observation isteach chuig An Bord Phleanála. Ní bhaineann sé leis sin ach an rud a chuir isteach orainn go léir maidir leis an duine seo ná - nílim ag caint faoi chúrsaí a phleanáil ach faoi chúrsaí a phleanáil ó thaobh na teanga de - gur duine é a rugadh agus a tógadh i gcroílár Chonamara a bhí ag bogadh ó áit amháin, áit a bhfuil an duine ina chónaí lena thuismitheoirí, chun cur faoi sa Spidéal. Níor tháinig sé faoin gcuspóir faoi leith maidir le adding value nó ag cur luach. Ní thuigim é seo. Níor tháinig an duine seo faoi RH04B. Is duine le Gaeilge é. Is duine le gairm é. Is duine é a bhfuil baint aige le gach club sa cheantar ach fós níor tháinig sé faoin mhír sin faoi dhó, ag an leibhéal áitiúil agus ag An mBord Pleanála. Tuigim nach féidir leis an bhfinné tagairt a dhéanamh do dhuine ar leith ach is é an pointe ná má theipeann ar an duine sin faoin mhír ó thaobh na teanga de, go bhfóire Dia orainn.

Ms Valerie Loughnane

With respect to the monitoring and so on and so forth, we spoke about that previously regarding the Irish language enurements which have to be signed up to in complying with a condition. Therefore, the conditions have to be complied with and that is the monitoring as such. I think we spoke about enurements at the start of the session today.

On the linguistic impact statements, we can certainly root out those numbers in terms of how many there have been in the past ten years and how it has developed. With respect to the fact that, since 2008, we have a Gaeltacht plan up to 2021, we have learned a number of things and we have tried to address them as we are going along regarding the application. There were a number of infrastructural deficits, in a way, in the context of employment and so on. Thankfully the 110 kV project was constructed a number of years ago to Connemara which gives continuity of power and certainty of power. At one time there was an issue with trying to keep employment there and building the numbers. There are a number of different facets involved.

From that perspective, in the variation we did in 2018, we went to the three islands. We developed a framework plan for the islands, which was a new intervention introduced in 2018, and have developed it further in our plan with a Gaeltacht chapter. We learned that the islands’ needs are different. Their situation is different. They are a Gaeltacht, but they are also physically different not alone because they are islands but because of the nature of the terrain and the designations and so on. We learned that the island community needs a slightly different framework from that of the mainland. We looked at various different aspects of policy that worked in 2008 up to 2018 and amended some of them in order for them to work a bit better for the Gaeltacht areas.

On the areas under urban pressure, there are difficulties from that perspective. We previously mentioned that in cases where we granted a planning application for a once-off house for somebody who qualified under the neartú Gaeltacht and so on, if he or she was closer to Galway city or that area of urban pressure, An Bord Pleanála would look at the fact it is under urban pressure and possibly consider that as an area where there was a difficulty in providing a one-off rural house.

Since 2008, we have learned quite a lot. If we were to look at our Gaeltacht plan of 2008, which we have done, compared with what is proposed in our Gaeltacht chapter of our draft country development plan, we would see a noticeable number of differences that we have learned from and have amended policies. I hope that answers the question.

Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh

Níl ach ceist amháin agam a leanann na ceisteanna a chuir an Teachta Ó Cuív. Baineann sí leis an ábhar lárnach atá pléite go maith againn ar an gcoiste seo, is é sin, céard is inniúlacht ann. Ba mhaith liom an cheist a chur maidir le coinníollacha teanga, the language conditions that are applied. Deputy Ó Cuív put the question about external monitoring. I am not sure whether it was answered but I got an interrupting phone call so perhaps I missed it. Have we a standardised standard across the seven county councils in which there are Gaeltacht areas? Do we expect the same language conditions to apply to each of the seven Gaeltacht areas? Are they objective or subjective standards and with what are we comparing them? What external monitoring applies to that? If I were to apply under a linguistic standard to An Sean Phobal i gContae Phort Láirge, do I apply under the same language standards that apply sa Daingean nó i dTír Chonaill? That is the heart of my question, if any witness would like to reply.

Chairman

Ar mhaith le Liam Mac an Bhaird nó aon duine ón gcomhairle i dTír Chonaill freagra a thabhairt?

Mr. Liam Mac an Bhaird

Má chuala mé an cheist i gceart, maidir leis na coinníollacha a bhaineann leis an nGaeilge a chuir muid ar cheadanna pleanála i nDún na nGall, ní chuirimid aon choinníoll ar bith ar thithe aonair. Níl aon choinníoll mar pháirt den phróiseas cead pleanála ar thithe aonair. Maidir le heastáit tithíochta de níos mó ná deich dteach iontu, tá coinníollacha ann go gcaithfidh an t-iarrthóir a chinntiú go mbíonn daoine a bhfuil Gaeilge acu lonnaithe i gcuid de na tithe sin. Mar a dúirt mé cheana féin, eastáit tithíochta de níos mó ná deich dteach, caithfidh an t-iarrthóir an ráiteas teanga a chur isteach leis an iarratas.

Maidir le monatóireacht na rialacha sin, is rud é sin nach bhfuil láidir go leor againn ag an am seo, caithfear a rá, agus tá níos mó oibre le déanamh againn ann. Ó 2008 go 2021, ní raibh ach cás amháin d'iarratas le níos mó ná deich dteach ann ina raibh dualgas ar an iarrathóir ráiteas teanga a chur isteach. Sílim go bhfreagraíonn sé sin an cheist. Tá brón orm munar dtuig mé an Teachta i gceart.

Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh

No, sin í freagra na ceiste. B’fhéidir nár thaitin an freagra liom.

Chairman

Cuirfimid an cheist chéanna ar Chomhairle Contae Mhaigh Eo. An cheist a bhí ann ná an bhfuil na coinníollacha teanga mar an gcéanna timpeall na gcomhairlí contae difriúla.

Mr. Kevin Kelly

My understanding is that the working group I referred to earlier, which is across all the planning authorities with Gaeltacht areas, was considering the issue of approach and consistency of language proficiency and language assessment. While I am not directly involved in it, I understand there are differences of approach across the Gaeltacht areas in that assessment.

Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh

What approach does Mayo County Council take? Does it apply language conditions to one-off housing or to estates? If so, what objective assessment is done? Is it an interview process? Is it a subjective or an objective assessment?

Mr. Kevin Kelly

In Mayo, the issue is really a lack of development as opposed to anything else. We do not have assessments or conditions in relation to Irish language clauses currently. There has been a very limited amount of development in Gaeltacht areas with no urban generated pressure. There is certainly a lot of food for thought from today’s discussion and the issues raised by members of the committee.

Chairman

Bogfaimid ar aghaidh go Comhairle Contae na Gaillimhe. Is léir ón méid a chuir Valerie Loughnane os ár gcomhair go bhfuil coinníollacha leagtha síos ag an gcomhairle.

Ms Valerie Loughnane

We have a standard. There is liaising ongoing between councils and the working group is trying to establish consistency across the board, as previous speakers said. Our standard is assessed under three different criteria, namely, the ability in the language, a commitment to the language and how the applicant uses the language in his or her everyday life. We have an interview process that assesses applicants under the three different criteria. That applies across the board be it for developments in estates with two or more houses or individual applications for one-off houses. We spoke about the monitoring previously. We apply enurement clauses which are conditions that have to be complied with.

Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh

Within the interview process, what are the specific language measurables? Is the council using anything like the common European framework, which is often discussed by this committee, to set an objective standard that people must reach in the interview process?

Ms Valerie Loughnane

Yes. We have a standard under the scéim deontais tithíochta. The standard has to be achieved under that. Our policy sets out that applicants are expected to have a fluency which exceeds that which is required at the oral Irish exam in the leaving certificate, which is another criterion. We are operating under the scéim deontais tithíochta standard.

Deputy Joe McHugh

Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach as ucht an chruinnithe seo a eagrú. Tá sé iontach tábhachtach agus iontach dearfach a bheith páirteach sa chomhrá seo. Is cinnte go bhfuil caidreamh maith idir oifigigh ó Chomhairle Contae Dhún na nGall agus mé féin. É sin ráite, nuair a bhí mé i Roinn na Gaeltachta bhí mé i dteagmháil le Kevin Kelly uair amháin agus le comhghleacaithe eile i gComhairle Contae na Gaillimhe agus i gComhairle Contae Mhaigh Eo. Is léir go bhfuil tionchar mór dearfach, agus tionchair dhifriúla, sna ceantair éagsúla ar son na ndaoine uilig atá lonnaithe i gceantair Ghaeltachta maidir leis an seirbhís. Nuair a bhí mise ag lorg duine i gComhairle Contae Dhún na nGall, bhí mé ábalta labhairt trí Ghaeilge leo. Gach aon lá, is cuma cén cheist atá ann, tá duine ann le Gaeilge. Tá sé sin difriúil ó 20 bliain ó shin agus ó deich mbliana ó shin fosta. Ba mhaith liom aitheantas a thabhairt d’achan duine as an díograis agus an sárobair a rinneadh thar na blianta.

Tá sé sin tábhachtach mar níl Gaeilge ag achan duine. Is é sin an saol agus is é sin an dúshlán a bhíonn ann i gcónaí. É sin ráite, tá níos mó impleachtaí ann faoin tumoideachas. I gceantair Gaeltachta anois tá níos mó bunscoileanna agus meánscoileanna ag dul tríd an tumoideachas. Tá na comhairlí contae uilig ag obair le chéile le hÚdarás na Gaeltachta, leis na dreamanna deonacha agus leis na daoine atá ag obair ar na pleananna teanga laistigh agus lasmuigh den Ghaeltacht. Mar shampla, i mo chontae tá Leitir Ceanainn mar bhaile seirbhíse anois agus i gContae na Gaillimhe fosta i gcás chathair na Gaillimhe. Tá an iarracht atá déanta tábhachtach agus tá an bealach ina bhfuilimid tábhachtach fosta.

Dá mbeadh seans ann in 2022, nuair a bheimid in áit dhifriúil agus ábalta casadh le chéile, b’fhéidir go mbeidh comhdháil ann. Is í sin an sprioc atá agam. B’fhéidir go bhféadfadh comhdháil lonnaithe i nGaillimh nó i Maigh Eo a bheith ann, agus chuirfí fáilte roimhe i nDún na nGall freisin, ina mbeimis ag labhairt faoi agus ag amharc ar na rudaí dearfacha. Tá ceangal ann idir na réamhscoileanna. Tá Comhairle Contae Dhún na nGall ag obair go cóngarach leis an gceantar Mín an Lábáin, áit atá iontach lag ó thaobh na Gaeilge de. Tá siad ag obair lámh le chéile leis an scoil i nGleann Domhain ar na réamhscoileanna agus an spás, an deis agus an tábhacht a bhaineann leis na réamhscoileanna.

Chomh maith leis sin, tá mise ag obair go cóngarach leis na hoifigigh san oifig phleanála i dTír Chonaill agus Inis Eoghain fosta faoin éileamh atá ann anois. Tá na daoine uilig ag teacht ar ais. Tá níos mó daoine ag smaoineamh ar theacht ar ais ó Mheiriceá agus ón Astráil agus ba mhaith leo tithe a thógáil ina gcontaetha féin. Tá plean mór ag baint leis sin. Bíonn na comhairleoirí contae ag caint faoi seo i gcónaí. Taobh amuigh den cheist míoca atá ann faoi láthair, is é an plean faoi choinne tithe sna ceantair iargúlta an rud is tábhachtaí, go cinnte i gceantair Ghaeltachta agus lasmuigh dóibh.

Tá níos mó oibre de dhíth. Mar fhocal scoir, nílim ag cuardach aon fhreagra ar aon cheist. Tá an obair iontach tábhachtach atá déanta le feiceáil ar an talamh, ach is cinnte go bhfuil dúshláin ann fosta. Tá níos mó daoine ag streachailt leis an nGaeilge. Tá níos mó daoine ag amharc siar ar an drochthaithí a bhí acu ag foghlaim na Gaeilge. É sin ráite, tá níos mó rudaí dearfacha ann agus déanaim comhghairdeas leis an Chathaoirleach agus na hoifigigh uilig as a bheith páirteach sa chomhdháil inniu.

Chairman

Tá cúpla ceist agam féin agus ansin is féidir leis na comhairlí a bhfreagraí a thabhairt ar an méid a dúirt an Teachta McHugh chomh maith ar mo cheisteanna. Bhí an cruinniú seo an-spéisiúil. Tá sé scanrúil ar shlí amháin nach bhfuil coinníollacha teanga i gceist ó thaobh na tithíochta de i roinnt de na comhairlí contae - chuala muid uathu inniu – agus ó thaobh na forbartha de.

Tá dhá cheist agam agus tá súil agam go mbeidh na comhairlí in ann iad a fhreagairt. Tá siad sách simplí. An bhfuil siad ar an eolas faoin méid a tharla san Ard-Chúirt le déanaí maidir leis an bplean tithíochta, óstán i Ráth Chairn, agus an méid a dúirt an breitheamh? Tá sé tábhachtach do gach comhairle contae ina bhfuil ceantar Gaeltachta ó thaobh na pleanála de. Tá siad tar éis a lua go bhfuil plean forbartha á chur le chéile. Tá dréachtphlean acu faoi láthair. Ba chóir go mbeadh an méid a bhí le rá ag an mbreitheamh sa phlean sin agus pé monatóireacht agus a leithéidí a théann leis. Ba chóir go mbeadh na scéimeanna teanga domhain agus daingean.

Níl a fhios agam an bhfuil na comhairlí ar an eolas ach luaigh an tAire tithíochta go mbeidh scéim phleanála teanga agus scéim ó thaobh tithíochta de ag teacht chun cinn roimh an Nollaig. Tá an tAire le bheith os comhair an choiste seo chun é sin a phlé mar chuid den tsraith chruinnithe á eagrú againn faoi thithíocht sa Ghaeltacht. Pé rud a déarfaidh an tAire sa scéim phleanála tithíochta sa Ghaeltacht, b’fhéidir go mbeidh sé le feiscint sa phlean forbartha chomh maith. Nílim cinnte an é Tír Chonaill a bhí le críochnú roimh an Nollaig. Tá súil agam go bhfuil am fós ann ionas go mbeidh sé sna pleananna forbartha do 2022 ar aghaidh.

Mr. Liam Mac an Bhaird

Maidir leis an phlean forbartha contae, beidh muidne i nDún na nGall ag tosú ar an athbhreithniú ar an phlean an bhliain seo chugainn. Caithfimid tús a chur leis i mí na Bealtaine 2022. Beimid i dteagmháil leis na baill thofa ar an gcomhairle Dé Luain seo chugainn maidir leis sin agus beimid ag fáil réidh faoi choinne an athbhreithnithe. Ó thaobh an chinnidh maidir leis an chás a bhí os comhair na hArd-Chúirte, i Rath Cháirn, beimid á thabhairt faoi deara nuair a bheidh an t-athbhreithniú á dhéanamh againn. Beimid ag plé an ábhair sin agus gan dabht caithfimid é sin a chur san áireamh agus muid ag déanamh an phlean forbartha contae úr.

Maidir leis an dara ceist, tá an freagra céanna relevant ansin chomh maith. Beimid ag déanamh sin mar chuid den athbhreithniú ar an phlean atá againn agus an plean nua á chur le chéile againn.

Ms Valerie Loughnane

Yes, we are aware of the High Court judgment. The judgment is the judgment. We are aware of it and keep up to date with such judgments. With respect to anything that comes in the future, as I said, the chief executive’s report on submissions is with our members. If it is something that we need to comply with, we will do that, but we have policy objectives within our draft plan that would cover the majority of it. We will have to wait and see what the housing Minister comes back with in that regard. We would be happy to look at that. We are currently in a process. If it is possible within that process to do that, we certainly will.

Mr. Kevin Kelly

Very similarly, we are at the same position with our county development plan. We will be considering it with our members before and after Christmas. We will certainly be happy to consider any developments that would be supportive to Gaeltacht communities.

Chairman

Gabhaim buíochas libh ar fad. Is é sin deireadh na gceisteanna. Ní fheicim aon lámha eile in airde.

Ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas a ghabháil arís leis an fhoireann ó Chomhairle Contae Dhún na nGall: John G. McLaughlin, an príomhfheidhmeannach; Liam Mac an Bhaird, stiúrthóir forbartha pobail agus seirbhísí pleanála; agus Eunan Quinn, an pleanálaí sinsearach; leis an fhoireann ó Chomhairle Contae na Gaillimhe: Valerie Loughnane, an pleanálaí sinsearach; Brendan Dunne, an pleanálaí feidhmiúcháin; agus Úna Ní Eidhin, oifigeach forbartha na Gaeilge; agus leis an fhoireann ó Chomhairle Contae Mhaigh Eo: Kevin Kelly, an príomhfheidhmeannach; Catherine McConnell, an stiúrthóir pleanála; agus Tomás Ó Giollagáin, an stiúrthóir tithíochta. Arís, ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas agus buíochas an chomhchoiste a ghabháil libh as a bheith linn inniu chun an t-ábhar seo a phlé. Tá sé i gceist againn déileáil leis na contaetha eile an tseachtain seo chugainn. Má tá na finnéithe atá linn inniu ag lorg níos mó eolais faoin gcaoi ina bhfuil nithe sna contaetha eile, is féidir leo éisteacht leis sin.

Ar an 1 Nollaig pléifear an t-ábhar céanna maidir le tithíocht agus cúrsaí pleanála fisiciúil sa Ghaeltacht le hionadaithe ó chomhairlí contaetha Chiarraí, Chorcaí agus na Mí agus ó Chomhairle Cathrach agus Contae Phort Láirge.

Cuireadh an comhchoiste ar athló ar 3.41 p.m. go dtí 1.30 p.m. Dé Céadaoin, 1 Nollaig 2021.