Comhchoiste na Gaeilge, na Gaeltachta agus Phobal Labhartha na Gaeilge díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 22 Mar 2023

Riachtanais Bailithe agus Cóireála Fuíolluisce sa Ghaeltacht: Plé

An Cathaoirleach

Tá ceathrar comhalta i láthair, Teachta agus Seanadóir san áireamh. Mar sin, is féidir linn tús a chur leis an gcruinniú. Leanfaidh sé ar aghaidh go dtí 3.30 p.m. más gá. Níl aon leithscéal faighte agam go fóill. Fearaim fáilte roimh chomhaltaí an chomhchoiste agus roimh aon comhaltaí eile atá ag freastal ar an gcruinniú. Cuirim fáilte dár ndóigh roimh na finnéithe a bheidh ag labhairt linn inniu agus chomh maith le sin, roimh an lucht féachana ar Theilifís an Oireachtais. Mar ionadaithe thar cheann an Roinn Tithíochta, Rialtais Áitiúil agus Oidhreachta, fearaim fáilte roimh an rúnaí cúnta i rannán an uisce, Fintan Towey; an príomhoifigeach, Douglas Kelly; an príomhoifigeach cúnta in aonad an uisce thuaithe, Belinda Ní Threasaigh; agus an príomhoifigeach cúnta, Luke Varley. Tá na finnéithe go léir ag freastal ar an gcruinniú ó sheomra coiste 4 laistigh de phurláin Thithe an Oireachtais.

Sula leanaimid ar aghaidh le breathnú ar ábhar na cruinnithe inniu, sé sin, riachtanais bailithe agus cóireála fuíolluisce atá ag sráidbhailte agus lonnaíochtaí sa Ghaeltacht nach bhfuil rochtain acu ar sheirbhíse fuíolluisce poiblí le gairid, tá dualgas orm na rialacha agus na treoracha seo a leanas a leagan faoi bhráid na bhfinnéithe agus na gcomhaltaí atá ag freastal ar an gcruinniú seo. Meabhraím do chomhaltaí, d’fhinnéithe agus do bhaill foirne a chinntiú go bhfuil a ngutháin shoghluaiste múchta le linn an chruinnithe mar gur féidir leis na gléasanna seo cur isteach ar chóras craolacháin, eagarthóireachta agus fuaime Thithe an Oireachtais. Tá an rogha ag comhaltaí freastal ar an gcruinniú go fisiciúil sa seomra coiste nó go fíorúil ar Microsoft Teams, ar an gcoinníoll, i gcás cruinnithe phoiblí, gur óna n-oifigí i dTithe an Oireachtais a dhéantar sin. Is de bharr riachtanais bhunreachtúla a dhéantar é sin. Nuair atá comhaltaí ag freastal óna n-oifigí, ba chóir dóibh a bhfíseáin a bheith ar siúl an t-am go léir agus iad féin le feiceáil ar an scáileán. Baineann an coinníoll seo le finnéithe freisin má tá siad ag freastal ar an cruinniú go fíorúil.

Cuirim ar aird na bhfinnéithe go bhfuil siad, de bhua Bhunreacht na hÉireann agus reachtaíochta araon, faoi chosaint ag lánphribhléid maidir leis an bhfianaise a thugann siad don chomhchoiste chomh fada agus atá siad lonnaithe laistigh de phurláin Thithe an Oireachtais agus an fhianaise sin á tabhairt acu. Molaim d’fhinnéithe a bheith cúramach agus fianaise á tabhairt acu. Má ordaíonn an comhchoiste dóibh éirí as fianaise a thabhairt i leith ní áirithe, ba chóir go ndéantar amhlaigh láithreach. Ordaítear dóibh gan aon fhianaise 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 chuir siad faoi bhráid an choiste a fhoilsiú ar shuíomh gréasáin an choiste tar éis an chruinnithe seo. Fiafraítear d’fhinnéithe agus de chomhaltaí araon an 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 ar shlí a bhféadfaí iad a aithint. Chomh maith le sin, 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 do dhuine nó eintiteas aitheanta, ordófar dóibh éirí as an ráiteas láithreach. Tá sé ríthábhachtach go ngéillfeadh siad leis an ordú sin má eisítear é.

Anois, sin deireadh leis na rialacha. Mar sin, is féidir linn tús a chur tús a chur leis an bplé i gceart. Iarraim ar an rúnaí cúnta, Fintan Towey, ráiteas tosaigh a dhéanamh.

Mr. Fintan Towey

Good afternoon to the Chair and the members of the committee. I thank the committee for the invitation given to the Department to speak on the wastewater collection and treatment needs of villages and settlements that have not recently had access to public wastewater services. The Chair has introduced me and my team already so I will not repeat those introductions. I propose to limit my comments to the rural water sector as it is under the remit of my Department and as it relates to the questions asked. I will not be in a position to speak in detail on issues relating to Uisce Éireann.

The Department builds its water services strategic policy and infrastructure delivery programmes around Project Ireland 2040, the national development plan, the water services policy statement and the river basin management plan. Funding for water and wastewater services is delivered primarily through Uisce Éireann. However, in addition, and in line with policy objectives, the Department provides significant funding to the rural water sector under the multiannual rural water programme. Funding is provided for the needs of the sector and in support of sustainable improvements and developments in rural areas, including Gaeltacht areas. Investment and funding provided through the programme is aimed at ensuring Ireland meets its legal obligations as set out under the water framework directive. It is a strategic objective of the rural water programme to use Exchequer funding in a cost-effective manner to deliver improvements to the quality, reliability and efficiency of water services for areas of rural Ireland where there are no public water or wastewater services.

A range of solutions are used to achieve the policy objectives, with significant input and responsibilities falling to Uisce Éireann, the local authorities, developers and community entities. The day-to-day administration of the individual projects funded under the programme is carried out by the relevant local authority. The Department retains stewardship and governance of the funds involved and is responsible for determining policy for the rural water sector. There are a number of types of rural wastewater supplies, which primarily consist of domestic wastewater treatment systems or sceptic tanks serving individual households that are not connected to the public sewer; community wastewater connections, which were formerly called public group sewage schemes and developer-provided infrastructure, DPI, which serves more than one house and is not connected to the public sewerage system.

Government funding for capital investment to drive improvements to the wastewater infrastructure in our towns and villages is provided through programmes under the remit of Uisce Éireann and through specific, Department-led programmes. The key programmes are the multiannual rural water programme; the multiannual developer-provided water services infrastructure resolution programme; Uisce Éireann's capital investment plan and Uisce Éireann's small towns and villages growth programme. In addition to these programmes, last year, the Minister announced further funding of €50 million, specifically for the wastewater collection and treatment needs of villages and settlements without access to public wastewater services, as an advance measure under the multiannual rural water programme, from 2022 to 2025.

The measure A8, with regard to wastewater collection and treatment needs for villages and settlements without access to public wastewater services, was launched following significant consultation with stakeholders, including all local authorities, completing detailed surveys of villages and settlements in their respective areas. The scheme will fund projects and areas with identified environmental needs and take a demonstration project model approach. This approach supports taking a longer-term view of the projects involved and will better inform future funding needs in this area.

The multiannual developer-provided water services infrastructure resolution programme, through State funding, progressively facilitates the resolution of issues with developer-provided water services infrastructure in estates that are dependent on this type of service. DPI issues are a small subset of housing estates that are served by standalone water services infrastructure, provided by the developer of the estate. They are all privately-owned facilities and not connected to the public Uisce Éireann water services network. They are made up mostly of wastewater treatment plants, but there are also a small number of drinking water abstraction and treatment plants.

The main Uisce Éireann capital funding plan for water and wastewater is its capital investment plan 2020 to 2024. The focus of the capital investment plan for wastewater is on cities, towns and villages with public wastewater collections networks, with or without treatment plants, that are in need of capital investment. Uisce Éireann is providing water and wastewater growth capacity for smaller settlements, through the small towns and villages growth programme 2020 to 2024. The focus of this programme is to support growth in these smaller towns and villages that would not otherwise be provided for in their capital investment plan. The ongoing work of programmes funded by the Department, combined with the work of Uisce Éireann, are helping to deliver on the Government's objectives of addressing the existing deficits, while ensuring environmental compliance and best practice, with an overriding goal being to help make our towns and villages more attractive locations in which to live. The Department will continue to build progressively on the success of the rural water programme, by developing strategies that are integrated, action-focused and whole-of-society oriented in their input and application.

I thank the committee members for the invitation to meet with them. My colleagues and I are happy to take any questions they may have.

Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív

Léigh mé an cháipéis a chur na finnéithe ar fáil inné, le fíorspéis. D'fhógair an tAire scéim deontais anuraidh le haghaidh bailte beaga agus sráidbhailte. An bhféadfaí a rá linn cé mhéad baile Gaeltachta a fuair tairbhe as an scéim sin anuraidh? Ar ndóigh, is faoi bhailte Gaeltachta atáimid ag caint. An nglacfaí leis go bhfuil an scéim seo dírithe ar na bailte is mó a bheadh in aon chontae, nach bhfuil scéim séarachais ann? Ar thaobh amháin de scéal, is í an áit ar mhair an Ghaeilge, ar chúis éigin, ná na háiteanna atá scoite amach, leis an daonra is lú agus méid is mó bailte beaga. Níl oiread agus baile amháin láidir a bhfuil an Ghaeilge in uachtarán ann, fiú sa Ghaeltacht. Ar an taobh eile den scéal, ar an gcaoi go bhfuil an scéim leagtha amach, de réir mar a thuigim, tá an chontúirt ann go ndéanfar na bailte móra nach bhfuil scéimeanna séarachais iontu, i dtosach.

I gcomhthéacs slánú na teanga, tá mar pholasaí uilíoch ag an Rialtas, trasna gach uile rannóg agus Roinn agus go mór mór ag an Aire, a bheith tiomanta i dtreo na Gaeilge. An bhfuil i gceist breathnú ar an scéim seo le déanamh cinnte go bhfaigheadh oileáin agus bailte beaga cothrom na féinne as an scéim seo? An bhfuil an ceart agam, is é sin, in áit nach bhfuil scéim séarachais - taobh amuigh den scéim seo agus de na deontais thar a bheith beag a chaitear ar athchóiriú d'acmhainní séarachais agus scéimeanna eisiúintí príobháideacha - nach gcaitheann an Roinn aon airgead, go díreach nó go hindíreach, trí Uisce Éireann, ar shéarachas don phobal tuaithe? An bhféadfadh leis na finnéithe a rá liom ar deireadh cé mhéad a chaitear - ón gcáiníocóir - ar shéarachas sa tír, trí dheontas chuig Uisce Éireann, nó go díreach ag an Roinn in aon bhliain amháin? Tógfaidh mé an bhliain seo caite mar shampla.

Mr. Fintan Towey

I will respond. I thank the Deputy for his comments and questions. I will try to set what is happening in context. Under European law, there is a requirement that wastewater treatment facilities be provided to agglomerations with a population equivalent exceeding 2,000. It is the legal obligation that arises under European law. There are many agglomerations in Ireland, with a population below that level, which have treatment facilities that were established by the local authorities and are now operated by Uisce Éireann. Uisce Éireann also has a specific programme with regard to developing wastewater treatment, in small towns and villages that are below the threshold.

The programme has been developed by Uisce Éireann, in close consultation with the local authorities, through a process of identifying the priorities within each local authority area for inclusion within that programme.

Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív

Is this a new scheme?

Mr. Fintan Towey

This is an existing scheme where-----

Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív

Is this Uisce Éireann developing new schemes in unsewered towns and villages?

Mr. Fintan Towey

Yes. Uisce Éireann has been through a process. A range of sites have been identified but there is a process of strategic assessment involving building a preliminary business case, refining a final business case and, ultimately, selecting and implementing projects. The process is towards the front end in terms of strategic assessment and building of preliminary business cases. Outside of what Uisce Éireann has been doing in that space, the Minister introduced a scheme last year whereby there was a call for applications from local authorities for development of wastewater treatment for small settlements and villages that are unsewered. The threshold for potential benefit under the scheme was set at a population equivalent of 150, which is about 40 houses. Local authorities were invited to put forward two applications for participation in the scheme. The scheme was introduced as a pilot scheme in order to try to identify the kinds of problems that exist and the priorities for resolution because of environmental health issues that arise, and to try to learn the best way of resolving those issues. That scheme was opened by the Minister last year and there is provision under the national development plan for a potential fund of €50 million over a period of five years. The closing date for applications was September last year. We received 23 applications under that scheme. The process entails those applications being examined by an expert panel. The panel is continuing with this work with a view to assessing the merits of the applications, having regard to the criteria for the scheme, which basically require there to be a population of 150 and environmental and public health risks that need to be resolved. I am not sure off the top of my head how many of those 23 applications fall within the Gaeltacht areas but that is something we can follow up on. The point to emphasise is that the purpose of this scheme was not to prioritise larger settlements; it was aimed specifically at small villages and settlements.

Regarding the Department's expenditure, the funding we apply in relation to water services is allocated primarily to Uisce Éireann. The figure for this year is something in the order of €1.65 billion. We also allocate funding, as I said my opening remarks, under the rural water programme. The funding is allocated to the local authorities so the administration of funding is through the local authorities but we maintain overall stewardship and control. I would not have the specific amounts on a year-by-year basis readily to hand but we can follow up with a note on that if it is helpful.

Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív

Faigheann thart ar 85% den phobal leas as uisce poiblí. Tá 6% ansin faoi ghrúpscéimeanna agus 10% atá ag brath ar thoibreacha nó srutháin nó ar bhealaí eile le huisce a fháil. As an €1.65 billiún sin - glacaim leis go bhfuil gar do €2 billiún i gceist nuair atá gach rud curtha san áireamh - cé mhéad a chaitear ar uisce agus cé mhéad a chaitear ar shéarachas nó fuíolluisce? Sin í an cheist mhór. Bheadh mé den bharúil go bhféadfadh sé a bheith chomh hard le 3:1 i bhfabhar caiteachas ar shéarachas, fiú go bhfuil stráicí móra millteacha den tír nach bhfaigheann aon bhuntáiste as aon chuid den chaiteachas sin. Go minic labhraítear faoi chostas na seirbhísí a chuirtear ar fáil faoin tuath ach tá go leor seirbhísí nach bhfuil ar fáil faoin tuath. Iarraim ar Fintan Towey briseadh síos a thabhairt den airgead sin mar bheadh sé thar a bheith cuiditheach. Bheinn buíoch dá bhféadfadh sé deimhniú dúinn go gcuirfidh sé liosta ar fáil de na bailte Gaeltachta atá molta faoin gclár speisialta ar thug an tAire isteach anuraidh.

B'fhéidir go bhféadfadh Fintan Towey soiléiriú a thabhairt dom maidir leis seo. Bhí sé le tuiscint agam ó Uisce Éireann nach bhfuil an t-airgead acu, fiú má tá an chumhacht acu, le scéimeanna séarachais a chur isteach i mbailte nach bhfuil séarachas poiblí dá laghad iontu. An bhfuil Fintan Towey ag rá liom go bhfuil Uisce Éireann ag cur scéimeanna séarachais isteach, as a gcuid foinsí féin, i mbailte beaga nach bhfuil scéimeanna séarachais iontu cheana féin? Aon uair a d'iarr mise ar Uisce Éireann é sin a dhéanamh, dúirt siad nach raibh aon airgead acu chun é a dhéanamh.

Mr. Fintan Towey

There were quite a few questions in there. A lot of the issues Deputy has raised are ones that are within the remit of Irish Water in terms of how it disposes of the total amount of funding that is available to it. The Deputy set out figures around the proportion of households served by Irish Water of 85% with 6% on group schemes and 10% using private wells. That is obviously for drinking water provision. For wastewater, there is a small but very limited number of group schemes providing wastewater services. It is very small, even tiny, in terms of the overall households in the country. About 70% of households are served by public wastewater facilities. The other 30% are served by domestic wastewater treatment facilities - septic tanks, essentially. The breakdown of how funding is applied by Irish Water between the provision of drinking water services versus wastewater services is not something I can give the Deputy any information on. That is a question for Uisce Éireann. In-----

Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív

Gabh mo leithscéal. Tá fadhb anseo. Tá Oireachtas Éireann ann agus táimid freagrach don phobal. Nuair a chuirtear an cheist sin ar Uisce Éireann, ní fhreagróidh siad an cheist ach oiread. Tá sé in am go mbeadh a fhios ag an bpobal é seo mar tá 30% nach bhfuil séarachas acu agus tá sé de cheart acu siúd fios a bheith acu cé mhéad atá á chaitheamh ar shéarachas agus cé mhéad atá á chaitheamh ar uisce. Tá 30% nach bhfuil ag fáil buntáiste dá laghad as an gcaiteachas ar shéarachas.

Mr. Fintan Towey

That is correct. It is taxpayer funded. In that sense, there are parts of the country that are benefiting from this through the provision of public sewerage services while 30% of households provide their own water treatment facilities. We can relay that request for a breakdown of funding to Irish Water and would be very happy to bring back any response to the committee.

An Cathaoirleach

Is féidir linn ceist a chur arís ar Uisce Éireann teacht anseo. Chuir muid an cheist cheana ach dúirt siad nár bhain sé seo leo. Glaoim ar an Teachta Connolly.

Deputy Catherine Connolly

Cuirim fáilte roimh na finnéithe go léir. Tá sé deacair feidhmiú i dhá theanga.

Léigh mé an ráiteas tosaigh agus an cháipéis seo i nGaeilge. Níl aon rud i mBéarla agam. Tá sé thar a bheith deacair. Bhí mé chun comhghairdeas a ghabháil leis na finnéithe as ucht chaighdeán na Gaeilge sa ráiteas tosaigh. Is dóigh gurb é an rannóg aistriúcháin atá i gceist anseo. Tá caighdeán iontach anseo atá i bhfad níos airde ná mo chaighdeán féin. Ba mhaith liom é sin a rá i dtús báire. Bhí mé ag súil le togha na Gaeilge ó na finnéithe. B'fhéidir go bhfuil céim tugtha acu. Níl a fhios agam.

Is coiste Gaeilge é seo ach go háirithe. Ní coiste pleanála nó coiste mar sin muid. Éiríonn an t-ábhar seo as na dreamanna a tháinig os ár gcomhair a chuir in iúl na deacrachtaí agus na constaicí atá i gceist ó thaobh a bheith lonnaithe sna Gaeltachtaí. Is é sin croílár na ceiste dúinn. Tháinig Tuismitheoirí na Gaeltachta agus dreamanna eile os ár gcomhair. Táim ag smaoineamh ar na húdaráis áitiúla ach go háirithe. Bhí na dreamanna cosúil le Tuismitheoirí na Gaeltachta ag díriú solais ar na fadhbanna agus cad a bhí ag teastáil. Bhí na húdaráis áitiúla ag cur in iúl, nó ag nochtadh, nach raibh tuiscint rómhaith acu maidir leis na dualgais atá acu ó thaobh na Gaeilge de. Is é sin an comhthéacs agus tá cúpla ceist agam laistigh den chomhthéacs sin.

Luaigh Fintan Towey togra píolótach agus é ag tabhairt freagra don Teachta Ó Cuív. Luaitear ar leathanach 3 den cháipéis atá agam anseo é. Tá €50 milliún i gceist go dtí 2025. Tá suim agam féin agus ag an gcoiste san ábhar ach níl an t-eolas riachtanach ag na finnéithe ó thaobh líon na 23 iarratas sin a bhaineann le ceantair Ghaeltachta. Is togra faoi leith é. Tá €50 milliún i gceist. Níl aon easpa airgid ann ach níl aon bhriseadh síos ar an rud is práinní dúinn. Cad iad na ceantair Ghaeltachta a chuir iarratas isteach?

Mr. Fintan Towey

The €50 million the Deputy referred to is for the scheme announced by the Minister for which applications were invited last year.

Deputy Catherine Connolly

Tuigim é sin. Chun am a spáráil, tá sé léite agam. Baineann mo cheist le briseadh síos na n-iarratas.

Mr. Fintan Towey

None of the 23 applications were from Gaeltacht areas.

Deputy Catherine Connolly

Níl iarratas amháin ó aon cheantar Gaeltachta. Níl. Tiocfaidh mé ar ais go dtí sin i gceann nóiméid. Cad a chiallaíonn DPI? An é sin i nGaeilge nó i mBéarla? Ní thuigim DPI. Tá an téarma ar leathanach 5.

Mr. Fintan Towey

DPI is developer-provided infrastructure.

Deputy Catherine Connolly

Tá an DPI i gceist agus tá sruth airgid i gceist. Tá súil agam go n-inseoidh na finnéithe dom má tá mé mícheart ach, de réir mar a thuigim, tá sruth airgid ón Rialtas i gceist faoin scéim seo do DPI. Baineann sé sin le líon na n-eastát atá ann ó na 1990idí agus ó 2000 ar aghaidh nach bhfuil aon réiteach buan séarachais acu. An bhfuil mé ceart nó mícheart?

Mr. Fintan Towey

That is correct. DPI is about infrastructure that was put in place by estate developers, mainly in the period from the mid-1990s to the mid-2000s. In the normal course of events, when the estates were completed, the infrastructure was handed over to local authorities. In many cases, that did not happen. There is a legacy issue with infrastructure that is not fit for purpose at this point and that is not connected to the public system. There are issues that need to be resolved so there is a funding programme with a view to enabling that to happen.

Deputy Catherine Connolly

Cé mhéad airgead atá i gceist? Cad é líon na n-eastát atá i gceist? Cé mhéad de na heastáit sin atá lonnaithe i gceantair Ghaeltachta?

Mr. Fintan Towey

The Department undertook a study in 2017-2018 with regard to housing estates where there were issues regarding being taken in charge. That quantified the overall number of estates at that point as being 914. Something in the order of half of these could potentially be candidates for connection to the Uisce Éireann system. For the balance, alternative approaches would be necessary. On the funding scheme we have in place, we have given allocations, which means approval in principle, over the years 2020, 2021 and 2022. The allocation was €8 million in 2020, €4 million in 2021 and €7 million in 2022. It is recognised that these are legacy issues that need to be resolved so ultimately the necessary funding will have to be found over time. We are moving forward on a prioritised basis. It is the local authorities that identify the priorities for resolution and the paths to resolution in the first instance.

Deputy Catherine Connolly

Tá sé sin cabhrach. Tugann sé léargas dúinn. Cé mhéad de na tithe nó na heastáit sin atá lonnaithe i gceantair Ghaeltachta? Cad atá i gceist faoi láthair? Cén sórt córais atá i gceist faoi láthair fad atáthar ag fanacht ar an réiteach ceart?

Mr. Fintan Towey

Again, I am afraid I do not have a breakdown of that overall number showing numbers in the Gaeltacht. Obviously, of 914 estates, many will be in the larger towns or adjacent to them. Others will not be. I do not know whether some are in Gaeltacht areas. I would imagine that, if there are, it will not be a terribly big number. I am not sure if we have a ready answer for that but we can search for it and, if we do, we will provide it.

Deputy Catherine Connolly

Cén sórt córais atá i gceist faoi láthair? De réir an méid atá léite agam, ag an am, ba réiteach eatramhach a bhí i gceist. Ní raibh sé i gceist go mbeadh an réiteach seo buan. Is dóigh nach réiteach cuí beag nó mór a bhí i gceist. Cad atá á dhéanamh fad atáthar ag fanacht ar an réiteach cuí?

Mr. Fintan Towey

I understand that there are wastewater collection systems. Some amount of treatment may be being provided but treatment is not being performed to the required standard and so the discharge to the environment is not at an acceptable level. There may also be issues with regard to capacity. I will ask my colleague, Mr. Varley, whether he can explain those deficiencies in the DPI infrastructure any further.

Mr. Luke Varley

We are aware and have been aware over the years that there are deficiencies in the infrastructure in the sense that it is coming to the end of its useful life. It was built in the boom years of the 1990s and early 2000s. It varies from situation to situation and from estate to estate. We are aware that infrastructure is well run in some area while, in others, it is not. We are also aware that the infrastructure is not run at all in other areas because the developer went bust in the late 2000s. Enforcement falls to the local authority, which is the regulatory authority under the planning Acts and the Local Government (Water Pollution) Acts, but we know there are challenges there.

That is the situation as we know it.

Deputy Catherine Connolly

Iarraim go dtabharfaí briseadh síos dúinn ní tar éis an chruinnithe ach chomh sciobtha agus is féidir. Ritheann sé liom go bhfuil cuid den chóras sa Dáil ag rá gur chóir dúinn fáil réidh le cúrsaí pleanála agus rudaí a bhrostú suas. Ag féachaint ar an méid a rinneadh sna 1990idí nuair a bhí a lán airgid sa tír, níor chuireamar na rialacha i bhfeidhm agus ligeamar dóibh.

Tá mé chun críochnú le dhá rud eile. Rinneadh tagairt san aighneacht don anailís atá déanta. Rinne an Roinn athbhreithniú in 2021 agus leagtar amach cén sórt athbhreithniú a bhí ann. An bhfuil an t-athbhreithniú sin ar fáil nó ar foilsíodh é? Cuirtear factors nó rudaí éagsúla san áireamh ach ní chuirtear an teanga san áireamh, beag nó mór. Níl an Ghaeilge mar cheann de na riachtanais. Tá an t-athbhreithniú déanta; an bhfuil sé foilsithe? An bhfuil ról le feiceáil ó thaobh na Gaeilge de?

Mr. Fintan Towey

I think the Deputy is referring to the review undertaken by the Department on unsewered towns and settlements.

Deputy Catherine Connolly

Is mó eolas atá ag an Roinn. De réir an méid atá agam, rinne an Roinn athbhreithniú in 2021 agus bhí grúpa athbhreithnithe, grúpa oibre, bunaithe. Cuirtear na rudaí atá tábhachtach san áireamh, mar shampla, riachtanais tithíochta, riachtanais sláinte an duine agus an comhshaol, inmharthanacht airgeadais and so on but ní luaitear an teanga Gaeilge ar bith. An bhfuil an tuarascáil foilsithe agus cén ról atá ag an nGaeilge?

Mr. Fintan Towey

The report was undertaken as an internal exercise with a view to inform policy and, indeed, it formed the basis of the scheme I have been talking about that the Minister announced last year, under which he invited applications in relation to unsewered towns and villages. The review and report were undertaken in consultation and conjunction with local authorities. It identified 547 villages and settlements that did not have public sewerage facilities. The criteria that applied in looking at unsewered towns and villages was to identify if there were environmental or health issues arising from the lack of such facilities. Language was not a criterion that featured in the process of the review.

The review fed into the Minister’s consideration. It is not a published document and therefore it is not publicly available. I am not sure whether it was written in a way that is suited to being released in its entirety, but that is something we can look at.

Deputy Catherine Connolly

Tá easpa muiníne ag Fintan Towey as ár gcumas rudaí a léamh. Ná bí buartha; déanaimid ár ndícheall. Bheadh sé an-chabhrach an tuarascáil a léamh. Bheadh sé an-chabhrach chomh maith briseadh síos a bheith againn. Tá 547 sráidbhaile nó lonnaíocht luaite san anailís agus tá sé ráite nach bhfuil córas ag cuid acu. Bheadh sé an-chabhrach dá gcuirfí an figiúr sin ar fáil.

Críochnóidh mé ar phointe faoi cé chomh tábhachtach agus atá sé seo. Tá An Cheathrú Rua i gcroílár na Gaeltachta agus níl córas fuíolluisce ann beag nó mór. Sa bhliain 2023, tá an ceantar gan aon chóras. Tá impleachtaí tromchúiseacha i gceist maidir leis an easpa infreastruchtúir, mar is eol do na finnéithe, agus tá sé seo ar fud an cheantair. Tá easpa uisce le hól i gCeantar na nOileán. Tá fadhbanna leis an gcóras séarachais in Árainn agus araile. Cén monatóireacht atá á dhéanamh ag an Roinn ó thaobh na Gaeilge de chun a chinntiú go bhfuil an t-infreastruchtúr atá riachtanach sna Gaeltachtaí uilig ar fud na tíre? Tá sé seo i gcomhthéacs na ndualgas atá ar an Roinn i leith na teanga, i measc dualgas eile.

Mr. Fintan Towey

Broadly speaking, as I have outlined, the programmes undertaken by Uisce Éireann and those under the rural water scheme are guided by environmental and public health considerations and financial considerations. Uisce Éireann operates 34 drinking water and wastewater treatment plants. Most of them, I think, 21 out of the 34, are fully compliant with the requirements. The other 13 are in a programme of redressive measures.

Deputy Catherine Connolly

Is féidir liom an t-eolas sin a léamh. Is é an rud atá á rá agam ná go bhfuil easpa infreastruchtúir riachtanach sna Gaeltachtaí ar fud na tíre. Is í an Ghaeltacht is mó a bhfuil á lua agamsa mar tá an easpa chomh mór sin. Tá impleachtaí ann don teanga ó thaobh daoine a bheith in ann saol nó beatha a bhaint amach. Tá sé de dhualgas ar an Roinn monatóireacht a dhéanamh, na bearnaí a aimsiú agus polasaí a chur i bhfeidhm.

Mr. Fintan Towey

I appreciate that, Deputy. I have been trying to outline that there is a programme in place that is guided by environmental and health considerations. Uisce Éireann has a major programme of investment to redress issues in relation to drinking water and wastewater, and through the rural water programme, in conjunction with the local authorities. We are trying to identify how to address the various infrastructure deficits that exist. They are in Gaeltacht areas, of course, but they are in other areas also.

Deputy Catherine Connolly

Tá mo dhóthain ráite agam. Níl sé sin sásúil. Is é seo an comhchoiste Gaeilge agus táimid ag díriú ar an nGaeilge. Chuireamar Bille chun tosaigh, atá achtaithe anois, maidir leis na dualgais atá ar áisíneachtaí faoi leith agus ar Ranna ó thaobh na Gaeilge de. Más é sin an freagra, sin é an freagra.

Deputy Joe McHugh

Cuirim fáilte roimh na finnéithe go dtí an cruinniú. Tá an córas seo iontach cuidiúil agus gabhaim buíochas leo as sin. Labhróidh mé faoi thogra i mo cheantar féin, Carraig Airt, atá i gceantar na Gaeltachta. D’fhógair an Rialtas togra do 35 teach sa cheantar seo in 2018 agus €3 milliún an méid airgid a bhí i gceist ag an am. Bhí sé sin cúig bliana ó shin agus tá ceist mhór agam faoi seo. Labhair mé leis na daoine uilig agus na stiúrthóirí i gComhairle Contae Dhún na nGall. Tá cead pleanála socraithe. Tá an togra séarachais ar an scéim ó Uisce Éireann. Níl fadhb ar bith leis an gcead pleanála ná leis an scéim ach tá an conraitheoir ag fanacht ar an solas glas le cúig bliana.

Tá argóint agus díospóireacht ar siúl sa Dáil inniu le polaiteoirí ar thaobh amháin ag troid leis na polaiteoirí ar an taobh eile faoi cad é an bealach is fearr do chúrsaí tithíochta.

Is sampla é seo ar an talamh. Tá Uisce Éireann ar aon intinn leis an gcomhairle contae ach tá muidne ag fanacht ar an solas glas le thart ar cúig bliana anuas. Níl sé sin ceart. Tá a lán daoine ar an liosta feithimh sa chontae agus i mo pharóiste féin agus tá daoine ann atá ag smaoineamh ar bhogadh ar ais chuig an bparóiste. Tá an t-éileamh ann ach níl an tithíocht ann. An cheist phráinneach atá agamsa inniu ná an bhfuil aon slí ann le réiteach a shocrú don scéim seo? Bhí an stiúrthóir i gComhairle Contae Dhún na nGall ag labhairt faoin gcumarsáid a bhí ag bogadh ar aghaidh le hionadaithe Uisce Éireann. Níl na finnéithe freagrach as an bpróiseas sin ach tá an dualgas orthu réiteach a fháil ar an bhfadhb seo.

We are five years waiting on a housing scheme of 35 houses in a Gaeltacht parish where I have organised a meeting between the head planners and representatives from Uisce Éireann on-site. The sewerage scheme is on the list for Uisce Éireann but we are still trying to find a solution. The witnesses were talking about legacy issues. That is totally understandable; there are massive legacy issues over the last ten to 15 years. An cheist atá agam ná cad a thagann ar dtús, an sicín nó an ubh? Which comes first, the chicken or the egg? This is what this is about. The planning for the 35 houses is sorted. The sewerage scheme is on the list. The council will not give the green light because it wants to see the visible sewerage scheme before it moves forward. Meanwhile, five years later, nothing gets done. Is there something which addresses the legacy issues from before? There were green lights given to housing estates years ago and the developer was supposed to look after the sewerage. All those legacy issues are real scenarios. I understand that. Tuigim é sin ach an cheist atá agamsa ná: is there a way being developed to try to find a solution to this where people are not on an ongoing housing list? Tá daoine ar liosta feithimh atá ag éirí níos mó agus níos mó. The list is getting bigger and bigger. Can we try to begin the conversations or could Mr. Towey facilitate this as duine neamhspleách? In his organisation role within the Department, can Mr. Towey try to facilitate some sort of conversation that will bring this issue to the end for so many people who have been waiting for far too long?

Mr. Fintan Towey

I am not familiar with this specific case.

Deputy Joe McHugh

I am not looking for information on the specifics. Mr. Towey will not have that readily available. What I am asking is if he will, in his leadership position and within his roles, try to resolve this issue? He has a good relationship with the team in Donegal County Council. Everything is good and everyone is on the same team sheet. In fairness to the officials in Irish Water, they have come out on side. Everybody is on the same team but it is still not sorted.

Mr. Fintan Towey

Obviously, I will engage with Irish Water on that issue. I am concerned that there is some blockage getting in the way of it. I do not know what that is. I appreciate the concerns and the waiting times the Deputy has cited. That is certainly something we can take away to Irish Water.

Deputy Pa Daly

Cuirim fáilte roimh na finnéithe go léir. Bhíos ag éisteacht leis an méid a bhí á rá ag Fintan Towey nuair a bhí sé ag caint mar gheall ar na glomerations. Tá fadhbanna i gCiarraí, lasmuigh den Ghaeltacht, i mbailte beaga cosúil le Mainistir Ó dTorna, An Fhianait, Gleann Beithe agus Caisleán Ghriaire. Níl ach Imhoff tank ag Castlegregory. Níl féidir dhá theach a thógáil sna ceantair sin. Tá an Fhianait ag deireadh an bealach glas agus ní féidir aon infheistíocht a chur isteach sna háiteanna sin. Táimid ag caint anseo mar gheall ar an nGaeltacht áfach agus tá rud éigin cosúil leis sin sa Chlochán. Níl mé cinnte an Imhoff tank atá ann ach níl ach tank mór ansin and the waste washes back out there. Is soiléir go bhfuil fadhbanna ann sa Chlochán. I gcás ceantar Mhúscraí i gContae Chorcaí, tá an sláinte áitiúil i mbaol i mBéal Átha an Ghaorthaidh toisc go bhfuil séarachas bailithe le chéile de thairbhe bonneagar uisce atá as dáta. Ciallaíonn sé sin chomh maith nach bhfuil sé de chumas ag an gcóras uisce déileáil le gnólachtaí nua a bhunadh nó, cosúil leis an scéal i gCiarraí, tithe nua a thógáil. Tuigim go ndúirt na finnéithe go raibh siad ag caint ar bhailte ina bhfuil 2,000 duine ina gcónaí ach tá sé an-tábhachtach infheistíocht a dhéanamh ar leithinsí cosúil le Corca Dhuibhne agus Uíbh Ráthach. Chun daoine a choimeád ina gcónaí faoin tuath sna háiteanna sin, is gá go ndéanfar infheistíocht sna háiteanna céanna. Ní dóigh liom féin go bhfuil dóthain airgid sa bhuiséid. Ní raibh a lán airgid breise ann chun cur leis na bailte beaga sin, daoine a choimeád iontu, agus chun a chinntiú nach raibh cúrsaí sláinte áitiúil i mbaol. Luadh sa ráiteas tosaigh go bhfuil an plean infheistíochta caipitil do dhramhuisce dírithe ar chathracha, ar bhailte agus ar shráidbhailte ach ní fheicim airgead breise ag dul isteach sna bailte sin i gCiarraí. Táimid ag caint mar gheall ar na háiteanna sna Gaeltachtaí ach tá fhadhb níos mó ná sin i gCiarraí.

Luaigh Fintan Towey na heastáit a bhí ann ó na 1990idí go dtí an crash. Tagraím d’eastáit faoi leith in áit a bhfuil DPI i gceist - Lios an Phúca an t-ainm atá air i nGaolainn ach Beaufort i mBéarla. Tá eastát ansin agus níl an chomhairle contae in ann take it in charge mar tá a lán fadhbanna ann cosúil le cosáin, chomh maith le fadhbanna le cúrsaí uisce. Tá gá le níos mó infheistíocht. An bhfuil aon tuairimí ag Fintan Towey conas is fearr brú a chur ionas gur féidir níos mó airgid a thabhairt do na bailte sin?

Mar a dúirt mé, cuirim fáilte roimh na finnéithe go léir chuig an seomra coiste.

Mr. Fintan Towey

We are all aware that there are kinds of issues out there that need to be resolved. That is the guiding light in terms of the work that is being done by Uisce Éireann and through the rural water programme. On environmental issues, obviously the Environmental Protection Agency is the body responsible for assessing environmental compliance and identifying shortcomings in terms of the provision of water and wastewater services. That does provide the guiding light. Many of the programmes that are being implemented through Uisce Éireann and the rural water programme are oriented towards resolving those problems and pre-empting obvious instances where problems like that can emerge if capacity is not expanded. There are a lot of things happening in the area in general terms. The overall quantum of funding being provided to water services has increased very substantially over the past number of years and that applies both to the funding channelled through Uisce Éireann and that provided to the rural water programme.

A great deal is being done. I hear Deputy Daly's question on whether there is enough being done, or whether more can be done within the available overall funding pot. We are increasing the amount of funding that is being assigned to water services. We are trying to find and identify the priority areas in order to resolve the kinds of problems mentioned by the Deputy.

Deputy Pa Daly

Cé mhéad airgead breise a cuireadh ar fáil? How much extra was given for rural water schemes in this budget? Feicim na bailte sin cosúil le Mainistir Ó dTorna, An Fhianait agus Gleann Beithe, áiteanna nach bhfuil siad in ann dhá theach a thógáil iontu. Bhí trioblóid le dochtúir a bhí ag iarraidh clinic a bhunú i mbaile amháin. Bhí uirthi foirgneamh a cheannach chun cur leis an gclinic mar nach raibh na struchtúir ann.

Mr. Fintan Towey

In general terms when it comes to developments in rural areas, domestic wastewater treatment systems are the normal go-to solution. I appreciate there may be circumstances where that solution cannot be deployed which means that there can be a problem.

We will come back to the Deputy with the information on the funding and the way that it has evolved over the years on the rural water programme. There has been expansion to help them out.

An Cathaoirleach

An bhfuil cúpla ceist ag an Teachta Ó Muineacháin ó Chorcaigh?

Deputy Aindrias Moynihan

Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach agus fearaim fáilte roimh ár bhfinnéithe. Táim an-bhuíoch as an tuairisc agus thug siad léiriú an-mhaith ar na scéimeanna éagsúla atá ann.

Táim dírithe go háirithe ar phobal na Gaeltachta. Tá polasaí an Rialtais ann chun tacaíocht a thabhairt don teanga agus do phobal na Gaeltachta. Tá an tAire Stáit an-bháúil ó thaobh na teanga agus phobal na Gaeltachta de. Tá ról ag ár bhfinnéithe, ní hamháin sa Roinn ach i ngach gnó a bheadh ag an Roinn chomh maith, chun polasaí an Rialtais a chur i bhfeidhm, polasaí na Gaeilge agus an polasaí maidir leis an teanga na measc. Is baolach nach bhfuil Uisce Éireann dírithe ar chúrsaí teanga. Tá sé dírithe níos mó ar thruailliú agus ar fhorbairt nuair atá sé ag díriú isteach ar an gcineál córais a chuirfidh sé chun cinn.

An bhfuil éifeacht ag an Roinn ar spriocanna Uisce Éireann mura bhfuil sé ag leanúint polasaithe an Rialtais? An mbíonn plé ag an Roinn le hUisce Éireann maidir leis na spriocanna atá ag an Roinn a leagan síos chun an comhlacht sin a threorú mar gheall orthu, agus chun é a cheistiú mura bhfuil polasaithe an Rialtais á gcur san áireamh aige? An bhféadfadh ár bhfinnéithe tuairisc a thabhairt air sin agus ar an saghas comhráite a bheadh acu, ní hamháin maidir le polasaí teanga agus na Gaeilge, ach má tá polasaithe eile a bhfuil Uisce Éireann ag tabhairt neamhaird orthu? Ní fheadar an bhfuil, ach an ndíríonn an Roinn seo acu isteach orthu sin agus an bhféadfadh ár bhfinnéithe léiriú a thabhairt dúinn air sin, lena dtoil?

Mr. Fintan Towey

Yes, certainly. The Department is the shareholder, alongside the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform, in Uisce Éireann. As such, we have a corporate governance oversight role in respect of the company. The Deputy would be familiar with the code of practice in respect of the governance of State bodies which sets out a range of roles and responsibilities which we undertake in respect of the oversight of the body and ensuring it fulfils its mandate under statute. In that context, and specifically in respect of what it does in respect of water services, we have a statutory obligation to produce a water services policy statement which was most recently done in 2018 and spans the period 2018 to 2025. That sets out the broad policy framework within which Uisce Éireann operates. Uisce Éireann, in turn, has obligations in respect of setting out its own policy statements and these are subject to approval by the Minister. We have those roles which ensure that Uisce Éireann is fully joined up with Government policy in respect of water services.

Deputy Aindrias Moynihan

Tá na róil éagsúla ann agus ba cheart go mbeadh siad fully joined-up. Baineann cuid acu le tithíocht, cuid acu le teanga, agus a leithéid mar sin ar aghaidh. Is dóigh liom nach bhfuil siad fully-joined up agus go bhfuil easnamh mór ansin, go háirithe maidir le teanga. Nuair nach bhfuil na róil atá ag Uisce Éireann joined-up nó ag comhlíonadh spriocanna áirithe, an dtarraingíonn, an iarrann nó an gceistíonn Roinn ár bhfinnéithe anseo Uisce Éireann fúthu sin?

Chun go mairfeadh an Ghaeltacht, tá gá go mbeadh daoine ann agus ina gcónaí inti. Ní féidir go mbeadh Gaeltacht gan phobal agus tá deacrachtaí ag pobal na Gaeltachta tithíocht a thógáil, ní hamháin sna ceantair thuaithe ach sna sráidbhailte chomh maith. Tá Uisce Éireann ag brú ar aghaidh in áiteanna difriúla ag cur córais shéarachais agus uisce, agus mar sin de, i bhfeidhm. I mBaile Bhuirne, mar shampla, tá córas séarachais curtha chun cinn aige. In áiteanna eile - i mBéal Átha an Ghaorthaidh, mar shampla - níl siad ag freastal ar an bpobal agus is amhlaidh nach féidir le muintir na háite tithe a thógáil sna sráidbhailte toisc easpa an chórais atá ag Uisce Éireann. Tá sé soiléir, mar sin, nach bhfuil Uisce Éireann ag freastal ar phobal na Gaeltachta.

Tá polasaí an Rialtais ann maidir le tithíocht agus is é sin an chúis a bhfuil ár bhfinnéithe anseo. Tá polasaí ag an Rialtas chomh maith maidir le teanga. Tá gá práinneach le tithíocht, agus gá freisin go mbeadh pobal Gaeltachta ann agus go mbeadh tithíocht aige chomh maith. Conas a bhféadfadh an Roinn seo dul i ngleic le hUisce Éireann agus plé leis chun é a dhíriú chun freastal ar phobal a bhfuil sé ag déanamh faillí orthu faoi láthair? Tá na spriocanna againn ó thaobh teanga, tithíochta agus a leithéid. Tá súil agam go bhfuil an Roinn atá i láthair linn inniu ag plé go rialta le hUisce Éireann mar gheall ar na spriocanna éagsúla. An bhfuil an Roinn, mar sin, ag díriú isteach ar Uisce Éireann mar gheall air sin? Conas a bhféadfadh an Roinn dul i ngleic le hUisce Éireann chun é a tharraingt isteach agus aird a tharraingt ar a leithéid de bhailte mar Bhéal Átha an Ghaorthaidh, agus ar áiteanna eile a bhfuil Uisce Éireann ag déanamh faillí ar phobal na Gaeltachta?

Mr. Fintan Towey

As I have said, the water services policy is designed to align with wider Government policies which, of course, have a very wide range of objectives including, obviously, those ones which the Deputy has referred to and itemised. Within that framework, there is a very large financial allocation towards seeking to ensure that those objectives are pursued. Uisce Éireann has a very extensive programme around the developing of capacity to ensure it can meet all of the housing needs and to ensure the various facilities it has do not fall below the necessary standards in respect of environmental compliance.

They are also seeking to redress all of the issues that exist with regard to existing plants that are not meeting the necessary standards. There is also a very extensive programme to tackle leakage. All of the work being done involves prioritising the fulfilment of the objectives assigned to Uisce Éireann within the available funding.

Deputy Aindrias Moynihan

Tá dhá cheist fágtha agam. Ar cheistigh an Roinn Uisce Éireann riamh faoi theanga? An mbeidh sí ag bualadh leis arís sula i bhfad? An leagfaidh an Roinn síos, mar cheann de na spriocanna ar chlár na gcruinnithe atá le teacht, Uisce Éireann a cheistiú mar gheall ar pholasaí an Rialtais maidir le teanga agus maidir leis an tslí ina gcuireann sé an polasaí sin i bhfeidhm chun freastal ar phobal na Gaelainne? An ndéanfaidh an Roinn é sin? An gcuirfidh sí an cheist seo os comhair Uisce Éireann? An seolfaidh sí na freagraí ar ais, más féidir? An rachaidh sí sa tóir ar Uisce Éireann mura ndéanann sé freastal ar phobal na Gaeltachta? Is é sin an chéad cheist. B'fhéidir go bhfreagróidh Fintan Towey é sin ar dtús agus díreoimid ar an ábhar eile ina dhiaidh sin.

Mr. Fintan Towey

Absolutely. That is something we can engage with Uisce Éireann on. It is something it is very much conscious of but the Deputy has specifically asked that I take it away and I will do so.

Deputy Aindrias Moynihan

Ar cheistigh an Roinn Uisce Éireann cheana féin go dtí seo?

Mr. Fintan Towey

We are very cognisant of the fact that Uisce Éireann is alert to its obligations under the Irish language Act and that it fulfils them all.

Deputy Aindrias Moynihan

Ní aontaím go bhfuil sé alert chucu. Is é an taithí atá againn i gceantair Ghaeltachta nach bhfuil Uisce Éireann alert chucu. Tá sé bodhar. Is baolach gurb é sin an taithí atá againn, pobal na Gaeltachta, maidir le hUisce Éireann.

Mr. Fintan Towey

I hear what the Deputy is saying. From conversations with Uisce Éireann, I had understood it was particularly cognisant of this issue. As the Deputy will be aware, the company formerly known as Irish Water is, in law, now Uisce Éireann only. That has certainly heightened its focus on issues of the Irish language.

Deputy Aindrias Moynihan

Tá ábhar amháin eile agam. Díreoidh mé isteach ar an €50 milliún agus an DPI sna 23 iarratas atá tagtha ó chomhairlí contae ar fud na tíre. An scéimeanna beaga iad atá ag freastal ar eastát agus gur féidir iad a dheisiú nó a cheangal isteach chuig córas Uisce Éireann nó an bhfuil béim ar scéimeanna níos mó a bheadh mar cheann scríbe don shráidbhaile ar fad, cur i gcás Chrois an Bharraigh i gContae Chorcaí?

Mr. Fintan Towey

If I may first clarify or differentiate, the 23 applications related to the scheme announced by the Minister last year with a view to introducing public sewers to small towns and villages that do not have public wastewater treatment facilities. The DPI issue is separate. It relates to legacy issues whereby housing developments were built with developer-provided infrastructure that is not, at this point, fit for purpose. Quite a large number of these were identified in a study undertaken by the Department and they vary enormously in size. Some of them are quite small. Some are as small as five houses. There are also larger developments, in some cases involving hundreds of houses. That is the DPI scheme.

Deputy Aindrias Moynihan

Leis na DPIs, tuigim go bhfuil an bhéim ar fad ar chinn atá níos lú ach atá ag freastal ar eastáit tithíochta áit gur féidir an DPI a chur ar leataobh agus an córas a cheangal isteach chuig córas Uisce Éireann agus leanúint ar aghaidh. Ag an am céanna, tá cinn níos mó a bheadh ábalta freastal ar shráidbhaile iomlán, cosúil le Crois an Bharraigh. An bhfuil béim orthu sin nó an féidir breis béime a chur orthu mar is féidir leo ní hamháin freastal ar na tithe áirithe atá ceangailte leo faoi láthair ach tithíocht a scaoileadh sa sráidbhaile ar fad, talamh atá zoned cheana féin? Is féidir talamh mar sin a scaoileadh más féidir bogadh na DPIs ceann scríbe.

Mr. Fintan Towey

In the case of both schemes, it is really the local authority that is at the coalface in identifying the priorities for attention, so it is the local authorities that made the application in respect of the new scheme for small settlements and villages. It is also the local authorities that have responsibility for identifying the priorities with regard to the resolution of legacy DPI issues and for specifically identifying the kind of instance the Deputy has highlighted, that is, instances where provision can be made for new development in the course of resolving DPI issues.

Deputy Aindrias Moynihan

Táim lán-chinnte go bhfuil an chomhairle contae ag leagan síos scéimeanna de réir priority. Dá mba rud é go raibh scéim sa chlár píolótach, go raibh sé sa chéad agus sa dara babhta iarratas agus go raibh sé á sheoladh ar aghaidh ag an gcomhairle contae arís agus arís eile mar sprioc uimhir a haon, agus b'fhéidir dá mba rud é go raibh sé ar an t-aon scéim sa tír nár brúdh chun cinn mar chuid den chlár píolótach, shamhlóinn go mbeadh sé ag teacht suas ar an radar agus go mbeadh sé mar priority: Crois an Bharraigh; Crois an Bharraigh; Crois an Bharraigh.

Mr. Fintan Towey

I am not sure of the particular case the Deputy is referring to. As I have said, it is open to the local authority to identify whether it is a priority under one of these schemes.

An Cathaoirleach

Tháinig an cheist seo ar fad chun cinn nuair a bhí muid ag déileáil leis na treoirlínte maidir le pleanáil Gaeltachta agus le ceisteanna ó roinnt Teachtaí as ceantair Ghaeltachta timpeall na tíre. Bhí frustrachas orthu toisc nach raibh na ceantair sin in ann fás i gceart. Ní féidir tithe a thógáil sna ceantair sin don phobal atá lonnaithe iontu nó do phobal breise. Iarradh orm cuireadh a thabhairt don Roinn agus d'Uisce Éireann. Níor tháinig Uisce Éireann go fóill so iarrfaimid arís air teacht isteach agus déileáil leis na ceisteanna seo mar is léir go bhfuil ról lárnach aige. Is é an cheist atá agam ná, toisc go bhfuil scéimeanna ar leith anseo, an raibh smaoineamh riamh ar scéim ar leith a fhorbairt do cheantair Ghaeltachta chun cuidiú leis an dualgas atá ar an Stát cosaint bhreise a thabhairt do cheantair agus do phobail Ghaeltachta chun gur féidir leo ní hamháin maireachtáil ach fás? Tá géarghá tosaíocht áirithe a thabhairt dóibh nach bhfuil siad ag fáil ón státchóras nó ó na comhairlí contae. Tá éileamh ó dhaoine, agus ó chlanna agus lánúineacha ó na ceantair sin ach go háirithe, lonnú sa Ghaeltacht. An fiú smaoineamh ar scéim ar leith a bhunú agus maoiniú ar leith a chur ar fáil tríd an Roinn, trí Uisce Éireann nó tríd an údarás chun déanamh cinnte de nach mbeadh aon mhoill den chineál a luaigh an Teachta McHugh ann?

Sa chás sin, tá gach duine ar aon intinn agus ag fanacht cúig bliana ar dhuine éigin ó áit éigin chun cinneadh a dhéanamh go dtógfar an scéim fuíolluisce chun cuidiú le plean eastáit chun, measaim, 20 teach a thógáil. Bhí an rud céanna i gceist nuair a bhí Comhairle Contae Chorcaí os ár gcomhair timpeall dhá bhliain ó shin. Bhí fadhbanna aige toisc nach raibh lámh amháin ag labhairt leis an lámh eile chun cuidiú leis eastáit tithíochta a thógáil i gceantair Ghaeltachta chun cur leis an bpobal agus, dá réir, an tseirbhís phoiblí a bheith ar fáil dóibh siúd atá ag tógáil clann as Gaeilge. Is é sin an chéad cheist atá agamsa, tar éis a bheith ag éisteacht leis an méid ag an gcoiste anseo.

Ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas a ghabháil lenár bhfinnéithe as a bheith anseo ach, chomh maith, má tá aon eolas breise acu le cur ar aghaidh chugainn, iarraim orthu é sin a dhéanamh, lena dtoil, mar tá mé chun iarracht eile a dhéanamh Uisce Éireann a thabhairt os ár gcomhair chun déileáil leis na ceisteanna atá ag teacht chun cinn faoina ról, mar a luaigh ár bhfinnéithe, maidir le bailte le 2,000 duine ann. Ní díreach an Ghaeltacht atá i gceist anseo mar tá na bailte seirbhíse ann. Tá bailte ann sa Ghaeltacht agus tá breis is 2,000 duine ann. D'fhéadfadh duine dul go dtí Daingean Uí Chúis, mar shampla, nó Leitir Ceanainn. Níl a fhios agam cé mhéad duine atá sna bailte sin ach tá i bhfad Éireann níos mó ná 2,000. Tá bailte timpeall ansin agus is é an ról atá acu ná cuidiú leis an nGaeltacht fás. Tá siad aitheanta i reachtaíocht agus ag an Stát. Tá dualgas breise acu, seachas na cinn eile atá acu, díreach do na ceantair Ghaeltachta agus b'fhéidir go bhféadfaí, mar tá focal éigin ann nach bhfuil ag rith liom faoi láthair, an dá lámh nó an dá chuid den aigne bualadh le chéile chun déileáil leis na ceisteanna seo. Is ceisteanna ríthábhachtacha iad sin má tá duine ag smaoineamh ar lonnú nó ar chomhlachtaí a lonnú sna ceantair seo, nó má tá an t-údarás ag iarraidh cur leis na heastáit tionsclaíochta atá acu.

Mr. Fintan Towey

I thank the Chairman very much. There are a range of issues there which we have agreed to come back on and we will do that.

An Cathaoirleach

Gabhaim buíochas as sin. Cuirfimid críoch ansin leis an gcruinniú anseo agus gabhaim mo bhuíochas arís leo siúd ar fad, na finnéithe a bhí anseo, do Fintan Towey, Belinda Ní Threasaigh, Douglas Kelly agus Luke Varley, as an gcabhair a thug siad dúinn díriú isteach ar an gceist seo. Tá súil agam go raibh tairbhe éigin le baint as an gcomhrá inniu agus go mbeimid ag teacht ar ais go dtí an t-ábhar fuíolluisce seo, agus uisce sa chóras agus sna sráidbhailte i gceantair Gaeltachta. Agus é sin ráite agam, cuirim clabhsúr leis an díospóireacht ar an ábhar.

Beidh an chéad chruinniú eile ar siúl againn ar an 29 Márta, an tseachtain seo chugainn, ag an am céanna, 1.30 p.m., i seomra coiste 4 nuair a phléifimid an ábhair, ag múnlú ár dtodhchaí dhátheangaigh, cumas agus toilteanas Fhondúireacht Eolaíochta Éireann seirbhís phoiblí dhátheangach iomlán a chur ar fáil go réamhghníomhach dá chustaiméirí. Beidh na hionadaithe thar ceann Fhondúireacht Eolaíochta Éireann anseo, dá réir. Beidh cruinniú príobháideach againn den chomhchoiste ar 2 p.m. Dé Máirt seo chugainn chun déileáil le roinnt de na tuarascálacha atáimid fós ag fanacht orthu agus scaipfear iad ar na comhaltaí roimh ré agus iad a bheith faighte againn.

Cuireadh an comhchoiste ar athló ar 2.55 p.m. go dtí 1.30 p.m., Dé Céadaoin, an 29 Márta 2023.