Robert Troy
Ceist:12 Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht his plans regarding the Irish National Opera company in view of the company’s recent collapse. [16749/11]
Priority Questions
Arts Funding
In March 2010, the Minister appointed an interim board for Irish National Opera. The task of the interim board was to examine the legal financial, artistic, staffing and institutional structures necessary to set up an Irish national opera company. In the event, Irish National Opera company was not incorporated so the question of a collapse, as referred to by the Deputy, does not arise.
The interim board contained a very significant gathering of expertise in the area of opera, including the chairman, Mr. Ray Bates, former director of the National Lottery; Ms Virginia Kerr, an internationally renowned soprano and chair of the Opera Theatre Company; Mr. Thomas Lynch, chair of Opera Ireland; and Sir Brian McMaster, chairman of the National Opera Studio in the UK and former managing director of the Welsh National Opera. The interim board also sought the advice of international opera experts on the necessary funding required for an Irish national opera company.
These opera experts, following a thorough examination of all aspects, concluded that an Irish national opera company would require a minimum annual State contribution of €4.5 million in a full year of production if it were to be successful. This compared to a total of €2.2 million paid in 2010 to Opera Ireland and the Opera Theatre Company.
The opera experts further advised that the project should not proceed if this level of funding was not forthcoming. It is possible that at another juncture this project would have proceeded but, given the current budgetary climate, it was not possible to increase opera provision by this level.
New proposals such as an Irish national opera company should be carefully analysed before taking action. The interim board of Irish National Opera, over the past year, carefully considered and analysed the situation, consulting with the relevant parties and with the best available expertise. This meant that the advice available to the interim board commanded due consideration and could not be easily set aside.
When I assumed the role of Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, I examined the available advice and I considered that the best option was the resumption of the arrangement whereby the Arts Council would assume the entire responsibility for all opera policy provision and implementation into the future. I communicated that to the chair and director of the Arts Council last month.
As part of the overall provision for opera, the council may consider it appropriate to draw on the expertise and information which was developed under the auspices of the interim board. Future funding is a matter statutorily for the council.
I take this opportunity to express my gratitude to the chairman and members of the interim board for their work and commitment over the past year. The members received no payment for their work on the interim board.
It is a tragedy that we find ourselves in this position. The new Government has continually emphasised the importance of cultural tourism but now top quality opera will be unable to be produced in our capital city. Figures suggest that cultural tourists spend seven times more than ordinary tourists.
Given the reduction in funding to the Arts Council in recent years, has the Minister received an assessment yet from the council on the financing of opera up to 2013? If he has, he might explain how it intends to finance opera and, if he has not, when does he expect to receive it?
What is the Minister's view on the development of opera in Ireland in the future? Does he intend to honour the outstanding debts of Opera Ireland guaranteed by his predecessor?
During the past five years the taxpayer has spent €50 million on opera here, which is probably more than has been spent on any other genre of music and the arts. The Grand Canal Theatre is currently putting on the opera, "Rigoletto" and the Opera Theatre Company is continuing with its programme so the country is not devoid of opera. This year the Wexford Festival Opera will increase its number of days to 16, which will be an expansive programme. In 2011 the taxpayer or the Government will contribute more than €1.7 million to the Wexford Festival Opera, which is a considerable sum of money given that the Government already spent €30 million on providing a state of the art opera house of international standard.
The Arts Council always had responsibility for the promotion of opera. It has a budget of €2.2 million this year for opera development, promotion and support. I will encourage it to support opera as much as possible in the future.
As the Deputy mentioned, there were problems with Opera Ireland which received a large sum of funding over the years. It received €1.6 million in 2010. There were problems internally in the company and the Arts Council had to help to bail it out.
Overall I am confident that opera will be supported here, that the Arts Council will examine ways and means of promoting opera and making it available to a broader audience not only in the capital city but throughout the country. That can be done in the future.
I advise the Arts Council to consider the Shannon report, which saw Wexford Festival Opera play a major role in the promotion of opera here. Some good proposals were made prior to the Minister deciding we would have a national opera company. The Minister set up an interim board but the Minister who succeeded the former Minister, Mr. Martin Cullen, decided not to provide any funding. Therefore, I had no other option but to hand back responsibility to the Arts Council.
Údarás na Gaeltachta
Peadar Tóibín
Ceist:13 D’fhiafraigh Peadar Tóibín den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta nach nglacann an tAire leis nach bhfuil sé daonlathach deireadh a chur leis an toghchán chun baill a thoghadh chuig Bord Údarás na Gaeltachta [16834/11]
Robert Troy
Ceist:15 D’fhiafraigh Robert Troy den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta cén fáth a roghnaíodh nach mbeidh toghchán i measc an phobail sa Ghaeltacht amach anseo do Bhord Údarás na Gaeltachta; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [16750/11]
I advise that Question No. 15 appears incorrectly on the questions Order Paper in the name of Deputy Robert Troy, it should appear in the name of Deputy Michael Kitt. It is therefore in order for Deputy Kitt to put supplementary questions to the Minister of State.
Tógfaidh mé Ceisteanna Uimh. 13 agus 15 le chéile.
Faoi réir na reachtaíochta atá i bhfeidhm faoi láthair, ní mór an chéad toghchán eile d'Údarás na Gaeltachta a reáchtáil faoi Dheireadh Fómhair 2012 chun 17 mball a thoghadh go daonlathach. Ag cruinniú Rialtais ar an 31 Bealtaine 2011, thóg an Rialtas roinnt cinntí sonracha maidir le struchtúr agus feidhmeanna Údarás na Gaeltachta sa todhchaí. Mar cheann de na cinntí sin, tá sé socraithe go ndéanfar foráil sa Bhille Gaeltachta nua a bheidh á thionscnamh, chun deireadh a chur leis an riachtanas do thoghcháin d'Údarás na Gaeltachta feasta. Agus an cinneadh polasaí seo á thógáil, bhí aird ag an Rialtas ar chúinsí éagsúla, ina measc: líon mór na gcomhaltaí ar an mBord faoi láthair; an gá chun fócas níos géire a thabhairt do bhoird Stáit i gcoitinne; agus an costas mór a bhaineann le toghchán a reáchtáil do líon teoranta iomaitheoirí. Sa chomhthéacs seo, ní miste a lua gur bhain costas de bheagnach €400,000 le toghchán Údarás na Gaeltachta a reáchtáil i 2005.
Ar ndóigh, feictear don Rialtas go bhfuil sé tábhachtach nach gcaillfear an ghné dhaonlathach mar thoradh ar na hathruithe atá beartaithe ar Bhord an údaráis. Dá bhrí sin, tá sé i gceist go dtiocfar ar mheicníocht faoin mBille Gaeltachta le gur féidir comhaltaí ó údaráis áitiúla a bhfuil limistéir Ghaeltachta faoina gcúram a ainmniú ar bhord an údaráis. I dteannta leis sin, meastar go mbeidh comhaltaí eile le hainmniú ag an Aire, mar thoradh, inter alia, ar shaineolas ar leith a bheith acu i réimsí gnímh an údaráis.
Ní aontaím, dá bhrí sin, nach mbeidh daonlathas bainteach le bord an údaráis nuair a bheidh an struchtúr nua seo curtha i bhfeidhm.
Oibríonn eagraíochtai i bhfad níos fearr nuair a bhíonn sprioc, nó cuspóir, chúng acu. Mar shampla, déanann TG4 jab níos fearr don Ghaeilge ná mar a dhéanann RTE. Déanann Údarás na Gaeltachta jab níos fearr chun fostaíocht a mhealladh isteach go dtí an Ghaeltachta ná aon eagraíocht eile. Is é mo thuairim go ndéanfaidh an t-easpa daonlathais dochar don jab atá le déanamh ag an údarás. Ar dtús, ní bheidh an t-údarás chomh freagrach do mhuintir na Gaeltachta as seo amach. I gContae na Gaillimhe, mar shampla, ní thagann ach triúr chomhairleoir chontae ón nGaeltacht agus ní bheidh an brú céanna orthu-san maidir le fadhbanna na Gaeltachta. Chomh maith leis sin, tá móramh ag Fine Gael i gcúig cinn des na sé cheantair Gaeltachta. Beidh Fine Gael i gceannas ar an údarás i ngach áit. An mbeidh comhairleoirí Fhine Gael sásta seasamh suas ar son mhuintir na Gaeltachta i gcoinne na gciorruithe nó an mbeidh siad sásta glacadh le polasaí Fhine Gael agus an Rialtais?
Is droch rud uafásach é an daonlathas a bhaint den údarás. Beidh Comhairlí Chontae gan aon Ghaeilge, le comhairleoirí a toghadh i gceantair nach ceantair Ghaeltachta iad, ag déanamh polasaí Údarás na Gaeltachta as seo amach.
Aontaím leis an méid a bhí le rá ag an Teachta mar gheall ar an sár-obair atá déanta ag Údarás na Gaeltachta ó bunaíodh é beagnach 30 bliain ó shin. Tá breis agus 7,000 duine fostaithe sa Ghaeltacht ag comhlachtaí a fuair tacaíocht agus cuidiú agus cabhar ó Údarás na Gaeltachta. Nuair a tháinig mé isteach sa phost seo is cinnte go raibh comhartha ceiste mór ann maidir le todhchaí Údarás na Gaeltachta. Chonaic muid an titim tubaisteach a bhí ar chaiteachas chaipitil do Údarás na Gaeltachta ó €27 milliún 2008 go dtí €6 milliún i mbliana. Bhí daoine san údarás, agus muintir na Gaeltachta, ag ceistiú an mbeadh údarás ann. Tá áthas ormsa a rá anois go bhfuil sé cinntithe ag an Rialtas go mbeidh Údarás na Gaeltacht ann, go mbeidh feidhmeannas tionsclaíochta ag Údarás na Gaeltachta agus go gcoinneoidh sé an status quo san am atá amach romhainn.
Maidir le ballraíocht an údaráis, is cinnte go mbeimid ag laghdú ballraíocht an údaráis, de réir chinneadh an Rialtais, ó 20 ball, mar atá i láthair na huaire, go dtí, b'fhéidir, 10 mball nó, ar a mhéid, 12 ball. Mar shampla, nuair a thosaigh an t-údarás ar dtús, ó 1969 go dtí 1980, 13 ball a bhí air. Bhí seachtar tofa ag pobal na Gaeltachta agus seisear ainmnithe ag an Aire, agus an cathaoirleach ina measc sin.
Mar atá cúrsaí eacnamaíochta i láthair na huaire, caithfimid scrúdú a dhéanamh ar gach euro a théann isteach i ngach Roinn. Caithfimid gan dearmad a dhéanamh de sin. Tá sé glactha ag an Rialtas anois, in ionad toghcháin a bheith ann go gcuirfear meicníocht ar fáil sa dóigh go mbeidh na húdaráis áitiúla — agus b'fhéidir dreamanna eile — ábalta daoine a ainmniú ar an údarás. Bhéinnse go mór i bhfábhar go mbeadh na daoine a ainmnítear as ceantair Ghaeltachta agus go mbeadh an Ghaeilge ar a dtoil acu chomh maith.
Bheidh an líon laghdaithe ó 20 go dtí 13. Sábhalfaidh sé sin airgead mór in aghaidh na bliana. Meastar go sábhalfadh sé €165,000 sa bhliain ná mar a chosnaíonn sé anois. Táimid ag caint ar an-chuid airgid.
Seo an cinneadh a bhí le déanamh. Tá an t-airgead gann agus caithfimid an luach is fearr a fháil ar an airgead. Ba bhreá liomsa, dá mbéadh an t-airgead ar fáil le caitheamh ar thionscail sa Ghaeltacht in ionad toghchán díreach agus costais bhoird.
An bhféadfainn teacht ar ais le pointe beag?
Go han-bheag.
Dúirt an t-Aire Stáit go raibh €6 mhilliún ag Údáras na Gaeltachta i mbliana. Níl a dhóthain ansin chun an líon fostaíochta a choimeád sa Ghaeltacht. Dar le muintir na Gaeltachta, caithfear €12 milliún a chaitheamh chun an líon a choimeád mar atá sé. An bhfuil an Rialtas chun níos mó airgid a chur isteach san údarás?
Tá ballraíocht bhord an údaráis le laghdú. Beidh an chuid is mó des na baill sin ceaptha tré na comhairlí contaetha a bhfuil limistéir Ghaeltachta iontu. An bhfuil sé i gceist ag an Aire Stáit an ceangal idir an t-údarás agus an pobal a bhriseadh?
Ní aontaím ar chor ar bith nach mbeidh ceangal idir an pobal agus an t-údarás. Tá ceangal an-láidir idir an pobal agus na coistí gairmoideachais sa tír. Bhí ceangal an-láidir idir an pobal agus na boird sláinte a bhí ann ar fud na tíre. Na daoine a bhí ag gníomhú ar na coistí gairmoideachais agus ar na boird sláinte, ainmníodh an mórchuid acu ag na rialtais aitiúla. Beidh ceangal ansin, gan dabht.
Sin an fáth go bhfuilimid ag teacht aníos le seift den chineál seo, le cinntiú go mbeidh an daonlathas san údarás. B'fhéidir nach bhfuil sé ann go díreach ach is cinnte to mbeidh sé go hindíreach agus go mbeidh inchur mór ag muintir na Gaeltachta agus ag an Ghaeltacht féin san bhord úr.
Maidir leis an cheist a bhí ag an Teachta Tóibín, is cinnte nach bhfuil ag an údarás i mbliana ach €6 mhilliún ón Státchiste. Tá achmhainní á ndíol ag an údarás chomh maith agus tugann sé sin na hachmhainní chaipitil atá acu suas go dtí beagnach €12 milliún.
I láthair na huaire tá géarchéim eacnamaíochta ann. Tá gach Roinn ag déanamh gach iarracht oiread airgid agus is féidir linn a fháil. Beidh an t-Aire, mé féin agus an Roinn ag déanamh gach iarracht oiread airgid agus is féidir linn a fháil do Údarás na Gaeltachta. Is é an rud is tábhachtaí ar fad, is cuma cé mhéad airgid a bheidh ar fáil, go mbeidh sé san reachtaíocht úr go mbeidh cúramaí fiontraíochta ar an údarás. Beidh sé sa Bhille go mbeidh na cúramaí sin air. Sin mar is ceart é a dhéanamh, is é sin nuair a bheidh breis airgid ar fáil sa tír agus nuair a thiocfaimid amach as an ghéarchéim eacnamaíochta go mbeidh an t-údarás ansin agus na freagraíochtaí sin air.
Dála an scéil, beidh comhoibriú chomh maith idir na háisínteachtaí fostaíochta eile, mar shampla an t-Údarás Fostaíochta Tionsclaíochta agus Enterprise Ireland, agus beidh comh-oibriú idir an t-údarás agus iad siúd. Thig liom a rá — tá sé seo ráite agam leis an údarás — má thagann an t-údarás aníos le haon tionscnamh sa Ghaeltacht a chuirfidh fostaíocht ar fáil, is cinnte nach dteipfidh orthu an fhostaíocht sin a chur ar fáil os rud é nach bhfuil airgead ar fáil.
Tá cumhacht iomlán ag an Aire agus na comhairleoirí ó thaobh ainmniú an bhoird de. Ba mhaith le pobal na Gaeltachta go mbeadh an chumhacht sin acu. An bhfuil córas eile ann a ligfeadh do phobal na Gaeltachta iad féin a chur chun cinn do bhord an údaráis?
Mar a dúirt mé, tá cinn an Bhille á n-ullmhú i láthair na huaire. Tabharfar an Bille seo isteach roimh dheireadh na bliana, b'fhéidir, nó an bhliain seo chugainn. Táimid ag amharc ar na féidearthachtaí uilig ag an bpointe seo. Thig liom a rá go mbeidh inchur daonlathach ar bhord Údarás na Gaeltachta. B'fhéidir nach mbeidh sé cosúil leis an mbord a bhí in áit roimhe seo. Mar shampla, nuair a thosaigh an feachtas i gContae na Gaillimhe fá choinne Údarás na Gaeltachta a bhunú agus cearta sibhialta na Gaeltachta a bhaint amach, ní raibh sé ar intinn gur comhairleoirí contae amháin a bheadh ar an mbord. Dúirt na daoine a bhí páirteach sa bhfeachtas gur chóir go mbeadh ceannairí pobail le saineolas ar chúrsaí tionsclaíochta, infheistíochta, fostaíochta agus Gaeltachta ar an mbord. Tá na féidearthachtaí uilig á scrúdú againn. Nuair a chuirfear an Bille i láthair an Tí, beidh sé níos soiléire. Maidir leis an méid go díreach a bheidh á dhéanamh againn, is féidir liom a rá go mbeidh inchur daonlathach sa bhord úr. Dúirt an Teachta Tóibín go bhfuil plean glic ag an Rialtas, os rud é go bhfuil tromlach ag Fine Gael ar chomhairlí contae ar fud na tíre.
Tá tromlach ag Fine Gael.
Tá mé fada go leor anseo a thuisicint go dtéann an roth polaitiúil timpeall, cosúil le Rothaí Móra an tSaoil a bhí ag Micí Mac Gabhann. An páirtí atá thuas inniu, beidh sé thíos amárach.
Tá an móramh ag Fine Gael ag an bomaite.
Is é sin an daonlathas.
Is rud glic é, i ndáiríre.
B'fhéidir go mbeidh an móramh ag páirtí eile i gceann trí bliana. Bíodh dóchas ag an Teachta.
National Archives
Tom Fleming
Ceist:14 Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will set up a central genealogy service to capitalise on the recent visit by President Obama in view of the fact that it would provide a comprehensive research facility to the Irish diaspora worldwide and contribute greatly to attract these persons to Ireland. [16748/11]
I recognise that the recent visits by President Obama and Queen Elizabeth have provided a renewed interest in genealogical records among Irish people and the Irish diaspora worldwide. My approach to genealogical services is to assist the two main national institutions involved in this area which are under the aegis of my Department, the National Archives and the National Library, to make available to the public the records of genealogical interest in their collections, online and free of charge, to gain the highest usage domestically and around the world. Both institutions offer genealogical advisory services to callers. In that context, a comprehensive search facility already exists through the publication of the 1901 and 1911 census provided by the National Archives. This project involved digitising the census returns and background material for those years and making them searchable online by all the available data fields, including name, address, occupation, religion, relationship to head of household and so on. All these records are now available online and 128,993 unique visitors logged on to the site in May 2011. This brought the total number of unique visitors to this site to end May to more than 11.6 million, with the total number of hits more than 557 million.
My Department also hosts the website, www.irishgenealogy.ie, which contains a searchable database of church records of baptism, marriage and burial from Dublin city and counties Carlow, Cork and Kerry. The website is an important aid to family history and genealogical research and will be an attraction for the Irish diaspora to visit Ireland in search of their roots. Since its launch in November 2009, a total of 239,068 unique visitors have visited the church records site with a total of more than 34.7 million hits recorded.
In addition, in June 2010 the Church of Ireland records for Dublin city and counties Carlow and Kerry and Roman Catholic records for the county and city of Cork were added to the website. Work is ongoing to add up to a further one million church baptism, marriage and burial records from Dublin city and County Cork, and this work should be substantially completed by end of next month. This project is being undertaken with the support of our national repositories, the National Archives and the National Library of Ireland. The majority of the records also have the corresponding image of the original entry in the baptism, marriage or burial register available to view.
Additional Information not given on the floor of the House.
Images for all the records will be made available during 2011. This level of detail, along with the success of the 1901 and 1911 censuses online, will be a significant additional resource to persons abroad wishing to trace Irish ancestors.
I assure the Deputy that my Department is working closely with the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and with Tourism Ireland to ensure Ireland reaps the dividends of this work. Deputies will recognise that statutory responsibility for tourism lies with my colleague, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport.
In addition, with my Department's co-operation, Tourism Ireland is proposing a genealogy web portal. This will serve as a central focus and one-stop-shop for those with an interest in their family history. I understand the proposed portal will provide direct incentives to persons abroad using it to come to Ireland. This, in turn, should provide opportunities to local service providers, including the Irish Family History Foundation, to make available specialist local history and genealogical services and products.
Deputies will also be aware of my proposal to digitise and make available online the 1926 census returns. Apart from their inherent significance from a family history point of view, these returns are significant as they are the first census of population taken after independence and will provide an important baseline from which to chart our progress. My Department is examining the legal steps required to allow this project go forward as it seems clear that some amending legislation will be required. My Department also chairs a committee of the key State agencies involved in this area, including the tourism agencies, to ensure we maximise the opportunities.
I thank the Minister for his comprehensive reply. The huge resource that is the Irish disapora, approximately 60 million to 80 million people worldwide, in particular in English-speaking countries, including Australia and North America, was brought home to us with the recent visit of President Obama and Queen Elizabeth. Now more than ever, we need to tap into the potential of this huge resource.
Our genealogy service is fragmented. The Minister set out in his reply the various websites, archives and sources of information in this regard. We need to have a central venue wherein all these services are co-ordinated. For example, records in relation to President Obama's relatives were traced to a church in Offaly, Trinity College, where a close relative worked, and Dublin, where another relative was involved in trade. This demonstrates the need to provide a co-ordinated genealogical service. Rather than sending people to different places, we need to be able to direct them to a central service which holds all the information they require.
This matter requires further thought, in particular in regard to the huge advantages open to us in terms of connecting with these people in terms of job creation and attracting industry into the country. It would also assist us in attracting visitors to the country. There is a vast amount of goodwill towards Ireland following the publicity surrounding the visits of President Obama and Queen Elizabeth. Will the Minister give more thought to this matter and, in that regard, communicate with the various bodies doing marvellous work in this area? While I appreciate the availability online of the 1901 and 1911 census, many census returns were lost in the fire at the Four Courts in 1916.
Deputy Fleming has gone over time.
It is possible to pull all this information together. We need to get the message out worldwide.
Unfortunately, the Minister does not have time to reply to the Deputy's question.
I am aware of Deputy's Fleming interest in this area. Coming from a county like Kerry which has experienced huge emigration down through the years, we share a particular interest in this area. Kerry has a strong disapora worldwide.
Work on the 1926 census requires a change in legislation, which I am working on. I agree with Deputy Fleming about the number of organisations involved, including the National Library of Ireland, the National Archives of Ireland, the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, the Irish Family History Foundation, the General Register Office and Tourism Ireland. To provide some cohesion, Tourism Ireland has proposed a genealogy web portal which will serve as a central focus or one-stop-shop for those with an interest in their family history. It is hoped all organisations will work together in providing all the information on that portal.
If the Deputy wants to visit that portal, he will get all the necessary information. I take his point about co-ordination.
Question No. 15 answered with Question No. 13.
Irish Language
Mattie McGrath
Ceist:16 Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will examine the possibility of twining small villages and towns in the Gaeltacht areas with villages and towns of similar size that were once a Gaeltacht area in an effort to revitalise the Irish language [16867/11]
The 20-year strategy for the Irish language lays out a comprehensive strategy for preservation and promotion of the Irish language. The strategy encompasses a total of nine priority areas for action, namely, education, the Gaeltacht, family transmission of the language-early intervention, administration, services and community, media and technology, dictionaries, legislation and status, and economic life and cross-cutting initiatives.
The most immediate priority is the linguistic crisis in the Gaeltacht. The Comprehensive Linguistic Study of the Use of Irish in the Gaeltacht of 2007 indicated that, without urgent remedial action, Irish may only have a lifespan of 15 to 20 years as a community and household language in the Gaeltacht. The strategy proposes to address this by including the activities of the main State institutions with responsibilities in the Gaeltacht within the framework of an integrated strategic language planning approach for Gaeltacht communities. The Government has now approved the preparation of legislation to give effect to these measures.
The issue of how best to strengthen the language in areas peripheral to the Gaeltacht will be examined in this context. It is clear from the strategy that new areas might also be included in the Gaeltacht if they meet the linguistic criteria under the proposed new Gaeltacht Act.
Based on recommendations in the 20-year strategy and in the linguistic study already referred to, statutory recognition of the following categories of Irish-speaking communities could also be accommodated, namely, first, bailte seirbhísí Gaeltachta or Gaeltacht service towns, which would provide a statutory framework for the recognition and definition of such as being towns on the periphery of the Gaeltacht which play a significant role in the provision of services to the Gaeltacht communities adjacent to them; and, second, network Gaeltacht areas, a category which would allow for targeted language planning initiatives to develop new language communities-networks outside the Gaeltacht. These would be predominantly in urban communities that have achieved a basic critical mass of community and State support for the Irish language, such as child care facilities through Irish, primary and second level education through Irish, Irish language youth clubs and other services, including mother and toddler groups, and Irish language religious services.
I consider that there may be merit in the Deputy's proposal to examine the possibility of twinning small villages and towns in the Gaeltacht areas with villages and towns of similar size that were once in Gaeltacht areas.
Additional information not given on the floor of the House.
The proposed legislation envisages the recognition and definition in statute of these Gaeltacht categories and targeting them with relevant types of support measures.
Ba mhaith liom comhghairdeas a ghabháil leis an Aire Stáit as an bhfreagra sin. I am delighted with parts of the Minister of State's answer. While it is not exactly the point I was making, I am delighted he has concerns for the language in Gaeltacht areas under the 20-year strategy. In my area, which was breac Gaeltacht until 1950, we are interested in revitalising the language. Tá naíonra agus coláiste samhraidh agus rudaí mar sin againn. Given the experience of twinning of communities, towns and areas with regions in Europe and further abroad, I felt it would be a novel idea to perhaps include it in the strategy as a pilot project. For example, my area could be twinned with Ring, which is in Port Lairge, 20 míle uainn, agus áiteanna eile sa tír.
Cuireann sé áthas orm go bhfuil suim ag an Teachta McGrath, as Contae Thiobrad Árainn, san an obair seo. Tá a fhios agam go bhfuil ceantair i gContae Thiobrad Árainn, cosúil le hAonach Urmhúmhan agus Caiseal féin, a bhfuil an cultúr, an traidisiún agus an teanga go han-láidir ar fad. Níl aon fáth nach mbéadh twinning idir ceantair Ghaeltachta agus ceantair cosúil lena cheantar féin.
The 20-year strategy is a national strategy, not just a Gaeltacht strategy. Any and every community will have an opportunity, if it wishes, to prepare a language development plan for its own area, whether it is a parish, town or otherwise. They will be given every assistance to do that over a two-year period and the situation will be monitored over the next five to seven years. The Deputy has put forward an excellent idea, which will certainly be considered. As an example, towns in my constituency, the fíor-Ghaeltacht, could be twinned with towns in the Deputy's constituency or any other part of the country. As they say in Irish, ar scáth a chéile a mhairimid.