Vol. 441 No. 1
14 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht if he will consider favourably a request for additional powers from Údarás na Gaeltachta to enable them develop the economy of the Gaeltacht regions in an integrated fashion.
Tá fóráil san Acht um Údarás na Gaeltachta, 1979, i.e., alt a 9 den Acht sin, faoinar féidir — d'fhonn forbairt na Gaeltachta a chur chun cinn ó thaobh teanga, cultúir, sóisialachta, gnéithiúlachta agus geilleagair — cumhachtaí breise a thabhairt don Údarás le hordú ón Rialtas. Sula bhféadfaí a iarraidh ar an Rialtas ordú mar sin a dhéanamh, bheadh sé riachtanach don Údarás cás iomlán a chur faoi bhráid a léireodh go dearfa go bhféadfadh siad cúraimí atá ar eagrais eile a chur i bhfeidhm níos éifeachtaí chun leas na Gaeltachta ná mar atá na cúraimí sin á gcur i grích cheana féin.
Ach cás mar sin a fháil ón Údarás, beifear sásta é a scrúdú go báúil i gcomhairle leis na Ranna Stáit iomchuí d'fhonn tacaíocht a thabhairt dó i láthair an Rialtais.
Will the Minister publish correspondence of September 1993 which he received from Údarás na Gaeltachta in this regard? Can he outline what discussions have taken place between his Department and the Department of Tourism and Trade specifically with regard to the devolution of additional powers to Údarás na Gaeltachta to promote tourist activities in the Gaeltacht areas?
It is not my usual practice to publish correspondence from a body for which I have statutory responsibility. I can assure the Deputy that I have regular contact with Údarás na Gaeltachta. Recently I had a fruitful meeting with them lasting over two hours, at which a number of issues arose, including co-operation and integration between different kinds of Údarás functions and activities. I can inform the Deputy that discussions in relation to the allocation of tourism functions are ongoing between the responsible Minister and me to consider what might be appropriate for the board. I availed of that opportunity to discuss with them such development functions as are not within the general range of functions carried out by Bord Fáilte but which might be appropriate for them to undertake and I assured them that there would be no obstacles in their way in the matter of developing any such activities.
