Vol. 784 No. 3
6. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will give an undertaking to provide the Heritage Council with additional funding to ensure the continuation of its research, education, and conservation programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53064/12]
The level of funding available in 2013 from my Department’s Vote for the Heritage Council will be subject to the normal budgetary and Estimates processes, which may be necessarily constrained by the current difficult fiscal environment. The Minister, Deputy Deenihan, hopes to finalise any allocation to the Heritage Council as soon as possible, once final budgetary decisions are made. Of course, it will be a matter for the council to decide how its funding should be allocated across the range of research, education and conservation programmes it supports in future years, having regard to competing priorities for limited resources.
Thus far, the Heritage Council has not been in a position to advertise its grant scheme due to a lack of funding. The council has also suffered substantial cuts to its funding since 2008 and, while it has maintained as much of its core work programme as possible, this was achieved in 2012 by using its funding reserves. This meant financial support was available for grants in support of heritage management, heritage education, community outreach and heritage research, but this reserve is now exhausted. Unless the overall level of funding available to the council in 2012, including its reserve, is available again in 2013, it will not be in a position to run these important programmes in the coming year. The ending of such grants will be a real and significant loss to the heritage sector and, perhaps more importantly, to society in general.
A total of €4.811 million was approved for the Heritage Council last year and, in addition, €1.5 million was allocated to the council from the environment fund in 2012. We all realise the important work done by the Heritage Council, which was established as a statutory body under the Heritage Act 1995 to propose policies and priorities for the identification, protection, preservation and enhancement of the natural heritage. While for obvious reasons I am not able to divulge at this stage what the allocations to the Heritage Council will be next year, I must emphasise that whatever the allocation is, it will be a matter for the Heritage Council to allocate its funding as best it can and to decide its own priorities. I am not able to provide the information to the Deputy because the budgetary and Estimates processes are still in progress. We will probably have to wait until this day next week to find out the situation.
In terms of management, organisational capacity and good governance, the Heritage Council is a model organisation. Through the grants programme, it continues to demonstrate value for money by the careful and innovative use of small amounts of funding for various projects. These programmes make a vital contribution to heritage tourism, employment and education, to our sense of well-being and to our towns and communities across Ireland. In light of this, I hope the Minister of State will give an undertaking that the Heritage Council will have the necessary funds made available to it to ensure the operation of its grants in 2013.
I assure the Deputy we will try to be as supportive as possible of the Heritage Council, which is a statutory body. Unfortunately, we have inherited a difficult situation. I am aware there has been a steady reduction since 2008 in the funding available. It is a reflection of the difficult economic and fiscal situation in which we find ourselves at present, as the Deputy will understand, and this will determine what is available. Whatever is available, we still recognise and acknowledge the importance of its work. I thank the Deputy for her constructive suggestions.
In that case, the Minister of State will do everything he can.
7. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Dara Calleary den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta an méid atá bainte amach sna réimsí difriúla go dtí seo mar gheall ar an Straitéis Fiche Bliain; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [52999/12]
Tá sé ráite faoi Chlár an Rialtais go dtabharfaidh an Rialtas tacaíocht don Straitéis 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge 2010-2030 agus go ndéanfar na spriocanna indéanta atá luaite inti a sheachadadh. Tá an dul chun cinn ar chur i bhfeidhm na Straitéise le feiceáil ó na gníomhartha éagsúla atá idir lámha ag mo Roinnse ar bhonn reachtaíochta, ar bhonn praiticiúil agus ar bhonn eagraíochtúil.
Is céim shuntasach ó thaobh cur i bhfeidhm na Straitéise í Acht na Gaeltachta 2012. Tá dhá phríomhaidhm leis an Acht, is iad sin, sainmhíniú nua a leagan síos don Ghaeltacht agus leasuithe a dhéanamh ar struchtúr agus ar fheidhmeanna Údarás na Gaeltachta.
Mar atá sonraithe faoin Acht, tá an phleanáil teanga ag leibhéal an phobail lárnach do phróiseas an tsainmhínithe nua don Ghaeltacht. Tá ról lárnach ag Údarás na Gaeltachta agus ag Foras na Gaeilge araon maidir le cúnamh a thabhairt do phobail éagsúla i ndáil le hullmhú agus le feidhmiú pleananna teanga sna ceantair éagsúla atá faoina gcúram. Tuigtear dom go bhfuil an tÚdarás agus an Foras ag plé le heagraíochtaí éagsúla ar an talamh chun dlús a chur leis an phróiseas pleanála teanga, laistigh agus lasmuigh den Ghaeltacht. Ar ndóigh, beidh orduithe le déanamh chun feidhm reachtúil a thabhairt do chuid 2 den Acht a bhaineann leis an phróiseas pleanála teanga. Tá na céimeanna cuí maidir leis na horduithe seo idir lámha ag mo Roinnse faoi láthair.
Ar ndóigh, tá struchtúir ar leith bunaithe chun an Straitéis a sheachadadh - an Coiste Rialtais faoin Ghaeilge agus faoin Ghaeltacht, atá faoi chathaoirleacht an Taoisigh; an Grúpa Idir-Rannach, atá faoi mo chathaoirleacht féin; agus grúpaí oibre ardleibhéil atá bunaithe leis na príomhpháirtithe leasmhara chun dlús a chur le feidhmiú réimsí gnímh éagsúla den Straitéis.
Chomh maith leis an dul chun cinn atá á dhéanamh ag mo Roinnse ar chur i bhfeidhm na Straitéise, ní miste aird a tharraingt ar an dul chun cinn atá á dhéanamh ag an Roinn Oideachais agus Scileanna, a bhfuil ról lárnach acu faoin Straitéis. Ina theannta sin, tá mo Roinnse ag plé le Ranna ábhartha eile ar bhonn déthaobhach chun cur i bhfeidhm réimsí sonracha gnímh den Straitéis a bhrú chun cinn ar bhealach comhtháite.
Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit. Beidh mé ag súil leis an bhfreagra go léir a léamh.
An cheist a bhí agam ná an méid atá bainte amach maidir leis an straitéis. Tá a fhios agam go bhfuil Acht na Gaeltachta curtha tríd an Oireachtas agus go bhfuil coistí curtha ar bun. Ach tá díomá ar a lán daoine nach bhfuil díospóireacht á dhéanamh leis na heagraíochtaí pobail agus ceapann a lán daoine go bhfuil an Roinn Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta ag déanamh an chinnidh gan an díospóireacht sin a dhéanamh. An féidir leis an Aire Stáit freagra a thabhairt ar an gceist sin?
Maidir leis an nGaeltacht féin agus cur i bhfeidhm na straitéise, tá an fhreagracht ar Údarás na Gaeltachta. Tá áthas orm a rá, mar atá a fhios ag an Teachta, go bhfuil bord úr ag Údarás na Gaeltachta anois. Bhí an cathaoirleach os comhair an chomhchoiste inné agus beidh an chéad chruinniú ag an bhord an tseachtain seo chugainn. Ar ndóigh, beidh an bord ag leagan amach an polasaí maidir le cur i bhfeidhm na straitéise ó thaobh pleanáil teanga de agus ó thaobh fostaíochta agus mar sin de. Ní fhéadfainnse é a chur puinn níos fearr ná mar a chuir an cathaoirleach nua-tofa é inné.
Tá pleanálaithe teanga go leor ins an údarás a bhfuil cáilíochtaí acu agus beidh siad ag dul i dteagmháil agus i gcomhairle le 19 gceantar Gaeltachta ar fud na tíre. Beidh siad ag plé leis na pobail áitiúla, leis na comharchumainn, leis na coistí paróiste agus leis na heagraíochtaí deonacha ansin le pleananna teanga a dhéanamh amach do gach ceantar acu sin. Tá an obair ar siúl cheana féin. Tá tosú maith déanta agus beidh sé ag dul ar aghaidh níos gasta agus níos tapúla ins na seachtainí agus ins na míonna amach romhainn. Tá an obair sin ar siúl.
Maidir leis an chuid eile den tír, beidh freagracht ar Fhoras na Gaeilge ansin. Tig liom a rá go bhfuil 14 dhuine fostaithe ag Foras na Gaeilge ar fud na tíre ag tabhairt ceannródaíochta agus tosaíochta don straitéis ins na ceantair ina bhfuil siad lonnaithe.
Mar sin, tá dul chun cinn á dhéanamh. B'fhéidir nach bhfuil sé go léir le feiceáil ach tá an bhun obair agus an dúshraith á chur síos go daingean lá i ndiaidh lae ag na coistí seo. Tá gá leis na coistí. Tá an coiste Rialtais faoin Taoiseach, an coiste idir-ranna agus na coistí ard leibhéil idir oifigigh sinsearacha ann. Tá gá lena gcuid oibre siúd leis an dúshraith agus an bunsraith a chur síos sa dóigh gur féidir linn bogadh ar aghaidh le cur i bhfeidhm na straitéise.
Chuir mé fáilte roimh an gcathaoirleach nua ag an gcomhchoiste inné.
Sea, bhí mé ag éisteacht leis an Teachta.
Phléigh muid forbairt eacnamaíochta agus forbairt pobail sa Ghaeltacht.
Tá sé an-tábhachtach níos mó poist a chur ar fáil sa Ghaeltacht, mar a bhfuil a fhios ag an Aire Stáit. Tá 7,000 post sa Ghaeltacht a cruthaíodh le tacaíocht an údaráis. Ach tá an buiséad caipitil dos na heagraíochtaí gearrtha siar go dtí €6 mhilliún. An mbeidh bealaí eile ann chun foinsí nua maoinithe a aimsiú?
Tá bealaí eile i gcónaí ag Údarás na Gaeltachta le foinsí úra maoiniú a fháil. Tá siad ag fáil cíosanna agus ag díol achmhainní agus mar sin. Bhí €6 mhilliún acu an bhliain reatha agus bhí €6 mhilliún acu anuraidh. Sa bhliain 2008 bhí €26 milliún acu, i 2009 bhí €16 milliún acu, i 2010 bhí €10 milliún acu. Fuair mise oidhreacht, legacy, nuair a tháinig mé isteach in oifig nach raibh acu ach €6 mhilliún. Sílim go ndearna mé gaisce iontach gur éirigh liom, in ainneoin na ndeachrachtaí eacnamaíochta atá againn, €6 mhilliún a fháil don bhliain reatha. Beidh mé ag déanamh gach dícheall, in ainneoin na ndeachrachtaí eacnamaíochta atá againn, oiread agus is féidir a fháil don bhliain seo chugainn mar tuigim chomh tábhachtach is atá sé go mbeadh fostaíocht ins na Gaeltachtaí. Muna bhful fostaíocht níl daoine, muna bhfuil daoine níl teanga agus muna bhfuil teanga níl Gaeltacht. Tuigim an scéal go maith agus tá áthas orm go bhfuil tacaíocht an Teachta le fáil agam.
Sé mhilliún plus.
8. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the progress that has been made on plans for the International and National Famine commemoration in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53023/12]
The Deputy will be aware that, as chair of the National Famine Commemoration Committee, the Minister, Deputy Deenihan, is responsible for ensuring on behalf of the Government, that appropriate arrangements are in place to commemorate the Great Irish Famine, an Gorta Mór. Details of the work of the National Famine Commemoration Committee since 2008 in implementing a varied and diverse annual programme of events to coincide with the national Famine commemoration are available on the relevant pages of my Department's website.
The national Famine commemoration rotates between the four provinces of Ireland and next year will take place in Munster. In that regard, the Minister has introduced a new selection process to determine the location of the commemoration in 2013 and future years. In line with the process, he invited the county and city councils in Munster to submit expressions of interest and proposals setting out possible locations where the ceremony might be held, following consultation with local communities, interest groups and other stakeholders. The purpose of the new approach is to generate public awareness and interest in the annual national Famine commemoration, to increase the number of potential sites available to choose from each year and to ensure that the selection process is as transparent and open as possible. A sub-committee of the National Famine Commemoration Committee is currently assessing the proposals and will recommend the most suitable site. The Minister expects to announce the date and location of the 2013 commemoration following the next meeting of the National Famine Commemoration Committee, which is due to be held in mid-December. In line with previous years, an international event is also being planned to commemorate the Great Irish Famine. It is proposed to hold the 2013 international Famine commemoration on Sunday, 25 August in Sydney, Australia.
There is a strict total of four minutes for supplementary questions and answers. Each speaker has strictly one minute each.
I welcome the new selection process. It is a positive development. When it comes around to the province of Connacht again, could serious consideration be given to the National Famine Museum in Strokestown, County Roscommon? It was bizarre that the first event to be held in the west did not take place in the National Famine Museum that was established to commemorate the Famine. I hope that Strokestown will be the location when it is the turn of the province of Connacht again, given that the national museum is based there.
The Deputy's view will be conveyed to the Minister. I am sure that will be the case when Connacht is in line again for the rotation of the commemoration, which will take place in Munster next year and was in Drogheda this year. I had the pleasure and privilege of being there. It was the first such event I attended and what went on there that day was a revelation. It is appropriate that we should have commemorations at home and abroad. I have not been to the Famine museum in Strokestown but I hope to visit some time in the near future.
The Minister of State is very welcome anytime. He has an open invitation.
I would like to see it. Deputy Naughten's constructive proposal will be conveyed to the Minister.
The Minister has outlined the location of previous and future national commemoration events. Will he give consideration to the holding of an all-island commemoration in the future with a North-South ministerial dimension?
The commemoration affects the 32 counties. Would the Minister of State's Department, in conjunction with its Northern counterpart, consider doing this on a joint basis, including the possibility that a national all-island commemoration might be held in one of the Six Counties? Parts of that area also suffered greatly during the Famine.
Tá an méid atá ráite ag daoine eile tábhachtach chomh maith agus aontaím leis. I thank the Minister of State for his response and I acknowledge it has taken us too long as a nation to commemorate what was, in effect, the Irish Holocaust. It killed 1 million people and dispersed another million across the world. As the Minister of State outlined, there is enormous potential to develop this, linking in with the descendents of the million people who spread around the world. There is also potential to inspire our own people to look to those areas of the world that are now suffering from starvation so that, as a nation once decimated by famine, we can continue to support those who are currently experiencing these inordinate difficulties.
What sort of financial resources are available to those involved in organising these important commemorations? They could not happen without the team of volunteers throughout the country who generously give their time to the initiative. I do not want to talk about The Gathering all the time but, given its importance in the development of tourism in 2013 and thereafter, does the Minister of State see an opportunity to link the work of the commemoration committees with the initiatives being taken in tourism in regard to The Gathering?
Before the Minister of State replies, I apologise for my mix-up in the order of those who tabled questions. Deputy Ó Fearghaíl spoke on behalf on Deputy Brendan Smith. Deputy O'Donovan's question was entirely valid and I hope the Minister of State will address both.
Deputy O'Donovan made a constructive proposal. Contrary to the opinion of some, there was famine in Northern Ireland too. I come from the geographic north, if not the political North, and I am aware there was famine in the whole area. I cannot see any reason we should not pursue the constructive proposal made by Deputy O'Donovan. During my visit to the commemoration in Drogheda last summer, the North was well represented and the Second Minister, Martin McGuinness, MLA, was sitting beside me. This can be pursued, particularly now that we have a committee dedicated to commemorations. It will certainly be considered.
In response to Deputy Ó Fearghaíl's question, I do not have in my brief any mention of the resources that are available for such commemorations but I am sure the information is available and somebody will convey it to the Deputy. Even though it is more than 150 years since the Great Famine there is still a collective memory of it. One of the proofs is that any time there is a collection for famine relief in underdeveloped parts of the world, in areas such as the Horn of Africa, the Irish people respond magnificently. I believe that per capita we are up there in division one with any other country in the world, in spite of the difficulties we have. The Famine left a major and lasting imprint on the psyche of the Irish people and that is the reason for the generosity. I hope it will continue.
There is no reason the commemoration could not be coupled with The Gathering as part of the programme to bring people to this country. That is probably a project that should be taken up by Fáilte Ireland.
9. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the steps he is taking to implement the recommendations by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Environment report on Shannon Flooding published earlier this year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52862/12]
The recommendations of the report to which the Deputy refers are being comprehensively examined and considered by my Department. As the Deputy will be aware, the recommendations cover a number of areas within my Department's remit, including Waterways Ireland, which has responsibility for Shannon navigation, and the National Parks and Wildlife Service, NPWS, which has general responsibility for the implementation of national and EU law under the Wildlife Acts and the birds and habitats directives for the protection of habitats and species. When the process is completed, the Minister, Deputy Deenihan, will respond with his views and observations to the joint committee.
I thank the Minister of State for his response but I put it to him that while this report was presented to the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in July, it is now November and we are still waiting for a decision and a view from the Department. That is not acceptable.
Is the Minister of State aware that the NPWS is facing potential legal action and fines from the European Commission because of its failure to protect the corncrake? This bird is now extinct in the Shannon Callows because of the lack of action in regard to de-silting of the Shannon between Banaher and Meelick. All of the stakeholders except the NPWS have agreed that work needs to be done on that section of the river, and although the NPWS is responsible for protecting wading birds, including the corncrake, in the Shannon Callows, it is the one organisation that has impeded this work. Would the Minister of State not agree that the NPWS must review its policy in light of the impact it is having on the corncrake in that area, and also because its failure to carry out work on that section of the river is forcing the River Suck to travel north rather than south, thereby compounding the problem and the extent of flooding in the callows?
The Deputy is correct. The report was presented to the Minister, Deputy Deenihan, last July or August and, as far as I know, it is being considered. We are waiting for recommendations to emerge from the report. This is a very complex matter involving the flooding of the River Shannon. Before I ever came to this House I heard about the draining of the Shannon, which has been going on for a long time. There are many interested parties - the ESB, the OPW, local authorities, Bord na Móna and, under my Department, Waterways Ireland and the NPWS. All have different interests. The report was submitted in July and is being considered. This is something on which we cannot rush to judgment. Whatever we do, we must ensure it is the right action in the matters mentioned by the Deputy, whether these concern wildlife or anything else. We must make the right decision. This was going on before I ever came to the House but I am confident it will be addressed in a meaningful way before I leave it. I am not sure when that will be; only one man knows that.
I have a brief question. Many Deputies and Senators were invited to visit Athlone during the summer to see the Shannon flooding. The big question was whether there would be a lead role for the Office of Public Works and whether a single authority should take on the whole issue of flooding.
Of course the OPW will have a pivotal role, although I am saying that before the recommendations are made. There is also the ESB, which controls a great deal of the area around Ardnacrusha, as the Deputy knows well. I come from west of the Shannon and do not live by its banks but I know some of the difficulties and complexities involved. The matter is being pursued actively in the Department and I hope there will be recommendations in the not too distant future.
I wish to ask two brief questions. The Office of Public Works is putting a proposal to the ESB and Waterways Ireland for a pilot project aimed at trying to reduce the water level north of the weir wall in Athlone and increasing the storage capacity at Lough Ree. Is the Minister of State in a position to give an assurance to the House that Waterways Ireland will facilitate, rather than impede, this initiative? A proposal was put to previous Ministers of State in the Department who held the heritage brief in respect of flooding the cutaway bogs north of Lough Ree. The report in this regard has been with the Department's heritage section for the past ten years. Is it not time someone examined its contents? The proposal it contains would at least provide for some attenuation during periods of severe flooding.
The bodies to which the Deputy referred, Waterways Ireland, the OPW and the ESB, have different interests and priorities. The matters the Deputy mentioned are discussed regularly with Waterways Ireland which is a North-South body. Its next meeting is due to take place on 12 December. I am sure the points and concerns he has raised will be brought to its attention at that meeting, if not before.
10. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht his views on the impact of Section 481 tax relief on creative industries here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53010/12]
The entire area of development of the audio-visual industry, including the gaming sector and other digital content, was examined during the preparation of the Creative Capital report, Building Ireland's Audiovisual Creative Economy. The report was published in July 2011 and an implementation committee to pursue the execution of its recommendations has been established. One of the recommendations made in the report concerns the extension of section 481 to the end of 2020. It is currently approved until the end of 2015 and the Minister, Deputy Jimmy Deenihan, recently secured EU state aid approval in this regard. A public consultation process to assist the Department of Finance in examining the operation of the section 481 scheme beyond 2015 was announced on 24 May. As part of this process, interested parties were invited to make submissions on the economic impact assessment of the operation, status and future development of the scheme. My Department was heavily involved in this consultation process and the Minister is working closely with the Minister for Finance on bringing it to a conclusion.
I am reminded of the controversy in 2008 when people involved in the film industry, in particular, were very concerned that significant changes would be introduced in the budget for 2009 to section 481 of the Taxes Consolidation Act. The relevant provisions were actually strengthened at the time. Does the Minister of State agree that we are seeing the manifest benefits of this in the improved quality and quantity of television, film and other audio-visual output in Ireland? I understand PwC has advocated the extension of the reliefs involved to other areas of the creative arts. Is this a suggestion the Minister of State would support and recommend to his senior colleague? Have meaningful discussions taken place between his Department and the Department of Finance on the consultations in which the Minister for Finance, Deputy Michael Noonan, has been involved?
As stated, consultations between the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Deputy Jimmy Deenihan, and the Minister for Finance on section 481 are continually taking place. I agree with the Deputy that section 481 makes a major contribution to the economy. I understand some 15,000 people are employed in the audio-visual and creative arts. This brings huge revenue into the country. It also leads to a certain status and recognition being bestowed on Ireland abroad. To date in 2012, some 47 projects have been approved for funding. The Irish spend in this regard is €129 million. In 2011, 58 projects were approved for funding and the Irish spend in respect of these was €119 million.
There are many projects in the works about which we will hear more in the future. Among the major projects approved for funding to date this year are "Vikings" - or Lochlannaigh - which should be an interesting project and on which €25 million will be spent; "Ripper Street" - I am not sure what this is about, but I have an idea - on which €10.7 million is being spent; "Quirke", on which €7.3 million will be spent; and "Foyle's War", on which €5.9 million will be spent. These are among the many creative projects being worked on in Ireland by the 15,000 people to whom I refer. This must provide adequate proof that there is value for money on offer. I am glad that the section 481 scheme has been extended to 2015, with the possibility of further extensions in the future. I cannot say any more than that at this stage.
We can all enthuse about this because it is a positive news story and that positivity is particularly evident in the area of employment. For example, the level of employment in the film and television sector during the past 20 years has risen from 1,000 to 6,000. Given that the section 481 relief is working, can we expect the Government to consider other areas where it might be made available in order that further employment might be created?
We are considering all areas in which value for money might be obtained. The section 481 relief provides great value for money. If there are other areas in which it might be applied, I am sure these will be considered by the Government. If the Deputy who has an obvious interest in this matter wishes to put forward proposals in this regard, beimid ag éisteacht.
11. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Seán Crowe den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta an dtabharfaidh sé sonraí faoi líon na scéimeanna nua teanga atá deimhnithe ag Eagrais Phoiblí le bliain anuas agus, de réir an ráta deimhniúcháin, cathain a bheidh scéim teanga deimhnithe ag gach Eagras Poiblí [52979/12]
41. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Brian Stanley den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ar an athbhreithniú ar Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla atá ar siúl, agus am-scála a chur ar fáil don athbhreithniú sin [52981/12]
Tógfaidh mé Ceisteanna Uimh. 11 agus 41 le chéile.
Ba mhaith liom a chur in iúl go bhfuil naoi scéim teanga daingnithe go dáta i mbliana. Ciallaíonn sé seo go bhfuil 108 céad scéim teanga san iomlán daingnithe ón uair gur tháinig Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla i bhfeidhm. Sa bhreis air seo, tá 122 dréachtscéim san iomlán á n-ullmhú ag comhlachtaí poiblí faoi láthair agus tá plé leanúnach agus gníomhach ar siúl ag oifigigh mo Roinne le roinnt mhaith de na comhlachtaí sin i rith na bliana seo. Táim dóchasach go mbeidh toradh dearfach ar an phlé sin agus go mbeidh tuilleadh scéimeanna daingnithe agam go luath.
Tá sé tábhachtach a threisiú go bhfanann forálacha na scéime teanga i bhfeidhm go dtí go n-aontaítear scéim nua. Tá sonraí maidir leis na scéimeanna uilig atá daingnithe go dáta, mar aon leis na scéimeanna atá a n-ullmhú faoi latháir, ar fáil ar shuíomh gréasáin Oifig an Choimisinéara Teanga, www.coimisineir.ie.
Mar atá ráite agam roimhe seo, tá sé aitheanta nach bhfuil córas na scéimeanna teanga gan laigí agus gur próiseas casta atá ann scéimeanna a aontú agus a dhaingniú. Tá sé tábhachtach a chur san áireamh fosta gur féidir leis an phróiseas sin a bheith dúshlánach do chomhlachtaí poiblí, go háirithe leis an bhrú ar acmhainní, mar atá i láthair na huaire.
Tá athbhreithniú ar chóras na scéimeanna mar chuid den athbhreithniú atá ar siúl faoi láthair ag mo Roinn ar Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla. Maidir leis an athbhreithniú sin, tá anailís déanta ar na haighneachtaí go léir a fuarthas faoin phróiseas comhairliúcháin poiblí. Chomh maith leis sin, tá breithniú ar an chás do leasú na reachtaíochta ag teacht chun críche agus tá súil agam go mbeidh ar mo chumas moltaí cuí i dtaca leis sin a chur faoi bhráid an Rialtais sár i bhfad.
Go dtí seo bhí 105 scéim teanga san iomlán daingnithe ón uair a tháinig Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla isteach. Clúdaíonn an 105 scéim sin 191 comhlacht poiblí ach tá 600 comhlacht poiblí san áireamh faoin Acht seo. Dúirt an tAire Stáit féin cúpla mí ó shin go raibh a Roinn ag obair ar 100 scéim nua a aontú.
Dúirt sé go raibh naoi scéim daingnithe i mbliana. Ní raibh ach scéim amháin daingnithe an bhliain seo caite. Dá réir sin, beidh deich mbliana de dhíth chun na gealltanais a rinne an tAire Stáit a chur i bhfeidhm. Is léir nach mbeidh sé in ann na gealltanais sin a líonadh agus go mbrisfear iad.
Tá fadhb ann mar tá pobal na Gaeilge buartha go bhfuil an Rialtas ag cur moille ar na scéimeanna teanga roimh athbhreithniú Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla a fhoilsiú. Tá pobal na Gaeilge an-bhuartha ar fad go bhfuil an Rialtas ag iarraidh fáil réidh leis na scéimeanna mar atá siad faoi láthair. Cén fáth nach bhfuil torthaí an athbhreithnithe sin foilsithe go fóill? Cathain a fhoilseofar iad? An bhfuil an Rialtas ag iarraidh fáil réidh leis na scéimeanna mar atá siad faoi lathair?
Mar atá ráite ag an Teachta, tá naoi scéim nua teanga daingnithe go dtí seo i mbliana agus anuraidh tá sé fíor a rá nár daingníodh ach scéim amháin. Mar sin, táim cinnte go n-aontaíonn an Teachta, is dul chun cinn é ar an méid a tharla anuraidh. B’fhéidir go bhféadfadh sé bheith níos tapúla ach mar a dúirt tá brú ar chomhlachtaí anois. Tá oifigigh na Roinne ag plé le go leor comhlachtaí eile a bhfuil scéimeanna á n-ullmhú acu. Tá an dul chun chinn mall ach mar sin féin, ar a laghad tá dul chun cinn á dheanamh. Dála an scéal, aon scéim teanga a chuirtear amach, maireann an scéim teanga i réim, fiú tar éis trí bliana go dtagann ceann eile. Mar sin, clúdaíonn sé beagnach 200 as an 600 comhlacht. Má amharcaimid air mar sin, tá dul chun cinn déanta.
Ba mhaith liom go mbeadh sé níos fearr ach tá athbhreithniú á dhéanamh ar Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla agus tháinig a lán aighneachtaí isteach agus tá anailís á déanamh orthu agus beimid ábalta leasuithe ar an Acht teanga a thabhairt isteach más gá. Is próiseas fada é sin chomh maith. Sula ndéanfar aon leasú ar an Acht, ní mór dul i mbun comhráití leis na Ranna go léir eile mar tá freagrachtaí agus dualgais orthu uilig.
Tugaim moladh d’oifigigh na Roinne mar tá siad an-ghnóthach ar fad le tamall anuas. Chuir muid Bille na Gaeltachta tríd roimh an samhradh agus anois táimid ag cur an Bille um Choimisiún Thithe an Oireachtais tríd agus mar sin tá reachtaíocht go leor idir lámha sa Roinn chomh fada agus a bhaineann sé le cúrsaí teanga.
Tá an Rialtas ag bogadh ar luas seilide faoi láthair. Foilsíodh fógra an athbhreithnithe mí na Samhna anuraidh. Bhí spriocdháta ann chun haighneachtaí a chur isteach i mí Eanáir. Anois, mí na Samhna atá ann ach fós níl an Rialtas sásta na torthaí a fhoilsiú. In 2007, nuair a bhí an Rialtas deireanach i bhfeidhm, daingníodh 29 scéim agus 17 scéim in 2008. De réir shlat tomhais an Aire Stáit féin, bheadh 100 daingnithe agus an Rialtas seo i réim ach tá an Rialtas ag bogadh ar luas seilide; níl ach deich scéim daingnithe.
Bhí sé le tuiscint nach raibh sna scéimeanna sin ach tús. Bhí ar na comhlachtaí Stáit dul chun cinn a dhéanamh scéimeanna teanga nua a chur i bhfeidhm gach cúpla bliain. Fós, tá sé dochreidte an méid eagraíochtaí nach bhfuil an dara scéim teanga curtha i bhfeidhm acu. Táim ag caint faoi Oifig an Ard-Reachtaire Cúntas agus Ciste, an Binse Comhionannais, Gailearaí Náisiúnta na hÉireann, Bord Scannán na hÉireann, an Garda Síochána, Comhairle Chontae Chill Mhantáin, Coiste Gairmoideachais Chontae Chorcaí. Níl ann ach sampla de na comhlachtaí atá ag sárú na bun-chloiche seo chun seirbhísí Gaeilge a bheith ar fáil go forleathan ar fud na tíre. Cathain a fhoilseoidh an Rialtas na torthaí? An bhfuil an Rialtas ag dul ar aghaidh leis na scéimeanna teanga seo tar éis an athbhreithnithe nó an mbeidh cuma dhifriúil ar fad orthu?
Tháinig an-chuid de na scéimeanna isteach. Tá an méid is féidir leis an Roinn a dhéanamh teoranta go leor nuair atá an oiread sin oibre eile ag dul ar aghaidh. Tá an anailís agus an scrúdú ar na haighneachtaí a tháinig isteach ar tí bheith críochnaithe. Má tá reachtaíocht úr le tabhairt isteach, próiseas Rialtais atá ann, ní hamháin ag brath ar an Roinn ach ar an Rialtas féin. Ní mór dul i gcomhairle le hAirí eile ach tá súil agam go mbeidh dul chun cinn le feiceáil agus go mbeidh na moltaí i dtaca leis an athbhreithniú ag dul faoi bhráid an Rialtais go luath.
