A Chathaoirligh agus a Chomhaltaí den Choiste, ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghabháil libh as an deis a tabhairt dom ráiteas gairid a dhéanamh anseo inniu, nuair atá Cuntas Leithghabhála na bliana 2007 do Vóta Uimhir 27 — An Roinn Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta, á scrúdú ag an gCoiste. Gabhaim buíochas freisin le hOifig an Ard-Reachtaire Cúntas agus Ciste as an mbealach proifisiúnta a rinne a gcuid oifigeach an obair a bhí riachtanach i ndáil leis an gCuntas sin.
Members will be aware that the work of the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs is focused on promoting and supporting the development of communities and advancing the use of the Irish language. As set out in our Strategy Statement 2008-2010, the Department's work is grouped into six main sectors: developing communities — to encourage and facilitate communities to pursue social and economic progress in their areas; tackling drug misuse — to facilitate a more integrated and co-ordinated response to tackle problem drug use with the aim of significantly reducing the harm caused to individuals and society; rural development — to promote living and working populations in rural areas by helping to foster sustainable and culturally vibrant communities; Gaeltacht and islands development — to help Gaeltacht and island communities to grow through infrastructure development, economic supports and the provision of essential services; promotion and maintenance of the Irish language — to increase the use of the Irish language countrywide and to assist its growth as an everyday community language in the Gaeltacht; and North-South co-operation — to maintain, develop and foster North-South co-operation.
The committee has, at its request, been provided with a note in regard to the specific targets set for each of these sectors in 2007 as well as the progress achieved and I will be happy to answer any questions members may have in this regard. I would like to take the opportunity to refer to a number of significant issues and to provide a brief update to the committee.
At the outset, I should mention that 2007 saw the further consolidation of our presence and transfer of numbers of staff to Tubbercurry, County Sligo, under the decentralisation programme. As a result, we now have 100 staff located there in addition to 51 staff at Na Forbacha and 30 staff at other regional offices.
In the communities sector, the Department has worked at a number of levels to support communities across a range of measures. For example, in the context of the work of the task force on active citizenship, the Department supported the expansion of the network of volunteer centres and significantly increased funding to local groups seeking once-off grants for specific projects. Just under €82 million was provided under the local and community development programmes which deliver supports to counter disadvantage and to improve access to employment, training and education. Additional funding was also provided under RAPID.
Funding of €44.5 million was provided towards the community services programme which assists local communities to provide employment opportunities for those marginalised while delivering valued services to communities. Under the flagship project, €51 million was generated across philanthropic and dormant accounts funds towards key social and community initiatives.
Work also continued during 2007 on the improved alignment of local, community and rural development organisations to secure simplified and enhanced delivery of community and rural development programmes. Following from this, there are now 54 cohesed companies in place instead of the 94 organisations previously.
In regard to drugs misuse, local drugs task forces advanced their action plans across key areas such as supply reduction, prevention, awareness and treatment. As at end 2007, the Department was providing support to over 380 projects at an annual cost of €20 million. Regional drugs task forces also pursued their action plans during 2007 with funding totalling over €7 million and supporting 150 projects across the regions.
In regard to the young people's facilities and services fund, over €150 million has supported a range of activities to provide young people at risk with positive alternatives to drugs use. Currently, close to 360 facility and services projects with over 220 workers and 50 sports development officers are being supported.
A steering group exists to review the existing national drugs strategy and to develop proposals for a new strategy for 2009-16. This group is made up of representatives of relevant public bodies as well as people from the community and voluntary sectors. The new strategy is expected to be finalised and launched in the first half of this year.
The rural development programme for 2007-13 was agreed by the European Commission in July 2007. Axes 3 and 4 provide for the delivery of Leader-type activities which, at €425.4 million over the period of the programme, is almost treble the previous round. This will be channelled through the new integrated companies to support and facilitate the continued development of rural communities throughout Ireland. The allocations for the groups were announced late last year and projects on the ground are expected to commence in the near future.
In 2007, agreement was secured by Comhairle na Tuaithe, the Countryside Forum, on a walks scheme to apply to a number of agreed walking trails. This was launched in March of last year and over 600 participating farmers were engaged by the end of last year with an expectation that a further 900 may join the scheme this year in terms of opening up walkways across the countryside.
The CLÁR programme, which provides co-investment in infrastructure in rural areas, continued in 2007 with expenditure of €21.3 million. During 2007, there were over 2,600 participants on the rural social scheme. This measure provides support for low income farmers and fisherpersons by enabling them to earn supplementary income while providing services of benefit to rural communities.
The decision by the European Council to recognise Irish as an official and working language of the EU was implemented in 2007. While this has posed challenges in terms of ensuring sufficient qualified translators, interpreters and lawyer linguists, the Department, in co-operation with the Department of Foreign Affairs, has worked closely with the EU institutions in tackling these issues.
In 2007, the report arising from the major socio-linguistic study of the use of Irish in the Gaeltacht was presented to Government. This was followed by the establishment of a Cabinet committee on Irish and the Gaeltacht, which is focused, inter alia, on the drawing up of an integrated plan to secure the future of Irish as the community language in the Gaeltacht.
On foot of a policy statement by Government on the Irish language in late 2006, work has been advancing on drafting a 20-year strategy for Irish. This has followed significant consultation and input from language planning experts from other countries. A draft strategy has now been presented to the Minister and it is anticipated that the matter will be considered by Government in the coming period.
The development of islands infrastructure continued in 2007 with total expenditure of over €18 million. This included construction work on the €13 million harbour development on Inis Meáin and preparation for the commencement of the €40 million Cill Rónáin harbour development. The Department also continues to support 17 island ferry and air services. Planning for the introduction of new cargo services for Inishbofin, Clare Island-Inishturk and Toraigh was also significantly advanced.
As mentioned by the Comptroller and Auditor General, the Department co-funds two of the North-South implementation bodies, namely, Waterways Ireland and An Foras Teanga. Developments in regard to the operation of the Northern Executive last year opened the way for meetings of the North-South Ministerial Council in both language and waterways sectoral formats. These meetings took place last month.
Internal audit plays a key role in the systematic review of the adequacy, application and effectiveness of internal controls and corporate governance not only in the Department but in bodies that come within its ambit. The internal audit function operates in accordance with an audit plan and strategy agreed annually by the management committee and the Department's audit committee which has an independent chair.
Over the last two years, the main focus of the function has been on the closure of the EU rural development programme and the preparations for roll-out of the new programme. In addition, 14 audits-reviews were undertaken during this period across the community, rural, Gaeltacht and corporate areas as well as certain bodies within our ambit. I can confirm that the implementation of recommendations arising from these reviews is monitored and followed up by the management committee and the audit committee on a regular basis.
I will say a few words on the Department's arrangements with Pobal. As mentioned, a wide range of programmes are delivered for the Department by Pobal. Such delivery is governed under a framework agreement developed by the Department which sets out high level and general arrangements between the two organisations. Below that, there are specific contracts for services for each programme and within these, there are agreed terms and conditions for the operation of such programmes. On an ongoing basis, particular arrangements apply between the line divisions for the ongoing management of individual programmes. If the committee so wishes, I would be happy to go into further detail on the status of Pobal as a body, which is quite unusual, to help it in its deliberations.
Sin an méid atá le rá agam ar an bpointe seo. I would be very happy to expand on any of these areas if the committee so wishes. Is mian liom mo bhuíochas a chur in iúl arís as an deis a fháil chun an ráiteas tosaigh seo a chur in bhur láthair. Go raibh maith agat.