Vol. 569 No. 4
105 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the progress which has been made with regard to the examination by his Department of the report of the working group on the creation of employment in the Gaeltacht; if the Government is committed to implementing the recommendations made by the group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17754/03]
As outlined in my response to Question No. 151 on 27 May 2003, my Department is continuing to actively examine the recommendations of the working group on the creation of employment in the Gaeltacht to determine how they can be most effectively implemented. Discussions have taken place with the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism regarding the potential that tourism, particularly cultural tourism, can offer in helping to create and sustain employment in the Gaeltacht. In addition, the various recommendations in the report relating to enterprise development and employment creation have been discussed between officials from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and its agencies, Údarás na Gaeltachta and my Department.
I would like to re-iterate that the Irish language is the most important natural resource of the Gaeltacht. Indeed, future development of the Gaeltacht depends in no small way on the preservation of the language. Accordingly for 2003, I have agreed with Údarás na Gaeltachta that 20% of its capital budget should be allocated for the development of ventures and enterprises that have a clearly defined Irish language focus. In this regard I should mention the new Údarás na Gaeltachta incentive scheme Fiontraíocht Ghaeilge sa Ghaeltacht, which I launched recently and which supports the recommendations of the working group.
Also arising from the working group's report, Údarás na Gaeltachta has formulated an action plan to tackle the significant unemployment problem in the northwest Donegal Gaeltacht. A senior official has been appointed to the Údarás office in Gweedore and a committee has been formed under the chairmanship of Mr. Peter Quinn to assist in implementing the action plan. I understand that the work of that committee is ongoing on an active basis.
