Vol. 600 No. 3
1 D’fhiafraigh Mr. McGinley den Aire Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta an bhfuil aird á tabhairt aige ar na tuairimí agus na moltaí i dtuairisc bhliantúil an Choimisinéara Teanga agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina dtaobh. [11558/05]
Mar is eol don Teachta, tá sé molta ag an gCoimisinéir Teanga ina thuarascáil tionscnaimh, mar atá molta agam féin, go bhfuil gá le díospóireacht náisiúnta maidir le múineadh na Gaeilge sna scoileanna. Tá tagairt déanta aige freisin maidir le cé chomh hannamh is a mbíonn díospóireachtaí trí Ghaeilge i dTithe an Oireachtais.
Tá an tuarascáil dírithe go príomha, ar ndóigh, ar an obair a bhí ar bun ag an oifig ó bunaíodh í ag tús na bliana anuraidh. Fáiltím go mór roimh an tuarascáil seo. Táim ag tnúth go mór, sna blianta beaga amach romhainn, le toradh ní hamháin ar shaothar mo Roinne féin i ndáil le scéimeanna faoi Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla a aontú le comhlachtaí poiblí, ach freisin ar shaothar Oifig an Choimisinéara Teanga maidir le monatóireacht a dhéanamh agus comhairle a chur ar fáil faoi fheidhmiú na scéimeanna sin.
Níl aon amhras ach go bhfuil obair agus dúshlán mór romhainn i réimsí éagsúla maidir le caomhnú agus forbairt na Gaeilge. Is cinnte go bhfuil ionchur tábhachtach déanta ag an gCoimisinéir Teanga san díospóireacht phoiblí faoi na réimsí sin.
An méid sin ráite, is eol don Teachta, ní foláir, go bhfuil Fóram na Gaeilge bunaithe agam chun comhairle a thabhairt dom ar shaincheisteanna a bhaineann le cur chun cinn na Gaeilge, ina measc inmholtacht plean straitéiseach 20 bliain le spriocanna réalaíocha a réiteach don Ghaeilge sa Stát agus na tosaíochtaí maidir le cur i bhfeidhm Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla.
Tá gar déanta ag an Choimisinéir Teanga do na Gaeilge agus go bhfuil sé i ndiaidh cur os comhair ár gcuid súile fíricí a bhí ansin le fada — chomh fada agus a bhaineann sé leis an Ghaeilge sa chóras oideachais agus úsáid na Gaeilge sa Dáil. An aontódh an tAire liom, anois nuair atá Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla á chur i bhfeidhm, go mbeidh éilimh i bhfad níos mó agus níos leithne ar dhaoine ag a bhfuil ard-chumas Gaeilge labhartha agus, go speisialta, scríofa leis na tuairiscí seo a chur ar fáil ar son na mbord Stáit? Ceann de na deacrachtaí is mó atá ag na Ranna seo agus na heagrais seo ná daoine a fháil go bhfuil caighdeán cuí ard go leor Gaeilge acu leis an obair thábhachtach seo a dhéanamh. An bhfuil aon phleananna ar siúl le déanamh cinnte go mbeidh na daoine ar fáil a bheidh ar a gcumas é seo a dhéanamh? Má bhaineann an teanga stádas oifigiúil amach san AE, agus tá dul chun cinn déanta ansin ar na mallaibh, beidh éileamh ar an chineál chéanna daoine. Cad iad na pleananna atá againn fá choinne an chorps de dhaoine ard-oilte sa teanga a chur ar fáil a dhéanfaidh freastal ar riachtanais Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla agus i riachtanais stádas oifigiúil san Eoraip.
Tá an Teachta tar éis teacht go gcroí na ceiste. Phlé muid an cheist seo nuair a bhí an tAcht teanga d'fheidhmiú agus arís nuair a bhí plé ar bun maidir leis an Ghaeilge san AE. Ag an am sin, chuir mise béim ar cheist soláthar daoine lena seirbhísí a chur ar fáil agus nach raibh aon mhaith leagan síos sa dlí go mbeadh chuile chineál seirbhíse ann mura mbeadh na daoine ann lena gcur ar fáil.
Tá go leor ar bun. Bíonn daoine ag ceapadh gurbh é an bealach is fearr fadhbanna a réiteach ná le holl-phlean mór nó oll-spriocanna móra — the big bang approach. Réitítear an chuid is mó fadhbanna trí obair laethúil ag bogadh rudaí ar aghaidh.
Is dócha go bhfaca an Teachta fógra ag Fhoras na Gaeilge ag iarraidh córas cáilíochtaí ag baint le haistritheoirí. Tá sin riachtanach mar caithfimid bheith cinnte go bhfuil an caighdeán ann. Caithfidh cúrsaí cuí tríú leibhéal a bheith ar fáil fosta. Is chuige sin go ndearna mé airgeadú ar Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge. Is chuige sin go raibh mé chomh tacúil leis an obair atá ar bun ag Coláiste na hOllscoile i nGaillimh ag bunadh na hionaid seachtracha, ceann acu i nGaoth Dobhair agus péire i mo dháilcheantar féin. Tá an ceart ag an Teachta, tá gá le hoiliúint. Tá mé tar éis plé a dhéanamh le go leor grúpaí agus daoine éagsúla, lucht na hollscoile ina measc, go leanúnach agus ceann de na rudaí a dúirt mé ná go gcaithfimid breathnú ar an margadh anois. Don chéad uair riamh, caithfidh an t-oideachas agus an margadh bheith fite-fuaite lena chéile. Don chéad uair i riamh níl daoine ag déanamh staidéir ar an Ghaeilge ar chúiseanna teibí, tá poist ann. Caithfimid breathnú ar an margadh agus na riachtanais agus na cúrsaí oiliúna agus ollscolaíochta a bheith ann le freastal air sin. Tá riar de sin ar bun le bunadh na gcúrsaí aistriúcháin sna hinstitiúidí tríú leibhéal, rud nach raibh ar fáil cúpla bliain ó shin.
An bhfuil an tAire sásta go bhfuil sé ar a chumas an tseirbhís seo a chur ar fáil go fóill agus go bhfuil na daoine againn faoi láthair?
Pointe eile a rinne an coimisinéir ná easpa Gaeilge agus phlé muid anseo é. Dúirt an tAire gurbh fhéidir le TG4 níos mó a dhéanamh le poiblíocht a thabhairt don méid Gaeilge a labhraítear anseo. An ndearna sé teagmháil le TG4 faoi sin? An bhfuil teagmháil déanta aige leis an Aire Oideachais agus Eolaíochta a bhfuil cúramaí theagasc na Gaeilge uirthi faoin dualgas atá orainn daoine le Gaeilge ar chaighdeán ard a chur ar fáil?
Maidir leis an Aire Oideachais agus Eolaíochta, bíonn plé leanúnach idir an bheirt againn agus idir ár Ranna fosta.
Ba mhaith liom go mbogfadh rudaí ar aghaidh níos gasta ach tuigeann an Teachta nádúr an chórais. Ní dhearna mé iarratas oifigiúil le TG4 ach tá mé cinnte go bhfuil sé eolach faoin méid a dúirt mé. Is dócha go bhfuair sé poiblíocht an-mhaith agus nach gá domsa é sin a rá go díreach. Níor mhaith liom go gceapfaí go raibh mé ag tabhairt treoracha d'aon eagraíocht craolacháin sa tír seo ceard le déanamh ach tá an moladh a rinne mé ar eolas ag TG4 agus bheadh súil agam go mbreathnódh an stáisiún go báúil air. Bheadh sé thar chinn don Teach seo. Ag deireadh an lae, tá muid ag caint ar chraoladh seirbhíse poiblí agus tá sé tábhachtach go bhfreastalófaí air sin. Caithfear spás a thabhairt do TG4 breathnú air.
2 D’fhiafraigh Mr. O’Shea den Aire Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta ar tháinig a Roinn féin agus an Roinn Oideachais agus Eolaíochta le chéile fós chun breithniú a dhéanamh ar mholtaí an ghrúpa oibre a bunaíodh i 2002 chun ceist an oideachais trí Ghaeilge a phlé; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina leith. [10305/05]
Glacaim go bhfuil an Teachta ag déanamh tagairt do thuarascáil an ghrúpa oibre idir-ghníomhaireachta don oideachas tríú leibhéal sa Ghaeltacht.
Bunaíodh an grúpa oibre sin sa bhliain 2002 faoi chathaoirleacht na Roinne Oideachais agus Eolaíochta le hionadaithe ón Roinn sin, ó mo Roinn, ón Údarás um Ard-Oideachas agus ó Údarás na Gaeltachta chun plean forbartha don oideachas tríú leibhéal sa Ghaeltacht, a bhí réitithe ag grúpa ollscoileanna, a mheas.
Cuireadh tuarascáil agus moltaí an ghrúpa faoi mo bhráid agus faoi bhráid an Aire Oideachais agus Eolaíochta anuraidh. Ó mo thaobh, táim ag breathnú ar na moltaí agus ar na féidearthachtaí agus tig leis an Teachta a bheith cinnte de go mbíonn teagmháil idir mo Roinn agus an Roinn Oideachais agus Eolaíochta ar bhonn leanúnach.
Mar is eol don Teachta, tá sé leagtha síos mar sprioc ag mo Roinn ina ráiteas straitéise don tréimhse 2003-05 go bhféachfar le "ceist oideachais tríú leibhéal trí Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn". Ar ndóigh, is faoi chúram an Aire Oideachais agus Eolaíochta go príomha atá an fhreagracht sin. Agus é sin ráite, aithním go bhfuil ceist an oideachais tríú leibhéal mar thosaíocht fíor-thábhachtach do thodhchaí na Gaeilge agus mar riachtanas ar leith ó thaobh chur i bhfeidhm an Achta teanga.
Tá fonn speisialta orm go gcuirfear an cheist seo ar aghaidh, ach go háirithe i gcomhthéacs an phlé a bhí againn díreach anois i gcomhthéacs thuarascáil an Coimisinéara Teanga, agus beidh mé ag tnúth le tuilleadh comhoibrithe ó mo chomhghleacaí, an tAire Oideachais agus Eolaíochta, chun na críche sin amach anseo.
An bhféadfadh an tAire a insint dúinn cad iad na moltaí a tháinig amach ó obair an ghrúpa sin? An dtarlóidh rud éigin substaintiúil anois mar gheall air nó an mbeimid ag cur ceisteanna mar seo go deo?
Tarlóidh agus, go deimhin, tharla roinnt rudaí cheana féin, mar shampla, bunaíodh Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge. Caithfimid oibriú leis an gcóras i gcónaí. Níl aon amhras orm ach gur féidir linn dul chun mór a dhéanamh i líne leis an tuarascáil seo ach cur chuige ceart a bheith foighneach agus an córas a oibriú. Is féidir a shamhlú go raibh impleachtaí airgid i gceist. Níl aon mhaith dom a mhalairt a rá. É sin ráite, ní raibh na himpleachtaí airgid chomh mór sin is nach bhféadfaidís a bheith mar sprioc réalaíoch le baint amach. Tá muid á dhéanamh píosa ar phíosa, mar a rinne mé le tuarascáil Choimisiúin na Gaeltachta, agus ag cur na brící in áit. Ag deireadh an lae bheadh súil agam go mbainfí amach na spriocanna leagtha síos sa tuarascáil. Baineann siad le rudaí a mbím ag caint fúthu — tuilleadh cúrsaí ar fáil agus tuilleadh maoiniú chun iad a chur ar fáil. Ní raibh aon rud réabhlóideach ann nach mbeadh duine ag súil leis i dtuarascáil den chineál sin.
Creidim féin, áfach, go bhfuil muid ag múineadh rudaí trí Ghaeilge ar mhaithe leo a mhúineadh trí Ghaeilge agus anois tá muid ag iarraidh go mbeidh daoine cáilithe agus Gaeilge mhaith acu leis na folúntais atá sa gcóras ag éirí as an Acht teanga a chomhlíonadh. Tá múinteoirí bunscoile le scoth na Gaeilge ag teastáil óna Gaelscoileanna. Tá an riachtanas ann so ba cheart go mbeidh an córas oideachais in ann déileáil leis sin. Níl aon amhras ach go mbeidh éileamh an-mhór le haistritheoirí, go mór mhór nuair a thiocfadh an Ghaeilge mar theanga oifigiúil san AE. Beimid ag iarraidh chuile shórt feidhmeannaigh de chuile chineál sna seirbhísí Stáit éagsúla le seirbhís a chur ar fáil de bharr an Achta teanga. Anois, caithfidh mé breathnú ar cén caoi a chuirfimid an oiliúint sin ar fáil. Ba mhaith liom go mbeidh ceangal i bhfad níos mó leis an oideachas agus an margadh ná mar a bhíodh.
I mo dháilcheantar, bhí teagmháil idir Institiúid Teicneolaíochta Phort Láirge agus Gaeltacht na Rinne. D'oscail an tAire an scoil nua, Scoil San Nioclás, sa Rinn. Bhí an scoil sin riartha ag coiste áitiúil le fada an lá. Tá dhá shaghas oideachais ann, oideachas don gnáth-dalta ach cad faoi daoine atá ag dul ar ais i mbun oideachais? An féidir le hÚdarás na Gaeltachta airgead a chur ar fáil do second chance education sa Ghaeltacht?
Tá sin ar bun cheana féin. Níl na figiúirí agam faoi cé mhéad a chaitheann ant-údarás ag tacú le daoine le cúrsaí trí Ghaeilge a dhéanamh. Is maith an rud é ar an gcoinníoll nach bhfuil daoine a mhaoiniú le cúrsaí mar sin a dhéanamh a bheadh in ann an t-oideachas a mhaoiniú iad féin. Caithfimid bheith cúramach. Tá an maoiniú sin ar fáil ag an údarás le dioplóma sa Ghaeilge agus cúrsaí craolacháin ag Coláiste na hOllscoile i nGaillimh. Cuireann an t-údarás cúnamh ar fáil do na daoine ón Ghaeltacht atá ag freastal ar na cúrsaí sin. Táéileamh mór ar na cúrsaí. Tá cáilíochta áirithe ag go leor de na daoine ag déanamh cúrsaí aistriúcháin nó ag a raibh togha na Gaeilge acu mar gur cainteoirí dúchasacha iad le cruinneas agus téann ar ais le cúrsaí foirmiúla a dhéanamh. Is daoine fásta a lán acu.
3 Mr. McHugh asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the number and details of projects his Department has funded under the CLÁR programme in east Galway; the number and details of applications refused under this programme in east Galway; the number and details of projects awaiting processing under this programme in east Galway; the amount of funding allocated to east Galway as a percentage of the overall CLÁR funding programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11494/05]
CLÁR funds, or co-funds with other Departments, State agencies and local authorities, investment in selected priority developments. These investments are made through a series of measures that support physical, economic and social infrastructure such as roads, water and sewerage, village, housing and schools enhancement, health, electricity conversion and sports and community projects. No specific allocations are made to the CLÁR areas of counties from each year's Estimates provision for the programme. Some measures are demand led while in other cases the projects are by and large selected or recommended by the relevant Departments, State agencies, LEADER groups and local authorities in consultation with my Department.
In addition, under the non-national roads measure, allocations from a €6 million co-fund with the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, which I announced in February, were made to each local authority based on the county's percentage of the total CLÁR population. However, as the local authorities select the projects, neither my Department nor the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government has any discretion in the selection of projects save for their being in a CLÁR area and meeting the terms of the measure.
There are 70 district electoral divisions in county Galway which are included in the CLÁR programme. Of these, 43 are in east Galway. Funding for projects in these DEDs under the various measures in the programme totals nearly €1.3 million from 2002 to date in 2005. Commitments entered into for the comparable period and yet to be drawn down amount to more than €580,000. The total spend in east Galway since the inception of the programme is as follows:
|
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
|
€562,000 |
€394,000 |
€309,000 |
€4,000 |
|
As % of total CLÁR spend |
As % of total CLÁR spend |
As % of total CLÁR spend |
As % of total CLÁR spend |
|
4% |
4% |
3% |
0.4% |
As it is not practical to provide all the information here, I am arranging to send the Deputy full details, by DED, of expenditure and commitments made but not yet drawn down in respect of each CLÁR measure.
I thank the Minister for his reply, but does he not agree that the small amount of information given in his reply is very disappointing from the perspective of Galway East? Does the Minister recall how the CLÁR programme was warmly welcomed when it was launched? The Minister came to Galway East as part of the promotional tour for the programme. I was also enthusiastic about the programme because I thought it would deliver many parts of my constituency from the misery and neglect they have suffered over a number of years. Does the Minister agree that, from a Galway East perspective, my optimism was without foundation? Does he further agree that this programme has been a failure from the perspective of my constituents in that it has not helped them?
The Minister and I share the same county but different constituencies. Does the Minister agree that his constituency of Galway West has benefited much more from the CLÁR programme than my constituency of Galway East? In his reply, the Minister said that there are approximately 27 DEDs in the CLÁR area in Galway West and approximately 43 DEDs in the CLÁR area in Galway East. Does the Minister agree that, looking at last year's allocations under the programme, Galway West benefited by a factor of approximately 3:1 over and above Galway East?
I can give the Minister some examples if I have sufficient time. Under the LIS roads funded CLÁR programme in 2004, there were nine roads in Galway West to the value of €100,000 while there were three roads in Galway East to the value of €26,000. In 2004, there were four small public water and sewerage schemes funded under the CLÁR programme in Galway West and two schemes in Galway East. That is not a factor of 3:1 but when one examines the money, one will find that this is a much greater multiple of 3:1 in favour of Galway West. The figures were €680,000 for Galway West and €131,000 for Galway East. This is particularly relevant for communities like Milltown, Glenamaddy and Creggs. The Minister has visited Creggs. The town has an inadequate sewerage system. They are crying out for some form of Government assistance to help improve their lot but no help is coming. It concerns me that this programme, though brilliant in theory, does not deliver in my constituency.
The Minister visited Dunmore recently——
The Deputy should confine himself to a brief statement.
Does the Minister agree that three CLÁR-Leader village and countryside enhancement schemes were sanctioned for Galway West in 2004 and only one for Galway East? This is particularly relevant in cases such as Dunmore. Will the Minister reply?
Do not embarrass the Minister further.
The Deputies and Senators from Galway East amaze me. It is obvious they do not know how these schemes work. I will outline the position quickly to show Deputy McHugh that, if something is happening, it is because the local authority has made certain decisions. It is out of my hands.
We made an allocation of approximately €498,000 to Galway County Council for non-national roads and told the council to select the project. We had no input in the selection process whatsoever. The only criteria were that they must be class two or class three roads, that no project could cost over €30,000 unless it is a bridge and it must have been in a CLÁR area. There was more work done in the east of the county than the west in 2004, but that was a matter for the local authority as I had no say in the matter. As the Deputy knows, there are more councillors from the east than the west. He should have his councillors sort that out.
Coillte picked its designated roads in consultation with local authorities. I had no input in that. The LIS roads are in the same situation. The position is simple, an initial allocation is made by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. For every €2 spent in any CLÁR area in the county, we allocate another €1. The selection of the supplementary roads funded by CLÁR moneys is a matter for the local authority and we have no input as long as the projects are inside CLÁR areas. If there is an east-west bias it is within the county council and has nothing to do with me as Minister. If its members favour the east I bow to their wishes and, similarly, if they favour the west I bow to their wishes.
Group water schemes and public water schemes are dealt with on demand. An allocation of a block grant is made by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and spending is at the discretion of the council, but if any of that grant is spent in a CLÁR area, we automatically back it euro for euro. However, I have no discretion in this.
The Minister lives in the west.
Even though I live in the west of the county, if the council wishes to spend that money in the east of the county, it can. I will go through this with the Deputy for an hour or 30 minutes at some time if he wishes. I will go through it line by line to show him that I cannot and do not in any way influence the specific choices made in respect of the CLÁR programme. Everything is objective and fair. If there is an east-west bias in County Galway, it is one of two things, either the western community is more active or the county council favours the west over the east. This would be amazing, implying the seven members from the west can out-manoeuvre the 23 members from the east.
Are we not automatically——
We must proceed.
If only other Galway men could agree with the Minister.
We can go into this matter in more detail in the committee. I am open to suggestions. This allegation——
We must continue with the next question.
I would love to continue this debate but I must bow to the ruling of the Chair.
4 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the main findings of the independent investigation into alleged incidents of bullying and harassment and the so-called culture of patronage in Waterways Ireland; the measures being adopted to ensure fair play and best practice within that organisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11557/05]
An investigation into allegations of bullying, harassment and related matters in Waterways Ireland has been jointly carried out, with the consent of the parties involved, by independent investigators appointed by my Department and the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure in the North. The report of the investigators has been submitted to the Departments and its conclusions and recommendations have been considered and accepted by both.
On 4 April 2005, my Department and the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure issued a joint statement on the matter. The statement was copied by my office to the Deputy on that date. In line with the normal confidentiality that applies to personnel matters, the Departments stated that they do not propose to publish the report of the investigators. However, their joint statement included a summary of the findings of the investigators, as well as the actions to be taken following the findings, as agreed by the Departments with the chief executive of Waterways Ireland. It is not proposed to make any further comment about the investigation.
However, I reiterate that I welcome this opportunity to again acknowledge the efforts of the chief executive and staff of Waterways Ireland in advancing the work of this important North-South body, often in complex and difficult circumstances. As I stated in the House in December 2004, the promotion of North-South co-operation in areas within my Department's remit remains a high priority for me and I will continue to support the work of the North-South bodies responsible for inland waterways and language matters in particular in every way possible.
Did the Minister see or read the report?
I did not read the report in detail. This is an industrial relations issue. A mechanism was put in place and the appropriate steps have been taken.
Did the Minister see or read the report?
Yes, I saw the report and am sure the appropriate steps were taken.
If the Minister has seen and read the report, he must agree that the joint statement issued by both Departments is the greatest whitewash and fiction to come out of any Department in my memory. The report was specific whereas the so-called summary has avoided the main issues. Lying at the core of this are bullying, appointments and promotions. These three areas were specifically and bluntly addressed in the report. The report had no hesitation upon finding that these incidents represent examples of bullying and highly inappropriate behaviour on the part of a senior manager. Very serious questions were also asked about appointments and promotions. When will we see the report? The summary is utterly misleading.
It is not.
It avoids the issue and deals with peripheral matters rather than those at the core. I would quote from it if the Leas-Cheann Comhairle allowed me to, but will the Minister make the report available to Members of the House so that we can judge for ourselves?
Have steps been taken to ensure Waterways Ireland's corporate procedures are being carried out? This is an important cross-Border organisation established as a result of the Good Friday Agreement and has implications much wider than Republic or Northern politics. It has implications for the peace process. What measures are being taken and what procedures are being put in place to ensure there is proper corporate management within this important body?
Once allegations were made a step-by-step procedure that is much too long to go through now was agreed upon and investigators were appointed. As situations such as this have arisen in the past in which people agreed a procedure but did not find the answer they desired, we understand that these things can happen. A procedure was followed in this case and has been brought to a conclusion. The detailed information I have does not coincide with the Deputy's statement.
I understand that allegations were made concerning the exercise of political influence in respect of two appointments and that this matter did not fall within the terms of reference of the investigation. This was all agreed beforehand. One cannot agree the rules of a game and not play by them. However, I and my Department are certain that no such influences were involved and I reject any allegations about that. Concerns were expressed in the report about the process followed leading to these appointments in Waterways Ireland. These have all been addressed in new procedures. The Deputy can take that as read. I have made sure of that and have gone into all those details. I was much more concerned about making sure that once we agreed a process to deal with the issue, it would be followed to the letter of the law and would come to a full conclusion. The second issue was to put steps in place to ensure whatever failings identified in the first process would not happen again.
The investigator acknowledged that no criticism was being made of the individuals involved nor was it being suggested that they were unsuitable for the posts. The investigator raised no issues in regard to the validity of the appointment and the two sponsor Departments have accepted this. When one sends in an investigator, one must agree with the result.
I have no difficulty with the findings of the investigator. As far as I know, they have been accepted by everyone. We have some difficulty with the joint statement issued burying the findings of the investigator. Given that it has been accepted by the investigation that there were incidents of bullying, have any disciplinary measures been taken to ensure that does not happen again?
I think the Deputy is misreading this. People have said——
Did the report say there was bullying?
No, it did not.
The Minister saw the report but I did not.
I am telling the Deputy what is in the report. It said the allegations of harassment were not upheld.
My understanding is that it specifically said there were incidents of bullying. The only way we will solve this is to get our hands on the report.
The investigation grouped the allegations into four main strands. Those strands and the findings of the investigation are set out. The allegations of harassment, which is another word for bullying, were not upheld.
The Minister has seen the report. I have not seen it but I am told those allegations were upheld.
5 Mr. Boyle asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he was correctly quoted in a publication (details supplied) of 11 February 2005 in which it was reported that walkers using mountain walkways could possibly be charged a fee; and his views on whether a statement of this type compromises the work of bodies he has established to deal with the issue. [11493/05]
I have no proposals for the introduction of fees for the use of walkways. I have made clear my view that a local community-based approach is the way forward where issues of access to the countryside arise. I established the consultation group on access to waymarked ways in April 2003 to consider the issues that had arisen in relation to access to some waymarked ways following the cessation of payment to landowners under the REPS.
In February 2004, I established a countryside council, Comhairle na Tuaithe, to address issues relating to waymarked ways and access. This decision followed consideration by the rural agri-tourism advisory group of a report presented by the consultation group on access to waymarked ways. The establishment of a countryside council was the key recommendation of the report.
Comhairle na Tuaithe has the following aims: to ensure that all those with an interest and concern in the sustainable development and proper management of the recreational amenities of the countryside are fully consulted on their future management; to develop and update, as necessary, a national countryside recreation strategy; to ensure that all means necessary are used to resolve conflicts that arise in relation to access issues and responsible enjoyment of the countryside; to raise awareness of the benefits to and responsibilities of recreational use of the countryside and to carry out research and training on related issues; to ensure that adequate funding is made available to allow the organisation to achieve these aims; and to examine the benefits and management of increased leisure use.
Comhairle na Tuaithe consists of representatives from the farming organisations, recreational users of the countryside and State bodies with an interest in the countryside. It has approached its work in the spirit of co-operation and through working groups which progress components of these aims.
The most recent meeting of Comhairle na Tuaithe was held on 7 March 2005. Working group meetings are scheduled in the near future and the next meeting of Comhairle na Tuaithe is planned for early May 2005. I look forward to receiving a report from Comhairle na Tuaithe following its consideration of the issues arising. I will carefully consider any proposals which Comhairle na Tuaithe may make to me.
However, as I have made clear on a number of occasions, it is only through working together as a community on this issue and reaching an amicable agreement which accommodates all sides that these issues can best be addressed. We can then strengthen the positive image of rural Ireland and, crucially, further develop rural tourism.
I take it from the Minister's reply that he was misquoted in the report in The Connacht Tribune of 11 February in which he is reported to have spoken to a Fianna Fáil cumman. I understand what the linguistic gymnastics in talking to such a gathering might involve and how it might be interpreted in such a way. Will the Minister state that the quote was not representative of his views or of any policy of the Government? While there are legitimate issues to be tackled in regard to the liability of landowners and how they can be protected in situations where the public is using recognised walkways, charging for the use of recognised walkways should not be on the table given the terms of Comhairle na Tuaithe to encourage greater use of such facilities for health and recreational purposes and for broadening the tourism potential of such activity, particularly in many isolated areas.
I thank the Deputy for tabling this question. I rarely bother to correct inaccuracies in newspapers. I do so occasionally but most of the time I let them pass, otherwise I would spend most of my life doing nothing other than writing to newspapers. In this case, I wrote to the editor of The Connacht Tribune, although I did not write when the initial report was published because I thought there was no point. The Deputy knows about quotes and misquotes. However, when Keep Ireland Open wrote to The Connacht Tribune on 4 March, I wrote this letter to the editor:
Dear Editor
I refer to the letter written by the above to your newspaper on the above date, in which he makes remarks on comments attributed to me at a meeting of a Fianna Fáil Cumman in Recess (Connacht Notes, The Connacht Tribune, 11 February).
I would like to clarify that the remarks, as attributed to me, were not in my view a clear and fair representation of what I said at that meeting. As the reporter in question did not contact me to verify the accuracy of the remarks, and as the reporter was not, also, present at the meeting, I take it that the report was written on the basis of second hand reporting of the discussion at what was a private meeting.
As I said at the end of my letter, my views on walkways issues are well known and have been articulated time and again in public fora, particularly at the conference in Portlaoise.
6 D’fhiafraigh Mr. Sargent den Aire Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta céard iad tuairimí an Aire i dtaobh an athbhreithnithe ar na Gaeltachtaí, nach n-aontaíonn an tAire liom gur cheart níos mo tacaíochta a thabhairt do na Gaeltachtaí go léir chun iad a láidriú agus nach ceart brú a chur orthu spriocanna éagsúla a bhaint amach faoi bhrú ama. [11427/05]
44 D’fhiafraigh Ms Burton den Aire Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta ós rud é go bhfuil 41% de vótálaithe Ghaeltacht na Gaillimhe do thoghchán Údarás na Gaeltachta i gceantair a bhfuil an Béarla mar phríomhtheanga iontu, cén plean práinneach atá aige féachaint ar theorainneacha Ghaeltacht na Gaillimhe; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina leith. [11385/05]
Tógfaidh mé Ceisteanna Uimh. 6 and 44 le chéile.
Mar is eol do na Teachtaí, cuireadh tús i mí Aibreáin 2004 le staidéar teangeolaíoch dírithe ar úsáid na Gaeilge sa Ghaeltacht mar bhunús chun: forbairt theangeolaíoch na Gaeltachta mar cheantar labhartha Gaeilge a threisiú; agus athbhreithniú a dhéanamh ar na limistéir oifigiúla Gaeltachta. Beidh na roghanna éagsúla tíreolaíochta agus déimeagrafaíochta a mheastar a bheith oiriúnach mar bhunús chun na limistéir oifigiúla Ghaeltachta a shainiú á scrúdú mar chuid den staidéar sin.
Meastar go dtógfaidh an staidéar, atá á dhéanamh thar cheann na Roinne ag Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge, Ollscoil na hÉireann, Gaillimh, i gcomhar leis an Institiúid Náisiúnta um Anailís Réigiúnach agus Spásúil, Ollscoil na hÉireann, Má Nuad, dhá bhliain go leith le cur i gcrích. Tá súil agam, mar sin, go mbeidh torthaí críochnúla ar fáil thart ar Mheán Fómhair 2006. Ní ghlacfar le aon chinneadh maidir le hathruithe ar na limistéir Ghaeltachta go dtí go mbeidh an staidéar críochnaithe agus an deis a bheith ag mo Roinn torthaí an staidéir a scrúdú go cúramach. Chuirfí aon mholtaí i ndáil le hathrú ar na limistéir Ghaeltachta faoi bhráid an Rialtais in am tráth.
Is é cuspóir mo Roinne sa Ghaeltacht ná úsáid na Gaeilge a láidriú agus a bhuanú. I measc na mbeartas faoi leith a tógadh le déanaí chun na críche sin, áirím an comh-mhaoiniú ar bhonn 50:50 gur fiú €87,000 atá ceadaithe agam ó thús na bliana d'Fheidhmeannas na Seirbhíse Sláinte le cumasú dó triúr teiripeoirí urlabhra agus teanga le Gaeilge a fhostú chun cur leis na seirbhísí a bhíonn ar fáil sa réimse sin sna ceantair Ghaeltachta; an ciste gur fiú €1.56 milliúin thar trí bliana a d'fhógair mé anuraidh chun tionscnamh pleanála teanga a chur chun cinn sa Ghaeltacht ar bhonn trialach; ó shin i leith tá cúig ghrúpa roghnaithe agus cúnamh airgid gur fiú suas go €110,000 in aghaidh na bliana ar fáil le cuidiú dóibh tabhairt faoi phlean teanga cuimsitheach agus infheidhmithe a réiteach agus a chur i bhfeidhm; an tacaíocht bhreise atá curtha ar fáil d'Ollscoil na hÉireann Gaillimh chun oideachas tríú leibhéal trí mheán na Gaeilge a fhorbairt tuilleadh sa Ghaeltacht; an gréasán tacaíochta atá bunaithe ag Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge, atá maoinithe ag mo Roinnse, faoina bhfuil comhairle agus tacaíocht phraiticiúil á cur ar fáil do na grúpaí a fuair aitheantas faoin tionscnamh pleanála teanga; an feachtas feasachta teanga a sheol mé ar 13 Meán Fómhair 2004 faoin teideal "Ár dTeanga Nádúrtha Féin" d'fhonn na buntáistí a bhaineann le húsáid na Gaeilge mar phríomh-theanga teaghlaigh a chur ina luí ar thuismitheoirí na Gaeltachta; athbhreithnuithe ar scéim na gcúntóirí teanga, scéim labhairt na Gaeilge agus scéim na gcampaí samhraidh, le scéimeanna leasuithe curtha nó á gcur i bhfeidhm; an cúnamh a ceadaíodh d'Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne d'fhonn scéim chuairteoirí baile a thionscnamh ar bhonn trialach; an bhéim bhreise atá á cur ag Údarás na Gaeltachta, ar threoir shonrach uaim, ar naíscolaíocht, ar sheirbhísí don óige, ar gníomhaíochtaí na gcomharchumann agus ar sheirbhísí tacaíochta eile don Ghaeilge sa Ghaeltacht; agus an t-athstruchtúrú atá curtha i bhfeidhm ag Údarás na Gaeltachta ar an earnáil réamhscolaíochta sa Ghaeltacht, chomh maith le tabhairt faoi struchtúr nua chun freastal níos fearr a dhéanamh ar an óige sa Ghaeltacht.
Tá mé sásta go bhfuil dul chun cinn suntasach déanta agus á dhéanamh chun an tacaíocht chuí a chur ar fáil ar mhaithe leis an nGaeltacht a láidriú tuilleadh laistigh de na hacmhainní airgid atá ar fáil dom mar Aire.
Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as an bhfreagra. Aontaím leis an chuspóir an Ghaeilge a láidriú. Tá codarsnacht ann, áfach, idir an tacaíocht a thabhairt do na Gaeltachtaí le Gaeilge a neartú agus an brú a chuirtear orthu le sprioc dátaí. An n-aontaíonn an tAire go bhfuil éileamh ann ceol a fhoghlaim mar tá sport ag baint leis agus tacaíochta taobh thiar de chomh maith? Is féidir ceacht a fhoghlaim ansin le spreagadh a thabhairt do dhaoine ranganna Gaeilge a eagrú, go speisialta do dhaoine fásta, agus an t-eolas sin a scaipeadh agus seans a thabhairt do dhaoine teacht ar an Ghaeilge. Cá dtéann daoine i gceantar an Aire le rang do dhaoine fásta a fháil. Tá muintearas ann, tá cúpla áiteanna ar imeall na Gaeltachta nach mbíonn seans ag daoine Gaeilge a fhoghlaim. Ba cheart dúinn rud éigin a dhéanamh faoi sin. An aontaíonn an tAire go bhfuil sé tábhachtach, ó thaobh an údaráis ag gearradh siar ar an mbuiséad, féachaint air sin arís, ó thaobh páirceanna gnó agus seans a thabhairt do dhaoine fréamhacha a chur fúthu sa Ghaeltacht in ionad a bheith ag obair na mílte óna n-áit chónaí.
Tá an-chomparáid idir cheol agus foghlaim na Gaeilge.
Ceist le do thoil.
An aontaíonn an tAire go bhfuil sé tábhachtach ranganna Gaeilge do dhaoine fásta a shocrú?
Tá sé tábhachtach. Bíonn siad ar fáil agus bíonn an t-údarás agus Conradh na Gaeilge ag plé le ranganna Gaeilge i gcathair na Gaillimhe agus clúdaíonn sin na ceantracha atá ar imeall na Gaeltachta. Bíonn Coláiste na hOllscoile i nGaillimh ag oibriú ar fud na Gaeltachta. Bíonn ranganna Gaeilge i mo dhúiche féin.
Maidir le hairgead don údarás, breathnaím ar an airgead a chuirtear ar fáil dom le haghaidh cur chun cinn na Gaeilge agus na Gaeltachta mar aonad amháin agus úsáidim an t-airgead sin, caite fríd an Roinn nó fríd an údarás, ar an mbealach is fearr a chreidim go ndéanfaidh sé leas na Gaeilge agus leas phobal na Gaeltachta. Chuir mé an-spéis gur vótáil breis is 60% de mhuintir Chorca Dhuibhne, muintir Mhaigh Eo, muintir Chiarraí, muintir Thír Chonaill, muintir na Gaillimh. Mar áirímid an pobal Gaeltachta ag vótáil sa toghchán, fiú ag tógáil na toghchán beaga san áireamh, ba léir go bhfuil pobal na Gaeltachta an-sásta leis an gcur chuige mar vótáil siad go fíor-láidir ar a shon. Tá rudaí breise i gceist sa Ghaeltacht seachas na rudaí a dhéanann Údarás na Gaeltachta. Ceann de na scéimeanna is mó a dhéanann leas na Gaeilge sa Ghaeltacht na scéim na bhfoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge, nó scéim na mban tí, scéim na gcoláiste Gaeilge. D'ardaigh mé an t-airgead leo agus nuair a bhí mé ag déanamh cinnidh idir tuilleadh foirgnimh a thógáil agus an tionscal is mó a chuireann airgead i bpóca Gaeilgeoirí na Gaeltachta, scéim na bhfoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge, chuir mé an t-airgead i dtreo scéim na bhfoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge.
Dúirt an t-údarás féin go bhfuil laigí sa bhunstruchtúr. Tuarascáil bhliantúil i ndiaidh tuarascála bliantúla chuir mé airgead sa rud sin. Dhírigh se ar cheist na naíscolaíochta agus chuir mé airgead ansin. Dúirt sé go raibh fadhb ó thaobh cúrsaí óige agus chuir mé airgead ar fáil do sin. Má thógtar an t-iomlán, tá pobal na Gaeltachta sásta agus go bhfuil an cur chuige ag méadú an airgid atá ar fáil do no rudaí seo ar fad a theastaíonn uathu go ndéanfar agus nach bhfuil úsáid ar bith ann bheith ag tógáil foirgneamh folamh agus á bhfágáil folamh nuair atá rudaí eile gur féidir a dhéanamh inniu go mbeidh úsáid láithreach astu ar mhaithe le pobal na Gaeltachta agus pobal na Gaeilge.
An aontaíonn an tAire liom gur tháinig 41% de vótaí Gaeltacht na Gaillimhe sa toghchán chuig Údarás na Gaeltachta ó dhaoine nach labhraíonn ach Béarla?
Is aisteach an rud a tharlaíonn nuair a dhírítear ar cheist lae amháin. Ní fheileann toradh an toghcháin le daoine áirithe. Níor fheil sé leo gur éirigh le Fianna Fáil ceithre shuíochán a bhaint amach i nGaillimh Thiar. Breathnóimid ar na fíricí. Cuid de na daoine atá anois ag gearán, bhí siad ar bhord na n-údaráis nuair a chuir mise ceist orthu roimh athrú an Achta 1999 mar údarás, ar cheart don údarás a bheith ag feidhmiú i gcathair na Gaillimhe nó an raibh sé ag feidhmiú ann agus, má bhí, cén fáth nach raibh an t-eastát tionsclaíochta sa bpáirc mhór i nGaillimh faoina chúram seachas an IDA. Tháinig na daoine seo ar ais ag iarraidh go bhfágfainn rudaí mar atá siad.
Má théim isteach go Cnoc na Cathrach amárach, agus má théimse arú amárach go Béal an Mhuirthead, feicfidh mé i bhfad níos mó oibre ar bun i gCnoc na Cathrach leis an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn ó thaobh Gaelscolaíochta agus iarrachtaí an phobail ná mar a fheicfidh mé I mbaile Bhéal an Mhuirthead. Níl éinne a rá nach gceart d'éinne dul isteach don bhaile le haghaidh an togháin seo.
Má tá an t-athrú le déanamh, ní féidir liom gníomhú ar cheist an lae inné. Tá plean leagtha amach agam, an chéad Aire Gaeltachta ó 1956, le hathbhreithniú chuimsitheach, fairáilte, oibiachtúil a dhéanamh ar na teorannacha Gaeltachta. Tá sé leagtha amach go soiléir cad é mar a dhéanfar é agus ní amháin sin ach airgead nach beag curtha agam lena dhéanamh cinnte go ndéanfar é. Nuair a thiocfaimid ag deireadh an staidéar sin, beidh cinneadh le déanamh.
Ba mhaith liom a rá fosta nár ndearnadh bagairt ar éinne. Feicim sna nuachtáin daoine a rá gur bhagair mise mura chaithfidís vótáil sa toghchán, go gcaithfí amach as an Ghaeltacht iad. Níl aon bhunús leis sin. Tharla gur chuir iriseoir ceist orm faoin staidéar teangeolaíochta agus mhínigh mé don iriseoir go dtógfaidh go leor leor rudaí san áireamh sa staidéar, mar shampla, an bhfuil an bunscoil ag múineadh trí Ghaeilge, an bhfuil an t-aifreann trí Ghaeilge agus mar sin. Cuireadh ceist orm an dtógfaí san áireamh mar chomhartha spéise, i measc rudaí eile, líon na ndaoine a vótáil i dtoghchán an údaráis. Dúirt mé go dtógfaí san áireamh sa méid mar go dtaispeánfadh sé dúinn tuiscint fiú an raibh siad sa nGaeltacht, mar bhí go leor daoine ag rá nach raibh a fhios fiú ag cuid mhaith de na daoine ina gcónaí sa Ghaeltacht i gcathair na Gaillimhe sa Ghaeltacht. Dúirt mé cinnte go dtógfainn san áireamh sin i measc na rudaí eile ar fad. An chéad rud eile, rinneadh dearmad ar an gcomhrá ar fad agus na rudaí eile a luaigh mé agus sí an phríomh-thuairisc a tháinig amach ná líne amháin gur bhagair an tAire mura vótálfadh daoine, chaithfí amach iad. Ní mise a bhagair é.
An féidir an tAire a rá cathain a bheidh an staidéar seo críochnaithe agus na cinnidh a dhéanfaidh. Tagraíonn an cheist do tacaíocht a thabhairt do na Gaeltachtaí maidir le láidriú na teanga. An aontaíonn an tAire liom gur an tacaíocht is láidre a thig leis a thabhairt do na Gaeltachtaí agus don teanga ná muintir na Gaeltachta a choinneáil ansin agus fostaíocht a chur ar fáil dóibh ina gceantar féin? An bhfuil an tAire dóchasach go mbeidh sé ar chumas Údaráis na Gaeltachta sin a dhéanamh leis na hacmhainní atá curtha ar fáil dó i mbliana agus an bhliain seo chugainn?
Ag an phointe seo, tréaslaím leis an phríomh-fheidhmeannach úr atá ag dul i mbun a dhualgais inniu, Pádraig Ó hAoláin.
Tacaím leis an rud atá ráite faoin phríomh-fheidhmeannach nua agus tugaim aitheantas fosta don obair a rinne Ruan Ó Bric mar phríomh-fheidhmeannach thar blianta fada. Tá chuile duine sa Teach ar aon intinn go bhfuil muid buíoch de Ruan agus tréaslaímid le Pádraig Ó hAoláin.
Scaití déanta simpliú ar rudaí. An dtarlódh maidin amárach i nGaeltacht Chonamara go dtabharfaí isteach 3,000 i monarchan ar scil íseal, ní bhfaigheadh an líon daoine atá de dhíth as Chonamara mar tá siad ag dul go Gaillimh agus ag fáil oibre ann mar go bhfuil scileanna arda acu. Ní fheilfeadh an cineál sin job iad.
Tháinig toscaireacht chugam as baile beag i gConamara le caint faoi fhostaíocht. Dúirt mé go bhfuil an fhadhb beagáinín níos casta mar thug mé faoi deara fána mbaile go bhfuil fíorbheagán de na múinteoirí atá acu ina Ghaeilgeoir. Dúirt mé nach trua é nuair atá na jobanna ann ach nach bhfuil siad le líonadh ag daoine áitiúla le Gaeilge. Síos an bóthar, tá teach altranais ann gur chuir an t-údarás airgead dó ach ní raibh sé in ann altraí le Gaeilge a fháil sa bhfíor-Ghaeltacht seo le hobair ann. Tá an cheist i bhfad níos casta agus tá mé ag obair leis an údarás le déanamh cinnte go bhfuil jobanna ann agus go bhfuil na daoine oilte leo. Tá sin níos casta ná an seanrud a bhíodh ann sna 1950s nuair a bhí chuile job mar an gcéanna. Caithfimid sin a phlé.
Ba bhreá liomsa go bhféadfaimis dul i gcoiste a bhaineann le mo Roinn agus suigh síos agus plé a dhéanamh ar an gceist seo, seachas ag tógáil línte simplí ar an cheist mar níl sé chomh simplí sin.
7 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the financial cost of introducing Irish-only road signs in Gaeltacht areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11446/05]
I will explain again to the House that the legal position since 1970 has been that road directional signs in the Gaeltacht are in Irish only. The Placenames Order that I made in respect of Gaeltacht placenames in December last and which came into effect on 28 March 2005 does not alter that position. Therefore, I am not introducing Irish-only road signs in Gaeltacht areas.
I understand that some costs will arise for local authorities in altering a relatively small number of existing signs located outside the Gaeltacht. The provision of road traffic signs on non-national roads and the funding of such signs is a matter for individual local authorities from within existing allocations and no expenditure over and above those existing allocations is involved.
My Department consulted the public bodies primarily affected by this order, Ordnance Survey Ireland and the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. I am advised that no significant additional costs arise for Ordnance Survey Ireland.
Tá an cheist seo dírithe ar chostas na bhfógraí nua agus dúirt an tAire nach bhfuil mórán acu le crochadh. Feicfimid cad a déarfaidh na comhairlí condae faoi sin.
An aontaíonn an tAire go bhfuil sé tábhachtach go dtuigfidh cuairteoirí an bun-logainm atá i gceist? An ndéanfaidh sé socrú idir a Roinn agus na daoine a chuireann léarscáileanna ar fáil? Sna siopaí, má tá cuairteoir ar a lorg, ba cheart go mbeadh léarscáil den cheantar ar fáil leis na logainmneacha oifigiúla uirthi. Sin ceist thábhachtach sa tír ar fad agus sa Ghaeltacht ó thaobh turasóireachta de.
An bhfuil socrú déanta aige leis na heagraíochtaí turasóireachta faoi margaíocht agus logainmneacha a úsáid mar atá siad sa leagan oifigiúil tar éis dó an riail seo a leagadh? Tá sé tábhachtach go dtuigeann turasóirí cá bhfuil siad ag dul.
Níl aon athruithe le cur ar na comharthaí bóthair taobh istigh den Ghaeltacht. Má tá cuid de na logainmneacha i mBéarla, níl siad ag cloí leis an riail a bhí ann ó 1970. Bhí an-fhadhb agam sin a mhíniú sna meáin Béarla.
Bhí laige ag baint leis an rud a rinneadh i 1970. Athraíodh na comharthaí bóthair ach níor hathraíodh na léarscáil agus b'shin an fhadhb. Is cuma cén teanga ina bhfuil comhartha bóthair a fhad is go réitíonn an léarscáil leis. Má bhreathnaíonn duine go cúramach ar an léarscáil a cheannaítear i ngaráiste, feicfidh sé cóipcheart Rialtais na hÉireann uirthi. Sé an Ordnance Survey a dhéanann an bunleagan. Sin an áit atá an bua sa socrú nua mar beidh siad ina mbunléarscáileanna. Ar ndóigh tá an Ghaeilge ann anois mar sin an t-ainm oifigiúil. Shíl muid go mbeadh sé mí-réalaíoch sa ghearr-théarma dá n-imeodh an leagan Béarla ó na léarscáileanna bóthair thar oíche. Dá bhrí sin, is é an rud atá i gceist ná go mbeadh leaganacha dátheangacha ar na léarscáileanna. Mar a tharlaíonn, tá léarscáil i mo dhialann, agus thosnaigh mé a bhreathnú uirthi lá amháin. Ní thuigim go baileach céard a rinne siad, ach feicim, mar shampla, "An Spidéal" agus "Spiddal". Níl a fhios agam an bhfuil mise ag cur olc ar na Teachtaí, ach níor chóir go nglactar leis an leagan Béarla. Tá an rud seo ag teacht, áfach, agus ar ghnáth-léarscáil bóthair, níl fadhb ar bith leis. Is éard a bheadh mé ag súil leis ar na léarscáileanna bóthair a cheannófar i siopaí go gairid ná go dtabharfar an dá leagan ar aon áit sa Ghaeltacht —"An Spidéal", "Spiddal"— agus ní bhíonn an oiread sin ainmneacha ar an ngnáthléarscáil bóthair. Beidh na comharthaí i nGaeilge amháin, ach má deir duine "Spiddal", feicfidh an tiománaí"An Spidéal" faoi, feicfidh sé an chomhartha don Spidéal, agus beidh sé in ann a bhealach a dhéanamh sa Ghaeltacht.
Is pointe iontach tábhachtach é seo atá á phlé againn i láthair na huaire. Tá sé tábhachtach nach ndéanfaidh muid na botúin a rinneadh san am a chuaigh thart aríst. Tá sé fíor-thábhachtach ar fad go mbeadh aontas nó an fhoirm chéanna ar na comharthaí bóthair is atá ar na léarscáileanna agus go dtuigfidh an tAire agus an chuid eile daoine é seo. Tá ceist agam maidir leis na foilsitheoirí agus na heagraíochtaí uilig a chuireann an fhreagracht, an dualgas nó an cúram orthu féin léarscáil a chur ar fáil. An bhfuil teagmháil déanta leo sin le go gcloífidís leis an leagan oifigiúil mar atá anois de réir reachtaíocht an Tí seo agus de réir mar a chuireann an Oifig Ordanáis ar fáil é? Is céim thábhachtach é sin le bheith cinnte nach mbeidh daoine ag cur amach léarscáileanna atá bunaithe ar rudaí a foilsíodh 20, 30 nó 40 bliain ó shin. Beidh muid ag toiseacht ar bhonn úrnua, agus beidh na léarscáileanna agus an fhoclaíocht orthu mar an gcéanna leis an fhoclaíocht ar na comharthaí bóthair. Ní chothaíonn sé aon deacracht dúinn ar fud na mór-roinne nó sa Bhreatain Bhig, agus níor chóir go mbeadh sé ag cothú deacrachtaí dúinn sa tírseo.
Tuigim go maith go bhfuil an socrú sin ann, agus tuigimid uilig sa Teach seo é, ach tá ceist agam mar gheall ar an tréimhse ghearr-théarmach. Nuair a bhí, mar shampla, an t-athrú ann ón bpunt go dtí an euro, bhí áireamháin, pinn luaidhe, fógraí, bileoga agus neart eolais ar an teilifis agus an raidió mar gheall air. Níl mé ag lorg an méid sin trioblóide a tharraingt ar an Aire. D'ainneoin sin, caithfidh mé an cheist a chur an bhfuil teagmháil déanta ag an Aire leis an Teachta O'Donoghue ó thaobh na turasóireachta de. An bhfuil aon socrú ann — ar an laghad sna siopaí nuachtán agus sna garáistí— léarscáileanna bunúsacha, beaga faoin gceantar a chur ar fáil á rá gurb iad seo na comharthaí bóthair oifigiúla a fheicfidh na cuairteoirí agus gurb é seo an bealach ar cheart dóibh dul? I ndáiríre, tá na léarscáileanna atá ar fáil sna siopaí mícheart. Tuigimid é sin, ach sin iad na cinn atá ar fáil faoi láthair. Is gá rud éigin idirmheánach a dhéanamh chun an scéal a chur ina cheart.
Dá mba rud é gur athraigh mé na comharthaí sa Ghaeltacht le go mbeidís i mBéarla ar fad — nó i mBéarla agus i nGaeilge — sa Ghaeltacht, bheadh sé ciallmhar beagáinín poiblíochta a dhéanamh faoi á rá go mbeadh an t-athrú seo ag teacht, ach ní sin an rud atá á rá agam. Tá siad i nGaeilge ó 1970. Tá aon cheann nach bhfuil mar sin ó shin mídhleathach. Sin an chéad rud a gcaithfidh daoine a thuiscint. Sin mar atá siad. Dá dtiocfadh duine go Conamara deich mbliana ó shin, sin mar a bhí siad.
An rud atá déanta againn ná tosnú go díreach leis na léarscáileanna. Go praiticiúil, i dtaobh na gcomharthaí bóthair, seachas cuid atá mídhleathach, nach bhfuil am ar bith agam dóibh, níl aon athrú ann. Maidir leis na mapaí, an rud atá i gceist againn a dhéanamh, mar a mhínigh mé, ná go mbeidís dátheangach ó thaobh leaganacha sna Gaeltachtaí de, mar a bheidís i go leor tíortha eile. Is é an chaoi atá againn é sin a dhéanamh go príomhá ná go ndéantar na mapaí seo le cead ón Ordnance Survey, agus tá an-chomhoibriú idir muid agus an Suirbhé Ordanáis. Mar is eol don Teachta, is brainse den Rialtas é.
In imeacht ama, glacaimid ar fad leis go mbeidh "An Ceathrú Rua" ar an gCeathrú Rua, agus gurb é sin deireadh an scéil. Beidh tréimhse idirmheánach i gceist, áfach. Chuaigh an AA agus comhlachtaí príobháideacha eile i dteagmháil linn, agus tá an rud pléite leo. Mar a deirim, is léir ó na mapaí atá á gcur ar fáil, mar shampla, an mapa sa dialann agam — is é mapa caighdeánach atá sa dhialann — go bhfuil, cheana féin, lucht déanta na mapaí ar fud na tíre ag dul sa treo seo. Mar a deirim, le tacaíocht an Ordnance Survey, tá mé ag déanamh cinnte go dtiocfar go hiomlán i dtreo an dátheangachais ar na mapaí. Beidh "Carraroe" agus "An Ceathrú Rua", "Spiddal" agus "An Spidéal", "Gweedore" agus "Gaoth Dobhair" ann.
Maidir leis an cheist faoin phoiblíocht, is dóigh liom go bhfuil mé beagáinín cúramach leis an airgead. Ní fheicim mórfhadhb i gcloiginn na ndaoine.
Cad é faoin Teachta O'Donoghue?
Tá a fhios ag an Teachta O'Donoghue faoi seo. Ní raibh aon rud le labhairt leis faoi.
Cén fáth?
Tá na comharthaí i nGaeilge le 35 bliain, agus tá na turasóirí ag teacht. An chéad uair dá mbeidh na mapaí ar fáil i nGaeilge, tuigfidh siad. Is é an rud a chuireann an argóint a chloisim sna meáin i gcuimhne dom ná rud a tharla dom nuair a bhí mé óg. Tharlódh sé i gcónaí gur cuireadh an cheist orm "Cén t-ainm atá ort?". "Éamon Ó Cuív", a dúirt mé. "What is that in English?". Go nádúrtha, ba é an freagra a bhí agam air sin ná "And what is Putin, Gorbachev and God knows what i mBéarla freisin?" Ní chuirfí an cheist sin ar Rúiseach, Francach nó éinne eile, ach leis an nGaeilge, caitear i gcónaí rá, "What is that in English?". Is fadhb sa gcloigeann é seachas fadhb phraiticiúil.
8 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he is considering seeking Cabinet approval for the establishment of a Cabinet sub-committee to examine the issues raised in the first annual report of the Coimisinéar Teanga; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11407/05]
In his inaugural report, the Coimisinéir Teanga called, as I have done, for a national debate on the teaching of the Irish language in schools. He also commented on the infrequency with which the language is used in debates in the Oireachtas.
The main part of the report was concerned with outlining how the coimisinéir has functioned and met the responsibilities of his office since his establishment. I wholeheartedly welcome the report and look forward to seeing the fruits over the coming years both of my Department's work in negotiating schemes with public bodies under the Act and the coimisinéir's work in monitoring and providing advice in regard to those schemes. There is a significant amount of work to be undertaken across a range of issues in regard to securing and advancing the situation of the Irish language and the Coimisinéir Teanga has made a welcome contribution to public debate on the issues.
The establishment of a Cabinet sub-committee would serve no useful purpose at this stage. The Deputy is aware that I have established Fóram na Gaeilge to advise me on, inter alia, how best to promote the Irish language in the 21st century. This will include advising me as to the desirability of a 20-year strategic plan with realistic goals for the Irish language in the State. There is a separate question to me about the fóram on today’s Order Paper.
The publication of the first annual report of the Coimisinéir Teanga has created a stir. I criticised the Minister and the commissioner for the blame being apportioned to teachers. We will be better served by focusing on the main issue, an environment which is at best unsupportive of the Irish language. There is some truth in the contentions regarding the quality of teaching but it perverts the argument to focus on that aspect.
In his report, the commissioner emphasised the weakness of the Irish language throughout the public service. My concern is that everyone will laud the report as worthwhile but no action will be taken. The establishment of a Cabinet sub-committee would ensure a focus on what needs to be done in the various Departments and elsewhere. Until the issue is given a focus such as this, little or no progress will be made. The danger is that there will be plenty of publicity and positive appraisals but the report will be forgotten quickly.
We seem to have come full circle. I have been saying all along that I am not one for setting up committees and issuing reports. I intend to articulate Government policy and not the views of a Fóram na Gaeilge report, although I want that organisation to give advice. Any policy statement positioning the role of the Irish language in the State will be a statement of Government policy, not a statement by Fóram na Gaeilge. I want it to do continuous work. I remember critics of Fóram na Gaeilge questioning when it would finish its work and issue a report. I stated this was not its purpose. As we discussed earlier today, we want it to push the agenda forward incrementally. I can recall a large range of issues regarding which we have done just that during my tenure of office.
Let me address the Deputy's other question. About four or five weeks ago, I spoke in Cork about teaching the Irish language. Anybody who was present on the night will remember that I made two points. Just because one states a fact does not mean one is blaming somebody. I did not state what I stated to blame anybody. However, if a fact is a fact, let us deal with it. Let us move away from the codology whereby it is believed that if one states a fact, one is in some way accusing or blaming somebody personally.
I will reiterate the fact I stated at the meeting in Cork. There is a major problem associated with the teaching of Irish associated with many teachers' lack of knowledge of the language. If anybody doubts me in that regard, he should go to the coláistí oiliúna, meet the final year students and have with them the debates we have had this afternoon in Irish. He will find out that what I am saying is a matter of fact. It would be crazy of me to blame the students for not doing something if the system has not taught them that thing. I am not into that business. On the other hand, it would be equally crazy for me not to recognise the aforementioned fact and request that we address the problem.
In debates on the Irish language, we always seem to believe that stating a fact involves apportioning blame. In the debate on the Official Languages Act, I alluded to the fact that only 5% of adults speak Irish on a daily basis. Therefore, I always said it was ludicrous to suggest that every civil servant should be able to deal with every issue through Irish. I rubbished this at the time on the basis that they do not have Irish. One of the great arguments in the debate centred on this topic.
I reiterate the well recognised and known fact that the majority of public servants do not feel comfortable doing their daily business through the medium of Irish. All the evidence from censuses etc. will substantiate this, as will the evidence we glean in respect of the day-to-day realities we encounter in our work.
I agree with the Minister and other Deputies that we are greatly indebted to the language commissioner for his reports and the facts he has presented to us. These facts have been staring us in the face for a number of years. The results in the education system are limited. Have there been any consultations between the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs and an Roinn Oideachais agus Eolaíochta regarding the content of the Irish syllabus in primary schools? There should be more emphasis on the spoken language rather than presenting young children with reading, writing and grammar at such a tender age. This turns them off. Our priority should be to emphasise the spoken language.
Ó thaobh Gaeilge san Oireachtas, an féidir leis an Aire a mholadh do na húdaráis anseo go bhfuil an cluasán deas, beag, néata atá ag an gCeann Comhairle i bhfad níos áisiúla agus go mbeadh daoine sásta tuilleadh Gaeilge a úsáid má tá cluasáin mar sin ar fáil seachas an rud mór millte seo atá an-sofheicthe agus a bheadh ar an teilifís agus duine ag éisteacht leis an aistriúchán? Bheadh rud chomh simplí sin ina chabhair ar an cheist.
Glacaim gur chuala an Ceann Comhairle an cheist a chuir an Teachta orm ansin. Is ceist í sin don CPP agus tá mé cinnte go dtuigeann an Ceann Comhairle, i nGaeilge nó i mBéarla, an pointe sin. Aontaím leis an Teachta. Bheadh an rud eile ar nós mar a bheadh ar láithreoir teilifíse agus ní fheicfí é. Le cúnamh Dé, chuala an Ceann Comhairle an bheirt againn agus díreoidh sé ar an gceist sin.
Ag dul ar ais chuig fadhb na múinteoirí, tá bunús léi. Ag glacadh go bhfuil an ceart ag an Teachta agus go bhfuil fadhb ann go bhfuil go leor múinteoirí nach bhfuil Gaeilge acu, b'fhéidir gurbh fhearr dúinn teilifísí a cheannach, iad a chur sa rang agus uair a chloig de "Cúla Búla" a chur ar bun chuile lá. Thaitneodh sin leis na páistí agus b'fhéidir go bhfoghlaimeoidís i bhfad níos mó Gaeilge ón teilifís ar a labhraítear Gaeilge mhaith ná mar a bhfoghlaimeoidís ó mhúinteoir nach bhfuil an teanga aige. Má aithnítear an fhadhb go fuar-chúiseach, go minic tá réiteach fíor-fheicthe ar an bhfadhb ach daoine a bheith oscailte go bealach eile breathnú ar an gceist. Sin an rud a ba mhaith liom a thabhairt don díospóireacht seo. Tá an teicneolaíocht ann anois. Ní gá go mbeidh an múinteoir sa rang ag teagasc na Gaeilge.
Written Answers follow Adjournment Debate.
