Vol. 818 No. 1
53. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Arts; Heritage and the Gaeltacht the projects that will be deferred and the schemes that will be curtailed in his Department as a result of the reduction in his Department's revenue in budget 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44628/13]
The overall allocation for my Department's Vote group, including the Vote for the National Gallery of Ireland, in the recently published budget Estimate for 2014 amounts to €245.7 million. This is a reduction of just under €17 million on 2013 and includes a reduction of some €2.21 million in respect of the EU Presidency cultural programme, which is now completed, and internal departmental administrative efficiencies of some €1.752 million. The remaining reduction of €13 million will be applied across my Department's programmes in a manner that maximises the value for money in this area from what is still a very substantial level of funding. For example, funding of the arts will still exceed €2.3 million per week in 2014.
In addition, the published allocation will be supplemented in 2014 by a number of measures announced on budget day by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. These include €6 million for the Limerick national city of culture 2014; €6 million to fund a number of 1916 commemoration projects; and €5 million for the traditional skills and buildings at risk jobs leverage scheme 2014. This will be directed at renovation projects for buildings which are protected. In that context, I am satisfied that the overall level of resources available to my Department next year will continue to allow it to support arts and culture, maintain our built and natural heritage, develop our language and Gaeltacht areas, and support island communities and the North-South implementation bodies under its aegis.
The final allocation for my Department will be set out in the forthcoming revised Estimates volume, due to be published before the end of the year. I will make a judgment at that time on which programmes and projects will be prioritised, having regard to the additional funding announced on budget day, as well as the reductions that necessarily have to be made as part of my Department's contribution to the overall fiscal consolidation.
I compliment the Minister on securing funding from the sale of the national lottery in particular for the works planned for the national city of culture in Limerick and the projects commemorating the decade of centenaries. This is the sixth successive year of cuts in funding to the Arts Council. Everyone in this House is conscious of the vital contribution the arts make to the quality of Irish life and the importance of the arts at this time of economic difficulties when the morale of the nation is particularly low. How will the Arts Council operate with the reduction envisaged for this year?
There has been a decrease - albeit somewhat modest - in funding to the Irish Film Board. In the past the House has discussed the great success of the film board and the very worthwhile economic activity it generates. Is this cut not unworthy and likely to be counterproductive?
The reduction in funding for the Arts Council is €3.967 million. For the past two years I did my best to cushion the reduction in the allocation for the Arts Council, keeping the reduction well below what it expected. I could not do that this year because there was major pressure from the national cultural institutions. At this stage we are trying to keep them open. For example, the National Museum is under considerable pressure as are the National Library and the other cultural institutions. It was with regret that I had to reduce funding to an extent that I did not have to do in the previous two years when I protected its funding as much as possible.
Artists will benefit and I thank the Deputy for acknowledging that I succeeded in getting €6 million for Limerick city of culture. A large number of artists who would normally get funding through the Arts Council will benefit from this. As there will be a large involvement from the arts community in Limerick city of culture, it will certainly help artists in various ways. I take the Deputy's point and from next year I hope we will be able to reduce the amount of reduction. In the meantime I hope the Arts Council will be able to fund its organisations. It was expecting a 6% reduction because that was in the framework, but I hope it will be able to make economies and live within the budget.
The National Campaign for the Arts has been a fairly stern critic of the Minister's in terms of how it envisages the cuts impacting. It believes that arts programmes will be impacted rather than the costs of administration. How does the Minister respond to that? Can he give the arts community an assurance that in 2015 it will not experience similar cuts impacting across the board? What arts projects and services are likely to be cut as a result of this year's reduction in funding?
The Arts Council is free to make its particular cuts and I cannot influence those or direct it in any way. For the past two years the Arts Council has always acknowledged that its reduction was not commensurate with other reductions. This year, unfortunately, because of so much pressure on the small budget I have, I could not do that to the same extent. However, I have tried other measures to compensate for that in certain ways. Next year, I will again do my best to reduce the impact as much as I can.
Whereas I cannot directly direct the Arts Council I will be talking to those responsible about ways we can work together to ensure economies of scale can be secured and so forth.
I take the Deputy's point. Organisations throughout the country will be challenged because of this reduction. It is important that the Arts Council in its capacity and I as Minister try to ensure that none of these organisations or individuals go out of business because of these reductions. I will do my best to advise and support people as much as possible towards ensuring that end.
54. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht his views on the current condition of Vernon Mount House in Cork city; the action that has been taken to ensure its protection as a building of significant heritage value; his plans to ensure that the house can be accessed by the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44625/13]
As the Deputy is aware Vernon Mount House is on the record of protected structures of Cork County Council. Under the Planning and Development Acts 2000-2012 it is the responsibility of the owners and occupiers of protected structures to ensure such structures do not become endangered. Responsibility for overseeing such compliance lies with the planning authority, in this case, Cork County Council.
In 2012 in recognition of the importance of Vernon Mount House and following an application from Cork County Council my Department allocated a grant of €35,000 for the house to the council under the then special projects fund. This allocation was towards works which the council carried out on the structure in accordance with sections 59 and 69(b) of the Planning and Development Acts to prevent further deterioration and endangerment. My understanding is that the structure is now stabilised. However, I refer the Deputy to the council for more detailed information on the current position. As the house is in private ownership, access is a matter for the owners.
I thank the Minister for his answer. Vernon Mount House is something of a neglected treasure in terms of our history, in particular in terms of the Georgian period. The house was built in the late 18th century for a wealthy Corkonian during the period of Cork's history associated with the merchant princes. It is a remarkable piece of history in terms of its artistic and architectural values and is among the most significant surviving buildings from the period. It was a significant building of Cork's south side in its time and featured in a painting by the well-known artist of the time, Nathaniel Grogan, "Man Drinking from a Stream in the Grounds of Vernon Mount House". However, it is regrettably in a state of disrepair, as far as can be gathered, it looks poorly from the exterior and it is inaccessible to the public. It seems a shame that we might have such an architectural gem in Cork but little access to it. Does the Minister have any plans to ensure that the house could be renovated and opened to the public such that we could enjoy what the house has to offer and teach a new generation about the history of the time?
I share Deputy McLellan's views on the importance of the house, especially the unique and remarkable painted interiors, with which I am familiar. With this in mind I allocated a substantial sum from the limited resources available last year. I remind Deputy McLellan - this is something she might bring to the attention of Cork County Council - that under the €5 million allocation for the traditional skills and buildings-at-risk jobs leverage scheme there may be an opportunity to seek further funding from Cork County Council. My advice to Deputy McLellan is to work through Cork County Council. Then, if a proposal can come forward for next year, I would be sympathetic about it if it were recommended by Cork County Council.
I welcome that information and I will take the matter further. That aside, has the Minister had any discussions with the local authorities? Does the Minister have any intention, as the Minister with responsibility for heritage, of using his powers under the National Monuments Act to ensure that the building receives full protection?
As I pointed out, it is in private ownership and so I have no direct involvement but Cork County Council has direct involvement. It has the statutory role and function to ensure that the house is kept in good repair. I suggest that Deputy McLellan should go back to Cork County Council and the responsible heritage officer and ask them to engage with the owners of this important and remarkable building.
They should so do to come up with a scheme of work to stabilise the house, protect it and preserve it in so many ways. The scheme to which I referred may provide that window of opportunity. I thank the Deputy for raising this matter and she can bring it to my attention again, having consulted with Cork County Council.
55. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht his views on whether the various restrictions now being placed on turf cutting here will lead to a situation where turf cutting will cease to exist. [44627/13]
The Government does not believe that turf cutting should come to an end on all bogs and is not following a strategy that would result in this outcome. Peatlands make up more than 20% of the State’s terrestrial area. They are of considerable economic, social and environmental value and therefore must be managed with care. Within weeks of coming into office, the Government decided to draw up a national strategy on peatlands conservation and management to deal with long-term issues such as land management, restoration, conservation, tourism potential, carbon, accounting and community participation in managing this resource.
This national peatlands strategy is currently being prepared with oversight by the Peatlands Council and with input from relevant Departments, agencies and semi-State companies. It is intended that a draft of the strategy will be published this year and comments of the public will be sought on its contents. The strategy will be broad-ranging. Among many other issues, it will address the regulation of turf extraction within and outside protected areas and should dispel unfounded fears that the Government wishes to end traditional turf cutting in Ireland, while also making clear that Ireland’s peatlands must be managed in a balanced way. This balance involves conservation in certain areas, protecting traditional rights - and the owners of those rights - and having in place the appropriate systems that can respond to new challenges as they arise, whether they come from changing agricultural practices, pressure from development, water quality issues and so on.
In addition to the overarching national peatlands strategy, work is also progressing on the preparation of a national raised bog special area of conservation, SAC, management plan to consider the management of Ireland's 53 raised bog special areas of conservation and the review of raised bog natural heritage areas, NHAs. I intend to publish these documents in draft form in conjunction with the national strategy.
These initiatives will provide an appropriate policy response to managing all of Ireland's peatlands for the future. They are being developed in a collaborative fashion with the assistance of the Peatlands Council and will be subject to further broad public consultation once drafts are published before the end of the year. I urge all those with an interest in the management of the peatlands to avail of the opportunities to participate in shaping that future.
I can only conclude the Minister did not write that reply himself, because it does not tally with what turf cutters on Moanveanlagh Bog in the Listowel area have told me he stated at a public meeting there on the future of turf cutting. According to five people who the Minister knows, who attended the meeting and to whom I have spoken, the Minister stated at that meeting that the State eventually would own all the bogs and turf cutting eventually would stop. The Turf Cutters and Contractors Association have been warning people for a long time that this issue does not simply concern 53 so-called special area of conservation, SAC, bogs but would eventually result in a further 75 being affected from the beginning of next year, as well as the hundreds that are proposed NHAs. Our conclusion was that it was the ambition of the present Administration eventually to wipe out all turf cutters. The Minister can imagine our alarm when we heard from a group of turf cutters - at least the Minister told them the truth - that he had informed them that all turf cutting eventually will stop. Did the people who attended the meeting hear the Minister correctly? Five minutes before entering the Chamber, I spoke to the person who chaired that meeting, just to verify this because it is rather hard to believe the Minister would say such a thing, and he verified it. I understand he is an acquaintance of the Minister.
First, that is completely inaccurate. I acknowledge this is coming from a second source and not from Deputy Flanagan but it is absolutely and totally inaccurate. I was invited to a public meeting on Moanveanlagh bog, which up to 100 people may have attended and I was very upfront with them. I was very truthful to them just as I have been from the outset of this entire discussion.
Some people do not seem to be able to understand the truth, what is accurate and so forth. I was very clear with them about the 53 raised bogs, that the consultants were anxious to come down and consult them - but they did not accept that proposal - that we were reviewing the natural heritage areas, NHAs, and that I was coming up with conclusions. I was very clear on this and that turf cutting on all other bogs would continue.
Nobody ever at any stage said that this was the end of turf cutting in this country. When Deputy Flanagan is addressing public meetings perhaps it is convenient for him to say that to stir up emotions and so forth but what I said was very clear. We are currently considering three strategies, as the Deputy demanded in a motion tabled in this House. I am doing exactly what he asked for, namely, we would draw up a strategy for the 53 raised bogs with a view to perhaps allowing cutting in a few of them and to allow for restoration as called for in the Deputy's motion. The programme for Government gave a commitment that we would review the NHAs and move towards preparing a management plan for those bogs and that review is coming to a conclusion. The Deputy's organisation is a member of the Peatlands Council and his organisation agreed and signed up to stop cutting turf in June 2011 but then it withdrew from that in September and it has not engaged since. I appeal to the Deputy as public relations officer of the TCCA to ask it to re-engage in this process.
I found it interesting that the Minister when answering Deputy McLellan's question referenced the fact that something was private property. I was delighted to hear him recognise that concept because the lands he is talking about are also private property. If he thinks that adopting an ostrich-style approach to this will solve it, it will not. Of of the 9,000 turbary rights holders on the so-called 53 special areas of conservation, SACs, fewer than 1,000 have signed his final agreement, the one that finalises matters that the Minister said was not final. In terms of the 30,000 turbary rights holders and landowners on the NHAs, the Minister has not solved anything in that respect. Fewer than 1,000 of the 39,000 have been solved and the Minister thinks he can bulldoze ahead with this.
When the Minister was asked on our local radio station did he notify these people, and we should remember that he cares about private property, he said they were "probably notified". I imagine that response would not be very strong in court. He also went on to blame the previous Government, and he can blame it for many things but he cannot blame it for signing in the regulations that his Government signed in. As for who do I believe, I believe the people in Moanveanlagh because all the way along the line they have told us the position as it is.
First, we are not taking property from anybody, the people will retain their bogs in the 53 raised SACs.
And the liability associated with them.
As regards the court, there was a court decision recently that again supported the Department from the point of view of informing people-----
The Minister should bring me to court then if he is so-----
That is probably where the Deputy wants to go.
Why not let us test the law?
Obviously, he wants to get more publicity.
Test the law.
Only half a minute remains for this question.
If the Minister was that sure about this he would have done that already.
Deputy Flanagan does not seem to realise that breaking the law is unacceptable in this country.
What law have I broken? Prosecute me if I have broken the law.
There is European law and there is Irish law.
The Minister should prosecute me if he thinks think I have broken the law.
It is my responsibility here as a Minister to enforce the law.
It is the Minister's duty to prosecute me if he believes I have broken the law.
Deputy Flanagan, please.
Obviously, that is what Deputy Flanagan wants. I repeat-----
Clearly I have broken no law. That is the-----
Is the Acting Chairman in control of this Chamber?
I am in charge.
The Acting Chairman should not allow this. I did not-----
-----only conclusion to which one can come.
We are moving on to the next question.
Prosecute, put up or shut up.
Deputy Flanagan, please.
In conclusion, this House makes law. As Minister, I have to ensure that the-----
Where is the law that I am breaking?
-----law is enforced.
Deputy Flanagan, please.
Deputy Flanagan is doing his best to encourage the-----
The Minister keeps referring to my having broken a law, which law have I broken?
-----non-compliance with that law. He just wants to be put out.
I ask everybody to refrain from further discussion on Question No. 55. We are moving on to Question No. 56.
56. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Michael P. Kitt den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta cad é an dul chun cinn atá déanta maidir le húsáid na Gaeilge a spreagadh ar fud na tíre; cén cúnamh atá á thabhairt ag Roinn na Gaeltachta agus ag Údarás na Gaeltachta le haghaidh imeachtaí Bhliain na Gaeilge 2013; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [44629/13]
Is sa straitéis 20 bliain don Ghaeilge 2010-2030 a leagtar amach polasaí an Rialtais maidir le cur chun cinn na Gaeilge. Cuireann an straitéis cur chuige iomlánaíoch, comhtháite i ndáil leis an nGaeilge chun cinn - cur chuige a luíonn le dea-chleachtas idirnáisiúnta. Aithnítear sa straitéis féin an gá atá le cur chuige céimnithe chun na bearta éagsúla atá luaite inti a bhaint amach. I gcomhréir leis an gcur chuige seo, tá obair leanúnach ar siúl chun raon leathan gníomhaíochtaí faoin straitéis a chur i bhfeidhm ar bhealach córasach taobh istigh de na hacmhainní atá ar fáil faoi láthair.
Ainneoin go bhfuil acmhainní an Stáit faoi bhrú mór i láthair na huaire agus go raibh cinntí crua le tógáil dá réir ag an Rialtas maidir le dáileadh na n-acmhainní sin sa cháinaisnéis a cuireadh i láthair na Dála an tseachtain seo caite, beidh beagnach €40 milliún le caitheamh ag mo Roinnse in 2014 ar ghnóthaí Gaeilge, Gaeltachta agus Oileán agus beidh os cionn €38 milliún le caitheamh ar ghnóthaí Thuaidh-Theas. Ní miste a rá gur figiúirí táscacha iad seo, faoi réir na Meastachán a bheith faofa amach anseo agus faoi réir chomhaontú na Comhairle Aireachta Thuaidh-Theas, i gcás na mbuiséad Thuaidh-Theas. Sa chomhthéacs seo, ní miste a rá go gcuirim fáilte ar leith roimh an €500,000 atá curtha ar fáil i gcáinaisnéis 2014 mar allúntas ar leith don straitéis. Is léiriú follasach é seo ar chur i bhfeidhm an ghealltanais i gclár an Rialtais a deir go dtacóidh an Rialtas leis an straitéis agus go ndéanfar na spriocanna indéanta atá luaite inti a sheachadadh.
Cé go bhfuil cuspóirí uaillmhianacha luaite sa straitéis chun úsáid na Gaeilge a mhéadú, ní miste a aithint go bhfuilimid ag dul sa treo ceart agus méadú tagtha ó 1.66 milliún duine go 1.77 milliún duine idir daonáireamh 2006 agus daonáireamh 2011 ar líon iomlán na ndaoine a dúirt go raibh siad ábalta Gaeilge a labhairt.
Mar is eol don Teachta, tá cur i bhfeidhm na straitéise agus cur chun cinn na Gaeilge fite fuaite trí ghníomhaíochtaí mo Roinne agus áisíneachtaí ábhartha mo Roinne, is iad sin Foras na Gaeilge agus Údarás na Gaeltachta. Maidir le Bliain na Gaeilge 2013, is tionscnamh é seo atá eagraithe ag Conradh na Gaeilge i mbliana mar chomóradh ar bhunú na heagraíochta sin 120 bliain ó shin. Tá deontas forbartha de €25,000 ceadaithe ag Foras na Gaeilge don tionscnamh agus tá urraíocht tugtha ag Údarás na Gaeltachta do chlár oibre an tionscnaimh sa Ghaeltacht. Tuigtear dom go bhfuil ag éirí go han-mhaith leis na himeachtaí éagsúla atá eagraithe faoi scáth an tionscnaimh.
D'ardaigh mé an cheist seo mar gheall ar chruinniú a bhí againn den choiste ealaíon, oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta ar an 3 Deireadh Fómhair trí sheachtain ó shin. Bhí díospóireacht againn faoi bhratach Gaelach sna scoileanna. An cheist atá agam ná cén tacaíocht atá á thabhairt ag an Roinn don Ghaelbhratach agus do Bhliain na Gaeilge 2013? Cén fáth freisin ar thug an tAire Stáit €500,000 don straitéis 20 bliain ach go bhfuil gearradh siar de €1.3 milliún sa Roinn don Ghaeilge? Mar sin, tá níos mó airgid á tharraingt siar sa Roinn ná mar atá á chaiteamh. An bhfuil an Roinn ag tabhairt tacaíochta do bhliain na Gaeilge, don straitéis agus don Ghaelbhratach? Is scéim í an Gaelbhratach atá cosúil leis an mbrat glas atá ag feidhmiú sna bunscoileanna agus sna meánscoileanna.
Maidir le Bliain na Gaeilge agus an cuidiú atá á chur ar fáil ag an Roinn, déantar é trí Fhoras na Gaeilge agus trí Údaras na Gaeltachta. Mar adúirt mé, tá €25,000 curtha ar fáil ag Foras na Gaeilge do Bhliain na Gaeilge agus, ar ndóigh, tá an t-údarás páirteach, leis an gconradh, maidir le comóradh na bliana sin sna ceantair Ghaeltachta. Maidir le tacaíocht do na scoileanna, tá an Roinn an-ghníomhach ar fad ag cur tacaíochta ar fáil dóibh, go mórmhór na scoileanna sa Ghaeltacht. Déantar seo ar chúpla slí. Ceann de na slite a dhéantar é seo ná trí na cúntóirí teanga, atá á gcur ar fáil i ngach scoil sa Ghaeltacht. Sílim gur scéim fhiúntach í seo agus tá ag éirí léi de réir na tuairiscí atá ag teacht ó thuismitheoirí agus ó mhúinteoirí atá páírteach sa scéim seo sna Gaeltachtaí. Tá áthas orm sa bhliain reatha go raibh ar ár gcumas méadú de €150,000 a chur leis an scéim sin.
Is cinnte go bhfuil ciorrú de bhreis agus €1 milliún i ngach Roinn. Tá dúshláin ansin, ach táim iontach dóchasach gur féidir linn tabhairt faoi na dúshláin seo agus na deacrachtaí a réiteach san am amach romhainn.
Tá gearradh siar ar an méid airgid ón Roinn agus tá gearradh siar freisin ar mhaoiniú d'Údarás na Gaeltachta, cé go bhfuil cúram fiontraíochta tábhachtach ag an údarás. An aontaíonn an tAire Stáit go bhfuil sé tábhachtach úsáid na Gaeilge a spreagadh trí thacaíocht a thabhairt don údarás? An bhfuil sé sásta nach bhfuil ísliú céime tugtha don údarás maidir le fostaíocht agus le húsáid na Gaeilge a spreagadh? Tá sé an-tábhachtach poist a chur ar fáil agus go mbeidh seans ag muintir na Gaeltachta poist a fháil agus an Ghaeilge a úsáid agus a spreagadh ar fud na tíre.
Is cinnte go bhfuil obair thábhachtach ar siúl ag Údarás na Gaeltachta sna ceantair Ghaeltachta chomh fada agus a bhaineann sin le fostaíocht agus obair a chur ar fáil. Is cinnte freisin go bhfuil dualgais bhreise ar an údarás anois - le hAcht na Gaeltachta 2012 - mar go mbeidh sé mar chúram agus mar fhreagracht air na scéimeanna teanga a fheidhmiú sna ceantair Ghaeltachta. Sin an fáth gur éirigh linn €500,000 breise a fháil, le díriú isteach agus le cuidiú a thabhairt don údarás agus do na ceantair Ghaeltachta a bheidh ag feidhmiú scéimeanna teanga - trí chinn i mbliana idir seo agus deireadh na bliana agus deich gcinn eile an bhliain seo chugainn.
Maidir le hÚdarás na Gaeltachta, is cinnte gur tháinig titim mhór ar chaiteachas Údarás na Gaeltachta le roinnt blianta anuas. Mar shampla, i 2008, bhí €26 mhilliún ag Údarás na Gaeltachta mar dheontas caipitil. Thit sin an bhliain ina dhiaidh sin go dtí €16 mhilliún. I 2010 bhí sé anuas go €10 milliún agus i 2011 bhí sé ag €6 mhilliún. D'éirigh linn é a choinneáil ag sin, beag nó mór, ó shin, ach is cinnte i mbliana go bhfuil sé ag €5.7 milliún, ach beidh acmhainní dá chuid féin ag an údarás chomh maith. De réir mar a thuigim, beidh €2.4 mhilliún nó €2.5 mhilliún aige, rud a fhágann go mbeidh beagnach €8 milliún de chaiteachas caipitil ag an údarás. Tá mé dóchasach gur féidir leis an sprioc atá aige - 400 post a chruthú - a bhaint amach don bhliain amach romhainn.
57. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Pearse Doherty den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas maidir le todhchaí Eagraíocht na Scoileanna Gaeltachta Teoranta ó thaobh thacaíocht a Roinne de. [44626/13]
Bunaíodh Eagraíocht na Scoileanna Gaeltachta Teoranta, nó ESG mar a thugtar air, sa bhliain 1987 mar bhrateagraíocht chun cabhair, treoir agus tacaíocht a sholáthar do bhunscoileanna agus d'iarbhunscoileanna Gaeltachta agus chun abhcóideacht a dhéanamh thar a gceann maidir le hábhair chomónta a bhaineann leo. Ón bhliain 2007 i leith, tá os cionn €780,000 ceadaithe ag mo Roinn don eagraíocht. I dtreo dheireadh 2011, bhí mo Roinn ar an eolas go raibh plé ag dul ar aghaidh idir Gaelscoileanna Teoranta agus ESG maidir leis an dá eagraíocht a chónascadh. Bhí an maoiniú a thug mo Roinn d'ESG in 2012 agus in 2013 coinníollach ar an gcónascadh sin a bheith ag tarlú. Tuigtear dom nach bhfuil an cónascadh sin ag dul ar aghaidh ag an bpointe seo. Dá bhrí sin, tiocfaidh deireadh le maoiniú mo Roinne d'ESG ag deireadh na bliana seo. Tuigtear dom fosta go bhfuil ESG ag breathnú ar an eagraíocht a scor.
San aeráid eacnamaíoch reatha, tá sé níos tábhachtaí ná riamh an éifeachtúlacht is fearr a bhaint as allúntas an Státchiste. Sa chomhthéacs seo, ní miste cinneadh na Comhairle Aireachta Thuaidh-Theas ar an 10 Iúil a nótáil, nuair a rinneadh na socruithe nua maoinithe a thiocfaidh i gcomharbacht ar mhúnla bunmhaoinithe Fhoras na Gaeilge a fhaomhadh. Faoi na socruithe nua maoinithe de chuid an fhorais, beidh sé eagraíocht cheannais ag feidhmiú ar bhonn uile-oileáin agus ag seachadadh tosaíochtaí straitéiseacha ar leith, lena n-áirítear tacú le hoideachas trí mheán na Gaeilge. Tá sé beartaithe go mbeidh an eagraíocht cheannais a bheidh ag plé leis an tosaíocht seo ag freastal ar scoileanna Gaeilge taobh istigh agus taobh amuigh den Ghaeltacht. Ní miste a nótáil gur féidir le haon eagraíocht ar bith iarratas a dhéanamh ar an phróiseas léirithe suime atá fógartha ag Foras na Gaeilge ar a shuíomh gréasáin, www.forasnagaeilge.ie.
Mar is eol don Aire Stáit, cuireadh in iúl d'Eagraíocht na Scoileanna Gaeltachta go dtiocfadh deireadh lena gcuid maoinithe i mí na Nollag na bliana seo caite agus, mar gheall ar sin, go dtiocfadh deireadh leis an eagraíocht féin. Níl dabht ach go bhfuil go leor imní ar phobal na Gaeltachta ó thaobh an ábhair seo. Is mór an buille do chúrsaí oideachais sa Ghaeltacht é. Ní mór dom a rá leis an Aire Stáit go bhfuil difear idir oideachas sa Ghaeltacht agus oideachas trí mheán na Gaeilge. Tá cur chuige ar leith ag teastáil i gcás oideachas sa Ghaeltacht. Rinne an tAire Stáit trácht ar an gcónascadh a bhí le tarlú idir Gaelscoileanna agus Eagraíocht na Scoileanna Gaeltachta Teoranta. Tá sé ag iarraidh a chur ina luí nach raibh faic tarluithe idir an dá eagras, ach bhí go leor tarluithe mar go raibh go leor plé ar an gceist eatarthu agus go leor dul chun cinn déanta. De réir tuairiscí ó lucht na heagraíochta, bhí sé de dhualgas ar an Roinn Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta agus ar Fhoras na Gaeilge na céad céimeanna eile a thógáil. Tá sé ráite go poiblí acu go raibh an Roinn agus an foras ag tarraingt a gcos ar an gcónascadh. Tá an dá eagras seo ar tí aontú a shroicheadh. Tá an cumadh air go bhfuil an tAire Stáit i ndiadh an brat a bhaint óna gcos. Má leanann sé ar aghaidh mar seo, caithfear go leor saineolais a fháil chun déileáil le hoideachas sa Ghaeltacht. Ba chóir don Aire Stáit ról tógála a ghlacadh, in áit an róil ghearrthéarmach agus ghearr-radharcach atá á ghlacadh aige ar an gceist seo.
Mar a dúirt mé, bhí tuiscint ann ó bhí 2011 ann go mbeadh comhtháthú idir an dá eagraíocht - Gaelscoileanna agus Eagraíocht na Scoileanna Gaeltachta. Bhí roinnt cruinnithe agam go pearsanta le hionadaithe ón eagraíocht. Bhí an tuiscint sin eadrainn. Níl sé fíor a rá go raibh sé de chúram nó de fhreagracht ar mo Roinn nó ar aon Roinn eile iad a thabhairt le chéile. Bhí sé fágtha fúthu féin. Tá sé soiléir anois nach raibh sé sin chun tarlú, ach tharla rudaí eile idir an dá linn. Glacadh céim mhór ar aghaidh maidir le hoideachas trí Ghaeilge ar an 10 Iúil, nuair a shocraíodh go mbeidh ceann de na heagraíochtaí ceannais a thiocfaidh i bhfeidhm faoin gComhairle Aireachta Thuaidh-Theas ag plé le hoideachas Ghaeilge ar fud na tíre ar fad, Thuaidh agus Theas, Gaeltacht agus Galltacht. Dála an scéil, níl aon rud ag cur bac ar na scoileanna Gaeltachta cur isteach ar an eagraíocht ceannais sin. Níl fáth ar bith nach mbeidís ábalta aon eolas atá acu a chur ar fáil don eagraíocht úr uile-oileánda a bheidh ag plé le hoideachas trí Ghaeilge sa tír seo.
Luaigh an tAire Stáit arís na socruithe nua maoinithe a bhaineann le Foras na Gaeilge agus leis an gComhairle Aireachta Thuaidh-Theas. Ní eagraíocht bunmhaoinithe í Eagraíocht na Scoileanna Gaeltachta sa chiall is a bhí sé i gceist leis na heagraíochtaí eile. Tá an eagraíocht ag brath ar an Roinn Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta, seachas ar an bhforas, don chuid is mó dá gcuid maoinithe. Fiú ag fágáil na ceiste sin ar leataobh, bhí daoine ar an taobh istigh ar an eolas agus ar an tuiscint go mbeadh ceannáras i gceist a bheadh freagrach as oideachas trí mheán na Gaeilge. Ní raibh aon trácht ar oideachas sa Ghaeltacht a bheith faoi bhun an tsainréim seo. An athrú é seo ar critéir na sainréimithe? An raibh plé ag an Aire Stáit leis an Aire ó Thuaidh? An raibh plé aige leis an bhforas ó thaobh bheith freagrach ar oideachas sa Ghaeltacht, nó ó thaobh todhchaí Eagraíocht na Scoileanna Gaeltachta?
Bhí plé agam leis an Aire ó Thuaidh. Bíonn roinnt cruinnithe againn gach bliain i gcomhthéacs an Chomhairle Aireachta Thuaidh-Theas. Shocraigh muid go ndéanfar laghdú ó 19 go sé ar líon na heagraíochtaí bunmhaoinithe, agus go mbeadh ceann de na heagraíochtaí ceannais sin freagrach as oideachas trí Ghaeilge. Sílim gur céim ar aghaidh í go mbeidh eagraíocht ag déanamh ionadaíochta ó Thuaidh agus ó Theas anois, agus í freagrach as oideachas trí Ghaeilge a sholáthar. Beidh an eagraíocht ábalta úsáid a bhaint as an eolas atá acu ó Thuaidh agus an eolas atá againn ó Theas. Beimid uilig comhtháite le chéile. Is féidir le heagraíocht mhór amháin níos mó oibre a dhéanamh ná na heagraíochtaí a bhí ann go dtí seo. Is dul chun cinn riachtanach é sin ag an bpointe seo. Sílim gur céim ar aghaidh í. Tá áthas orm gur éirigh linn teacht ar chomhthuiscint den chineál sin Thuaidh agus Theas. Tá mé iontach dóchasach go dtiocfaidh feabhas dá bharr sin ar chúrsaí oideachais trí Ghaeilge sa Ghaeltacht agus taobh amuigh den Ghaeltacht.
That completes the questions nominated for priority. I gave bonus time there, as in the leaving certificate. We will move on to Question No. 58 in the name of Deputy Ellis.
