I welcome Mr. Pádraig Ó hAoláin and Mr. Steve Ó Cualáin from Údarás na Gaeltachta. I call upon them to make their address which I understand will be bilingual. Scripts have been circulated to members.
Job Creation: Discussion with Údarás na Gaeltachta.
Mr. Pádraig Ó hAoláin
Tá mé fhéin agus mo chomhghleacaí, Steve Ó Cualáin, an-sásta go bhfuil deis againn casadh leis an gcoiste seo le cúrsaí an údaráis — na cuspóirí, na srianta, na haidhmeanna, na fadhbanna agus na riachtanaisí — a phlé leis na baill. Beimid sásta aon cheisteanna atá acu a fhreagairt. Táimid ag súil go mbeidh díospóireacht maith againn agus go n-éireoidh linn na ceisteanna atá ag an choiste faoi gné ar bith de chúrsaí na Gaeltachta, ó thaobh eacnamaíochta, sóisialta agus cultúrtha de, a fhreagairt go sásúil. Tosóidh mé le léiriú ginearálta ar an mbliain seo caite. Léiríonn imeachtaí na bliana sin an bunús, nó modus operandi, atá ag an údarás — an “suas agus síos” a bhaineann le cúrsaí na Gaeltachta ó bhliain go chéile. Bhí “suas agus síos” an-mhór ag baint leis an bhliain seo caite.
In general terms, what has happened in the last year gives a good overview of the challenges that face Údarás na Gaeltachta as a development agency. We have a very challenging brief which covers more than the wide range of responsibilities of the joint committee. Our statutory brief covers economic, social, cultural, sports and arts functions. During the course of the past year we have seen what in sporting terms would be referred to as a match of two halves. In the second half there was a downturn in the economy and a particular number of constraints which posed difficulties for Gaeltacht companies, as they did for companies elsewhere in the country. Go ghinearálta, d'éirigh linn breis agus 1,000 post nua a chruthú an bhliain seo caite. Is í an sprioc ginearálta atá leagtha amach don údarás sa phlean forbartha náisiúnta ná 800 post sa bhliain a chruthú. D'éirigh linn an sprioc sin a shárú i 2007. On the other hand, we lost 965 jobs and the losses are made up in the way I have explained in the submission members have received.
There was a mixture of large companies laying off numbers of staff for a variety of reasons which are still trading and employing considerable numbers on an ongoing basis. There are sectors which are under pressure such as the fish processing sector which has lost a considerable number of jobs in the Gaeltacht in recent years and is continuing to lose jobs for reasons I do not need to address here. The pressures the fishing industry and the processing sector have been experiencing in recent years are generally understood. We had particular companies which were trading in the financial services sector and the mortgage and consumer loans sector which hit the headlines at the end of February. Last September one of these companies also laid off a number of workers for the same reason — the turbulence in the UK consumer loans market. I will come back to how we are addressing that issue.
Is é ceann de na dúshláin atá ag an údarás ná freastal ar na hoileáin agus na ceantair atá scoite amach — ceantair iargúlta, mar a thugtar orthu — chomh maith leis na ceantair lárnacha, ar nós Ghaoth Dobhair, Chois Fharraige, Múscraí agus na bailte móra eile.
We have a unique geographical area. Gaeltacht areas are scattered across seven local authority areas, seven counties and range in population size from 150 up to 40,000. There are also the six offshore islands. There is a major challenge in the differing levels of infrastructure in each of the areas, particularly physical infrastructure and, more critically for our operations, broadband which has been a topic of conversation almost every day in our organisation in the last five years. Taking all this into consideration, at year end we broke even. The number of job losses almost equalled the number of new jobs created. Overall, I was reasonably happy that we had managed to sustain job levels at approximately 8,000.
We are facing a difficult year but I am still optimistic that we can achieve the targets we have set for ourselves across our areas of responsibility, not only with regard to jobs which are crucial but also in areas that relate to the language, building the social infrastructure in association with the Department and those aspects critical to the use of the Gaeltacht, mar is dúshlán an-mhór é déileáil le daoine óga — ní amháin ó thaobh fostaíochta de ach freisin ó thaobh chaitheamh aimsire agus siamsaíochta de. I have mentioned towards the end of the written submission to the committee that a major challenge for us is not only to attract young Irish speakers to live and work in the Gaeltacht but to do this on the basis of collaborative operations with other agencies, whereby we can ensure the social life will be sufficiently attractive or certainly will not have the constraints it has in some areas. It has been improving but there is a huge need for a collaborative effort by various State agencies to ensure the social infrastructure of the Gaeltacht is built up to make it an attractive area for those who live there and the young people who are now achieving a higher level of skills and qualifications. If the jobs are available, the area must be attractive enough to ensure young people see it as an option equal to those available to them elsewhere. That is a major challenge.
I have outlined the initiatives we are taking in upskilling people and working with third level education institutions. Six years ago Údarás na Gaeltachta was spending approximately €200,000 per year on collaborative initiatives with third level institutions in delivering education services locally in the Gaeltacht. We now have a budget of €5 million for a range of courses being delivered within the Gaeltacht. One of the difficulties was that once young people moved out of the Gaeltacht to achieve their higher skill levels and qualifications, it became far more difficult to attract them back. However, if a wide range of upskilling and accredited qualifications can be delivered within the region in outreach centres by third level institutions, there is a greater possibility that young people will see opportunities and stay. Some might become the young entrepreneurs of the future. They will buttress the language because the majority of these courses are being delivered through Irish. They might also find partners and settle down.
There is a range of advantages attached to the expenditure and investment we are making in delivering upskilling, training and education opportunities in the Gaeltacht. Most of these are being delivered by Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge, NUIG. However, Letterkenny Institute of Technology has come on board and the first degree course will be offered jointly between UCG and LYIT in Gaoth Dobhair, starting next September. That is a welcome first. There are also degree courses coming on stream in An Cheathrú Rua and Carna, while a new centre is planned for Corca Duibhne.
I will comment briefly on the job losses in Gaoth Dobhair, Achill and An Daingean that occurred at the end of February. Losing 108 jobs so suddenly is certainly a severe setback to our efforts to create and sustain employment in Gaeltacht areas. However, one should understand the sector in which the three companies were operating. They were three associate companies of Contact 4 based in Glasgow. The basis of its business more or less disappeared over a short period. It was involved in the consumer loans sector in the United Kingdom, which was in turbulence throughout the period. The manner of its closure left much to be desired and we were unhappy with it. However, the fact that it happened did not come as a great surprise. On the other hand, when short-term crises such as this arise, they call on all the resources of an organisation such as ours and our staff. It tests the resilience of the organisation to react to such events. We are already trying to deliver jobs in other areas which badly need them and now another batch of 108 must be delivered. Achill Island, in particular, had been waiting a long number of years for the enterprise which came to the island.
In the short number of weeks, effectively one month, since that happened we have a company which is interested in providing an alternative venture in the Contact 4 centre in Gaoth Dobhair. An interested company has been to Achill, looked at the facility there and met staff representatives. There is also a company interested in the centre in An Daingean. I am optimistic that within the next two months we will be in a position to find replacement jobs with new companies in the facilities which were so badly hit so recently by the failure of Contact 4.
Overall — is é seo mo phointe deireanach faoi chúrsaí fostaíochta — we are handling inquiries involving, in total, in excess of 1,000 jobs. We are fortunate to have a healthy pipeline but this will not ultimately turn into jobs at the end of the year. However, I am very optimistic that our development executives and staff can attract a large number of them, turn many of the inquiries into solid negotiations, progress them to board level, turn a considerable percentage of the 1,000 jobs in the pipeline into jobs on the ground by the end of the year and achieve the targets set out for us. That would surpass the target set out for us in the national development plan
Go ghinearálta, ba mhaith liom focal amháin a rá faoin staidéir teangeolaíochta ar úsáid na Gaeilge sa Ghaeltacht. Tá an staidéir thar a bheith tábhachtach. I láthair na huaire, tá staidéir á dhéanamh ag an údarás ar na moltaí, na tátail agus na torthaí atá léirithe sa staidéir sin. Ó tharla go bhfuil freagra oifigiúil ar an tuarascáil á ullmhú ag an údarás, níor mhaith liom dul isteach go mion sa tuarascáil anseo, ach amháin a rá go n-aithníonn muid go bhfuil gá le gníomh-phlean radacach le aghaidh a thabhairt ar na fadhbanna a léiríonn an tuarascáil seo. Beidh gá le gníomh-phlean radacach má táimid chun an taoille a chasadh agus aghaidh a thabhairt ar na fadhbanna bunúsacha a bhaineann le úsáid na Gaeilge sa Ghaeltacht a léirítear sa tuarascáil sin. Baineann sé sin le chuile réimse gníomhaíochta sa Ghaeltacht, ach go háirithe le dul i bhfeidhm ar an dream óg atá sonraithe go sonrach sa tuarascáil mar réimse a bhfuil fadhbanna ar leith ag baint leis. Ar an iomlán, ceapaim go bhfuil luach airgid á fháil ag an íocóir cánach as caiteachais an Stáit tríd an údarás. We face challenges that are unique to ourselves as a development agency, not only because of the geographical area that we cover but also because of the mix of statutory functions for which we are responsible which cover economic, social and linguistic issues which must be married together in a way which contributes substantially to sustaining communities in the Gaeltacht and building communities in the 13 areas in seven counties and on six islands for which we have major responsibility in terms of enterprise and language promotion, as well as in building business infrastructure. I have detailed some of the work we do in a list of the major projects we have in train as part of a building programme of €18 million, much of which is taking place in what we will refer to as the outlying areas — na ceantair atá níos scoite amach. Fágfaidh mé mar sin go fóill é.
Ba mhaith liom an deis seo a ghlacadh fáilte a chuir roimh an phríomh-fheidhmeannach, Mr. Pádraig Ó hAoláin, agus Mr. Steve Ó Cualáin chuig an cruinniú seo den chomhchoiste. Tá deis ag baill an choiste an méid atá ráite ag an phríomh-fheidhmeannach a phlé agus ceisteanna a chuir. Aontaíonn éinne a bhfuil eolas aige ar ceantair Gaeltachta na tíre seo go bhfuil obair iontach á dhéanamh ag Údarás na Gaeltachta maidir le forbairt fostaíochta agus cosaint na dteanga agus na gcultúr. Tá an t-údarás ag comhlíonadh a gcuid dualgaisí go maith. Tá deis ag daoine cosúil liom fhéin — polaiteoirí — an cheist seo a phlé. Tá a fhios agam go bhfuil polaiteoirí tofa ón phobal ar bord an údaráis. Is deis úr é seo dúinn inniu. Is dóigh liom go dtuigfidh na toscairí má dhírím isteach ar ár gcontae fhéin. Tá daoine anseo ó gach chontae ina bhfuil Gaeltacht — Chontae Maigh Eo, mar shampla. Níl mé chun mórán ama a chaitheamh ar an ábhar seo.
I am very conscious of the fact that there are other members who represent other Gaeltacht areas and who want to speak. For that reason, I hope Mr. Ó hAoláin will understand if I concentrate on my own constituency. We are grateful for what Údarás na Gaeltachta has done. It has a very difficult job to bring industry into some of the most peripheral regions of the country. Only for it I am very confident and can say without fear of contradiction that we would not have 8,000 people in full-time employment in the Gaeltacht areas.
I wish to deal with my own area, starting in the north and working down to to the south. I will begin with the parish of Chloch Cheann Fhaola. I am conscious that there is a representative here from that parish who is also a member of the board. I refer to an Seanadóir Ó Domhnaill as Gort a' Choirce i bhFál Carrach, a strong Gaeltacht area. I would like to find out if Údarás na Gaeltachta has plans to bring any industry into that area. There is an industrial estate in Fál Carrach which was thriving a number of years ago but quite a few jobs have been lost there. A number of industries were located there, the history of which was questionable. What are the plans of Údarás na Gaeltachta to bring employment to that great Gaeltacht area? I have always said Gort a' Choirce has one of the largest Irish speaking populations in the entire country.
In my own area of Gaoth Dobhair the industrial estate went through a very difficult period recently. It was excellent to hear that Údarás na Gaeltachta had good news to report last week regarding Euro Iompar, an indigenous industry, which will increase its workforce to approximately 100 in the next few years. It will provide coaches and buses for customer in this country and abroad. I have seen its buses in Dublin already and I am delighted with the news. We also appreciate the development at the Gaoth Dobhair Business Park and wish to know if there is anything else in the pipeline.
I will move on to the Rosses. Burtonport used to be a thriving fishing port, with little or no industry. There was one industry in Dungloe, Hovid, but 50 jobs were lost there. There is very little in the Rosses now, whether one is referring to Burtonport or Dungloe. It is an important Gaeltacht area and I wish to know if there are any plans to replace the jobs that have been lost there, particularly in Hovid.
I will now jump across Gaoth Barra to the south west of the county, to Gleann Cholm Cille, Cill Chárthaigh and An Carraig. I attended a meeting in the area on Monday night. Approximately 40 people attended and they were very disappointed that Contact 4 had closed down in Gaoth Dobhair, Achill and County Kerry a month ago. The company had plans to create 100 jobs in Cill Chárthaigh but the locals have been disappointed once more. There are some jobs in the Cill Chárthaigh area but the people would like a new, modern industry to be set up. In the past the textile industry was strong but hundreds of jobs were lost during the years. Is there any chance that the jobs promised or planned for Cill Chárthaigh with Contact 4 will be replaced?
I move on to An Gaeltacht Lár. There is an advance factory located at Baile na Finne which is empty. Are there any plans to take up the space?
Mr. Ó hAoláin mentioned the islands. There have been many developments on the islands in recent years. The Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs has been very active. While I am a member of the Opposition, I must admit that the Department has done a lot. Piers and ferries have been provided and the islands have been connected to the national electricity grid and the water network. However, Árain Mhóir has a population of 700 people. There is an ionad fiontraíochta there which is vacant. It would give a great boost to an island such as Árain Mhóir where fishing is no longer engaged in and where the locals are travelling the world, building tunnels in the United Kingdom, the far East and Dublin if even ten or 20 jobs were created. That would maintain family units on the island. Its people are great workers and have a great reputation. They can go to any part of the world and stand on their own.
I refer to Oileán Thoraí. Tá an aerstráice geallta le tamall. Ta suim ag Údarás na Gaeltachta ann. Cén uair a mbeimid ag súil leis an aerstráice?
Rinne Mr. Ó hAoláin tagairt ar an staidéir teangeolaíochta. Tá comhchoiste den chomhaireacht ar bun anois. Tá a fhios agam go bhfuil dualgas teangan ar Údarás na Gaeltachta chomh maith. Tá a fhios ag an phríomh-fheidhmeannach go bhfuil pobal amháin i mo cheantair — Rann na Feirste — atá an-mhíshásta nach bhfuil sé i gcatagóir A. Tá clú agus cáil ar an bpobal sin maidir leis an Ghaeilge. Tá an saibhreas céanna ag muintir na háite, ó thaobh an litríocht, filíochta agus ceol atá curtha ar fáil acu le 100 bliain anuas, agus a bhí ag na Blascaoidí uair amháin. Ba mhaith liom go ndéanfadh an t-údarás gach iarracht an íslú céime a thugadh do Rann na Feirste sa staidéir teangeolaíochta a chur i gceart, más féidir. D'fhéadfainn dul ar aghaidh ar feadh an lae.
As I said in Irish, we appreciate what Údarás na Gaeltachta has done. It has succeeded in locating 8,000 jobs in Gaeltacht areas. Last year it was unfortunate that we lost almost as many jobs as we created. Gaeltacht areas were dependent on indigenous and traditional industries but now we have broadband and there is no reason we should not have modern industries locating there, which will employ the highly educated and highly skilled young people in Gaeltacht areas who complete second and third level education. They are available to the economy, particularly to the Gaeltacht. It would be great to see these young, highly skilled, motivated young people going back to their own areas, ag labhairt na Gaeilge chun an teanga agus an chultúr a choinneáil beo.
I welcome the representatives from Údarás na Gaeltachta. Its report maintains there is no crisis regarding job creation in the Gaeltacht. I hope that is correct, as I was worried in the first quarter of the year when I saw the number of jobs being lost or threatened.
Have the former staff members of Contact 4 in Achill, Gaoth Dobhair and County Kerry been paid the wages due to them? They were owed five or six weeks' wages. I hope that, regardless of the grant that must be repaid to Údarás na Gaeltachta, the former staff members will be paid. I am glad other officials are examining this issue in the context of job creation.
A company in Belmullet issued a serious warning earlier this year and will not recruit additional staff. It will hold on to the staff it has but will cut back the number of hours worked. Has Údarás na Gaeltachta had further discussions with it? Is Mr. Ó hAoláin happy it can survive in the long term because Belmullet is a black spot and we do not want the jobs to be lost? It took a long time to generate jobs to replace those provided by the last company which left. How could a company like Contact 4 come to Ireland, set up in three parts of the Gaeltacht and within one year be insolvent? The staff moved into the area and set up their homes. They were delighted with the jobs but were given one hour's notice that they were gone. I am sure Údarás na Gaeltachta conducts significant research and investigations into companies but one year is a short time for a company to go broke. I hope the grant aid provided for the company in question will be returned to Údarás na Gaeltachta and used to encourage other companies into the Gaeltacht.
The board has done a good job in recent years in the Gaeltacht. We are in different circumstances and the economy is experiencing a small downturn. It will not be easy to attract jobs to the Gaeltacht. There are three Gaeltachtaí in my constituency — Tourmakeady, Erris and Achill. My constituents complain that, like the IDA, the authority is very slow to support Irish citizens in the Gaeltacht and that it is quicker to take a gamble on outside companies such as Contact 4 which lasted one year. I admire Údarás na Gaeltachta taking a chance because if one does not take a risk, one does not have a hope but one year is a short time. What plans does the authority have to encourage individuals to set up in the Gaeltacht?
Broadhaven Bay Hotel in Belmullet received grant aid from the authority, highlighting the fact that international companies do not need to be attracted to the country or the Gaeltacht. The hotel employs a substantial number of staff and is going very well. I compliment Údarás na Gaeltachta on grant-aiding it. Recently I was contacted by an individual who is operating a business from his back garden and believes he is not getting the support he needs. I contacted the Minister and Seán Ó Casaide who are now dealing with him because they believe he has a viable product. He is involved in the fishing industry and doing well. He employs a number of staff but does not have the capital and support to expand. He had to come up with 50% of the capital funding to put a plant in place but did not have it. He needed 10% more from the authority but was prepared to borrow and put his own home and family at risk. I hope Údarás na Gaeltachta will support locals who want to stay in the Gaeltacht.
The Minister was in America last week and said it was hoped 250,000 Irish speakers would be living in the Gaeltacht in the coming years. That will not happen without jobs, as Údarás na Gaeltachta acknowledged in its report. The greatest complaint I receive relates to broadband provision. Broadband is available in some areas but the network is inadequate. If Údarás na Gaeltachta is to attract companies to work from the Gaeltacht and people to work from their homes where they can live and raise their families and speak Irish, broadband is the most basic infrastructure they need. What additional support can the Government provide for Údarás na Gaeltachta to attract people into the Gaeltacht? Does it need more funding, staff or other resources? Is Mr. Ó hAoláin happy with the provision of broadband in the Gaeltacht? I am not and hope Údarás na Gaeltachta will put pressure on the Minister and the Department to provide broadband in the Gaeltacht.
I am glad the delegation is before the committee and do not wish to be critical of the authority. I would like it to create more jobs, given that its record to date is very good. The first quarter of this year was not good and that is why this meeting was scheduled. We are concerned that jobs should be protected. It is important that the authority is out there fighting and lobbying to attract its fair share of jobs to the Gaeltacht. I hope, at the same time, this will boost the Irish language. I support the Gaeltacht and Údarás na Gaeltachta because I would like people to continue to live and work in the Gaeltacht. It is important that people live in rural Ireland. I thank the delegation for attending and hope Mr. Ó hAoláin will answer my questions.
Níl mé líofa sa Ghaeilge go fóill ach beidh mé an bhliain seo chugainn, le cúnamh Dé.
I am delighted to welcome the chief executive. As somebody who has lived in a seriously disadvantaged south-western seaboard area where I once earned a living, I would like to focus on the shellfish sector and, in particular, the harvesting of mussels. Is there an ongoing problem with foreshore licences? Is there a market for small shellfish such as periwinkles, crabs, mussels and oysters? I am interested in how that aspect of the industry is faring, as I am well aware of how the salmon industry is faring.
In the light of the drive to decarbonise the State and invest in renewable energy sources, has Údarás na Gaeltachta conducted a serious study of creating long-term sustainable local jobs in the manufacture of renewable energy products such as solar panels and the importation of pellet boilers? Only 7% of jobs are provided in this sector, which percentage could be increased to 50% as the demand for oil increases, the price of which exceeded $112 a barrel earlier. Workers in disadvantaged areas could have a sustainable future by tapping into the renewable energy sector, particularly with oceans of wind available on the western seaboard. It could be a dynamic sector in which Údarás na Gaeltachta could invest.
I refer to the impact of walking holidays and tourism on the western seaboard. Is there still a problem with access to a number of well known walkways in the region? Walking is a dynamic indicator of how we spend our holidays but, unfortunately, bad press has resulted from a lack of access to long distance walking routes. This is another way for Údarás na Gaeltachta to build sustainable jobs by training walking guides, building interpretative centres in the correct location and expanding the footfall.
Is mian liom fáilte croíúil a chuir roimh an toscaireacht ón údarás. Caithfidh mé a rá gur fan mór mé den údarás le tamall fada, toisc an obair atá déanta aige. Níl aon amhras faoi ná go bhfuil an t-údarás lárnach do thoghchaí na Gaeltachta. Thug na cainteoirí tuiscint níos fearr dúinn inniu faoi stádas fostaíochta na Gaeltachta. I ndáiríre, táimid ag brath go mór ar an údarás. Gan fostaíocht, ní bheidh daoine sa Ghaeltacht. Muna bhfuil daoine ann, ní bheidh Gaeilge no Gaeltacht i gceist. Ag féachaint siar ar stair an údaráis, tá sé thar a bheith suimiúil gur aistrigh an dearcadh ó éadóchasach go dtí dóchasach. Tá sé soiléir, ón cur i láthair a thugadh dúinn inniu agus an cáipéis a chuireadh ar fáil, go bhfuil muinín ag an údarás fós. Molaim an údarás go hard, i ndáiríre. Táimid fós ag brath ar an údarás chun dul i ngleic le gach dúshlán atá ann. Dúirt Mr. Ó hAoláin go gceapann an t-údarás gur chóir go mbeadh sé ar a gcumas postanna eile a chuir ar fáil taobh istigh de dhá mí dóibh siúd a gcailleann a gcuid postanna. Tá sé sin dochreidthe. Cruthaíonn sé go bhfuil bhur súile ar an liathróid.
I compliment the chief executive. I am always impressed by the work of Údarás na Gaeltachta which is pivotal to the future of the Gaeltacht. It is vital that there is an agency not just to create employment within the Gaeltacht but also to promote teangeolaíocht and Irish culture. It is a democratic body which is also the right approach because those who sit on the board are elected by the people and have an input, together with the executive of Údaras na Galetachta. The message I keep getting from Údarás na Gaeltachta is that there is movement to try to find new opportunities.
I was particularly glad to see the reference in the document to the fact that there was no jobs crisis in any part of the Gaeltacht. This does not mean there are no challenges or hiccups at a given time. Údarás na Gaeltachta has been able to create more jobs than were lost. This is success. That some of the jobs lost could be replaced within the next two months shows the way the Gaeltachta has changed. I was a timire with Conradh na Gaeilge many years ago and remember the dearcadh diúltach, the negative approach, to the Irish language. One could not blame people for this because it was considered lip service was paid to the Gaeltacht in the sense that practical resources were not always available. We are now receiving a report from Údarás na Gaeltachta which shows confidence which is absolutely vital.
I do not know how many members had the opportunity to hear the Tánaiste, Deputy Brian Cowen, speak this morning. I was over-awed by the amount of time he spent speaking in Irish. He is to make Irish one of his priorities. On the main English news on RTE David Davin-Power chose this as one of the most significant elements of the Tánaiste's address. This was not a cúpla focal, but something that had been very carefully thought out. The Tánaiste is reflecting a new feeling of confidence where the language is concerned.
I heard it said at one stage that we would never obtain official working status for the Irish language in the European Union. I succeeded in having an all-party motion in the Seanad which then went before the Dáil. At long last we have obtained such status.
The legislation on language equality provides that 600 agencies must now provide a service through Irish. Nobody in their wildest dreams could have foreseen this development. I give credit to Deputy Michael D. Higgins because he played a significant role in the setting up of TG4. In those days nobody foresaw the professionalism to be invested in that service on which the young image is coming across. We used to say Wales had its own service. We now have one of the best television networks, Radió na Gaeltachta and waiting lists for gaelscoileanna. There is a new optimism concerning the language.
The reason I make these points is that the Gaeltacht is tobar an dúchais. We will always look on it as being the national treasure. This was brought home to me two weeks ago while in North America when I was updated on the new plans to establish a Gaeltacht in Canada. A property has already been bought and TG4 has made a programme on the issue. The gentleman involved happens to be a member of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann. He believes there is such a love for the language outside Ireland, not just among Irish communities but in non-Irish communities also, that we could tap into it from a cultural tourism point of view. One of the reasons for this is that Ireland is highly regarded internationally, not only in the context of the European Union, in terms of the EU Presidency and so on, but also because of its tradition in music, sport, games, literature and poetry.
Ireland is a place with which people want to identify. There are 70 million people of Irish extraction. Because of this there is no doubt that cultural tourism should be pushed up a peg or two and methods have to be found to exploit it. Everybody of Irish extraction is aware that Pearse went to Rosmuc to absorb the language and the culture of that area which he brought back to St. Enda's in Dublin where he developed an education system which was almost 100 years ahead of its time. There has to be a way of receiving the thousands who go there to immerse themselves in the language. It is not enough to have the language spoken, facilities have to be developed to exploit the cultural aspects. If I was to make a recommendation — it is not necessary to do so because Údarás na Gaeltachta has its eye on the ball — cultural tourism is the way to go. The Gaeltacht will be a attraction provided we have the amenities in place.
Tréaslaím go mór libh de bharr na hoibre atá déanta agaibh. Tá mé thar a bheith sásta go mbeidh sibh in ann aon dúshlán a thagann i bhur dtreo a láimhseáil.
Cuirim fáilte roimh an tUasal Ó hAoláin agus an tUasal Ó Cualáin. Seo ceann de na hábhair ar mhol mé go mbeadh sé ar chlár oibre an chomhchoiste seo ag deireadh na bliana seo caite le plé a dhéanamh ar chúrsaí fostaíochta sa Ghaeltacht. Ag an am sin, bhí mé ag díriú isteach ar Ghaeltacht Dhún na nGall, ach ag an cruinniú deireanach shocraíomar go mbeadh muid ag plé cúrsaí fostaíochta sna Gaeltachtaí uilig. Is maith agus is ceart an rud é go bhfuil muid ag déanamh sin.
Ar dtús báire, molaim Údarás na Gaeltachta as ucht an obair atá á dhéanamh aige, go háirithe ó thaobh an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn sa Ghaeltacht. Tá páirt iontach tábhachtach le himirt ag Údarás na Gaeltachta agus tá sé ag déanamh sin ar bealaí éagsúla, go háirithe le fostaíocht. Admhaím go bhfuil gá, ní amháin le fostaíocht a chruthú sa Ghaeltacht ach le na seirbhísí sóisialta a chur ar fáíl fosta. Tá níos mó le dhéanamh ag Údarás na Gaeltachta seachas postanna a líonadh agus a leithéid. Caithfimid amharc ar shaol na Gaeltachta chomh maith.
Sin ráite, ba mhaith liom díriú isteach ar chúrsaí fostaíochta, mar is é sin an fáth ar tugadh cuireadh don Údarás teacht roimh an comhchoiste seo. Ní ghlacaim ar chor ar bith leis an méid atá ráite ag na toscairí faoi phríomh aidhm Údarás na Gaeltachta, nach bhfuil géarchéim fostaíochta sna Gaeltachtaí ná in aon pháirt de na Gaeltachtaí. Más é sin an dearcadh atá ag Údarás na Gaeltachta, tá sé chomh maith iad a chur abhaile. Tá géarchéim fostaíochta i gceantracha Gaeltachta i nDún na nGall agus ceantair eile. Má amharcann muid ar chúrsaí fostaíochta i nDún na nGall san iomlán, mhéadaigh an líon daoine atá dífhostaithe 20% ó anuraidh. Má amharcann muid ar an bhriseadh síos a thug Comhairle Contae Dhún na nGall do bhaill an chomhairle sin ó thaobh na comhlachtaí a d'éirigh as an obair nó na comhlachtaí nach raibh ábalta rátaí a dhíol, is é ceantar na Gleanntaí — an ceantar ina bhfuil an Ghaeltacht ina cuid is mó den cheantar — an áit ina bhfuil 22% de na comhlachtaí a d'éirigh as an obair nó nach raibh ábalta a gcuid rátaí a dhíol, dhá oiread níos airde ná ceantar ar bith eile.
Tá sé soiléir go bhfuil 25% níos mó daoine dífhostaithe i nDún na nGall ó bhí anuraidh ann. Freisin, is soiléir gur é ceantar na Gleanntaí, an ceantar is mó Gaeltachta, an áit a bhuil na comhlachtaí ag éirí as obair. Má amharcann muid ar na fíricí, tuigeann muid go bhfuil fadhb mór dífhostaíochta sna ceantair Gaeltachta. Níl muid ag caint faoin leibhéal céanna dífhostaíochta agus atá sa chuid eile den tír, 4% nó 5%. I gceantair Gaeltachta, i dTír Chonaill agus ceantair eile, táimid ag caint faoi 16%, 17% agus 18%. Léiríonn na figiúirí a chuir na toscairí inár láthair inniu go ndearna Údarás na Gaeltachta obair ar dóigh ag iarraidh 1,038 postanna úra a cruthú, ach nuair atá muid ag cailleadh an méid céanna postanna agus a bhí againn, ciallaíonn sin, má leanann sin ar aghaidh, go bhfuil an fhadhb dífhostaíochta atá againn sa Ghaeltacht chun leanúint ar aghaidh san am amach romhainn. Sin an fáth go raibh mise ag iarraidh go dtiocfadh Údaras na Gaeltachta isteach anseo, ionas go mbeadh muid ábalta plé a dhéanamh ar na constaicí atá ag an Údarás le na postanna seo a chruthú.
Má amharcann muid ar na figiúirí agus má bhriseann muid síos iad, sílim gur chaill duine as achan ochtar a bhí ag obair i comhlachtaí a bhí maoinithe ag Údaras na Gaeltachta a phost anuraidh. Ní amháin gur tharla sin anuraidh, ach tarlaíonn sé beagnach gach bliain. Tá ardú agus tiontú thart millteanach ann ó thaobh na daoine ag obair i gcomhlachtaí Udarás na Gaeltachta. Bíonn siad ag obair ann ar feadh bliana, dhá bhliain nó trí bliana agus ansin cailleann siad an post agus bíonn orthu post eile a aimsiú. Tá fadhbanna ann mar nach bhfuil siad ábalta dul in airde sa chomlacht mar a mbeadh dá mbeadh an comhlacht ann 20 bliain in ionad trí bliana.
Sin ráite, tá comhlachtaí maithe sna Gaeltachtaí. Tuigim nach dtig le hÚdarás na Gaeltachta nuair atá sé ag iarraidh comhlacht a mhealladh isteach dearbhú nó cinntiú nó doiciméad a shíniu an mbeidh sé anseo trí bliana nó 20 bliain. Tuigim freisin go bhfuil fadhbanna ann ó thaobh cúrsaí eacnamaíochta domhanda agus cúrsaí eacnamaíochta na tíre seo a chuireann isteach ar rudaí mar sin. Ach sin na fíricí, is í an fhadhb atá ann ná go bhfuil daoine ag cailleadh postanna go minic i gceantair Gaeltachta.
Caithfimid amharc ó thaobh Údarás na Gaeltachta fá choinne cosaint a thabhairt d'oibrithe. B'fhéidir gur ceist Roinne í sin. Léiríonn an rud a tharla do na hoibrithe i Contact 4 an fhadhb. Luaigh muid 108 post. Sin na postanna a chailleadh an lá deireanach, ach cailleadh an méid céanna postanna cúpla mí roimhe sin sna comhlachtaí céanna. Bhí Pearse Flynn, úinéir Contact 4, ag déanamh bolscaireachta sna páipéir bliain roimhe sin agus é ag rá gur é an fostóir is mó sa Daingean, ach nuair a cailleadh na postanna sa Daingean ní raibh ach 38 oibrithe fágtha. Caitheadh amach na hoibrithe ar an bhealach mór gan airgead a thabhairt dóibh, gan íocaíocht iomarcach a thabhairt dóibh mar is ceart agus gan déileáil leo mar ba cheart déileáil le fostaithe.
Níl a fhios agam an dtig le hÚdarás na Gaeltachta rud ar bith a dhéanamh nuair atá sé ag mealladh isteach comhlachtaí le cinntiú go dtabharfaidh na comhlachtaí sin aitheantas do cheardchumainn. Níl a fhios agam an bhfuil sé in ann cinntiú, má tá an comhlacht chun scaoileadh le oibruithe, go ndéileáilfidh an comhlacht leis na daoine sin ar bhonn ceart. Caithfidh mé a rá, nuair a bhí toscaire an údaráis ag caint ar Raidió na Gaeltachta, níor sheas sé don rud a tharla do na hoibrithe i Contact 4. Cuirim fáilte roimhe sin. Ba mhaith liom anois achoimre a dhéanamh agus labharfaidh mé i mBéarla dóibh siúd nach bhfuil Gaeilge acu.
To summarise, there is a job crisis in Gaeltacht areas. If, as a job creation agency, Údarás na Gaeltachta does not recognise this, it presents a major obstacle. That is one of the reasons I wanted this meeting to take place in order that we could consider how we could overcome the obstacles. However, if Údarás na Gaeltachta does not recognise that there is a jobs crisis in the Gaeltacht or any part of it, that presents an obstacle. Statistics for the Gaeltacht show unemployment levels running at four times the national average. There is a high turnover of employees in Gaeltacht companies — one out of every eight lost their job last year. This is a trend that continues every year.
We also have other issues with which to deal. I agree that it is not within the control of Údarás na Gaeltachta to deal with all of these. There are major barriers in terms of the rules and regulations laid down by the European Union, as well as by the Department. There are also particular obstacles relating to infrastructure, including roads, electricity supply and broadband. I agree that these are the obstacles that challenge Údarás na Gaeltachta in trying to entice investment, but there are also other obstacles in terms of the authority's inability to support services, although I note it has been said it is supporting more of them. In many cases, this is frustrating for people in the Gaeltacht who have set up businesses in the service industry, some of whom employ 40 or 50 staff and may have been doing so for ten or 20 years. It is frustrating for them to see a company being attracted to the area from abroad such as Contact 4 which set up in County Donegal, Achill and County Kerry and which was able to draw down massive grants from Údarás na Gaeltachta only to pull out when the going got tough. Some local people had to dig deep into their own pockets without any support from Údarás na Gaeltachta to create jobs in the service industry. They have even created more jobs than companies involved in the manufacturing sector. This is what has led to a lack of respect among the public for Údarás na Gaeltachta.
I find it difficult to say this, but there is no point in not telling it as it is. Níl aird mhór ag an pobal ar Údarás na Gaeltachta. Aithnímse go bhfuil Údarás na Gaeltachta ag déanamh jab faoi leith agus jab iontach tábhachtach agus muna raibh sé ag déanamh an jab sin go mbeadh rudaí i bhfad níos measa sa Ghaeltacht ag an pointe seo. Caithfidh muid admháil, áfach, nach bhfuil meas ag cuid mhór daoine sa Ghaeltacht ar Údarás na Gaeltachta, agus sin í an fhírinne.
Déarfaidh mé rud amháin eile. Labhair mé le duine ar na mallaibh fa dtaobh dá hiníon. Dúirt sé liom gur mór an náire d'Údarás na Gaeltachta go raibh ar a hiníon an tír seo a fhágáil siocair nach raibh sí ábalta fostaíocht a fháil. Bhí sí ag iarraidh comhlacht dá cuid féin a bhunú i nGaeltacht Thír Chonaill, ach bhí uirthi fágáil siocair nuair a chuaigh sí chuig Údarás na Gaeltachta go ndúradh léithi, "Tar le seo, líon amach sin, déan na projections, inis dúinn an caiteachas, tabhair dúinn na cuntaisí" agus a leithéid.
Mar atá a fhios againn, is é an dóigh a bhí daoine ag feidhmiú sa Ghaeltacht san am atá thart ná go raibh siad ag fágáil scoile go luath agus ag dul isteach sna monarchana. Ní raibh oideachas triú leibhéal acu, fiú ní raibh an ardteistiméireacht déanta ag cuid mhór daoine. Nuair a iarrann Údarás na Gaeltachta ar dhuine mar sin, b'fhéidir duine a bhfuil post caillte aige sna míonna roimhe sin, atá ag iarraidh comhlacht a bhunú teacht ar ais leis an rud ar fad eagraithe go hiomlán, scanraíonn sin an duine. Ba mhaith liom rud éigin a mholadh don údarás. An féidir leis seirbhís comhairleachta a bhunú taobh istigh d'Údarás na Gaeltachta a thabharfaidh tacaíocht phraiticiúil do dhaoine an obair sin a dhéanamh?
Sin atá le rá agam. Tá a fhios agam gur luaigh an údarás ceisteanna i dtaobh an Ghaeltacht agus an teanga chomh maith. Níor mhaith liom a bheith anseo ag tabhairt amach d'Údarás na Gaeltachta. Aithním an ról lárnach atá ag an údarás, ach ba mhaith liom na fíricí, mar atá ráite agam agus mar atá ráite liom, a cur i láthair anseo agus an údarás os mo chomhair. Ba mhaith liom mar sin féin aitheantas faoi leith a thabairt don ról atá á imirt ag Údarás na Gaeltachta, go háirithe ó thaobh an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn.
Ó thaobh an staidéar atá déanta ar an Ghaeltacht, má ghlactar leis na moltaí sa staidéar sin, níl dabht ar bith ná go mbeidh athrú suntasach ar ról Údarás na Gaeltachta agus ar an dóigh a bhfuil sé tofa. M'anam go mbeidh deacrachtaí faoi leith ag baint le sin. Níor chuala mé an méid a dúirt an Tánaiste inniu fa dtaobh den Ghaeilge agus é ag labhairt i nGaeilge. Cuirim fáilte gur tharla sin. Tá an Tánaiste mar Chathaoirleach ar an chomchoiste aireachta atá ag déileáil leis an tuairisc seo. Os rud é nár bhuail an comhchoiste aireachta, is féidir a rá go gcaithfimid an obair a dhéanamh agus na moltaí a phlé. Sin ceann de na chéad rudaí ar cheart don Tánaiste a dhéanamh mar Thaoiseach úr, ná plé leis na moltaí sa tuarisc sin.
Ba mhaith liom cur leis an méid a dúirt baill eile an choiste chun fáilte a chur roimh príomh fheidhmeannach an údaráis, Pádraig Ó hAoláin agus oifigeach bainistíochta an údaráis, Steve Ó Cualáin. Tá lúcháir orm go bhfuil Údarás na Gaeltachta anseo inniu. Mar comhalta tofa den údarás ón bhliain 1999, tá lúcháir orm go bhfuil mé anseo fosta. Tuigim an obair atá ar siúl ag Údarás na Gaeltachta ar fud na tíre de bhrí go bhfuil mé ar thaobh amháin den tábla mar ball den bord. Feicim an obair dhíograsach atá ar bun go laethúil ag feidhmeannaigh Údarás na Gaeltachta, chan amháin i nGaeltacht Thír Chonaill ach sna seacht Gaeltachtaí eile ar fud na tíre.
Tá sé tábhachtach go mbeidh tuiscint ag daoine go bhfuil ról an údaráis i bfhad níos leithne ná cruthú fostaíochta amháin. Tá ról an údaráis ag díriú isteach ar go leor gnéithe a bhaineann le saol laethúil na Gaeilge agus na Gaeltachta. Is é sin, tá sé ag díriú ar chur chun cinn cúrsaí turasóireachta, forbairt chultúir sa Ghaeltacht, forbairt na teanga, forbairt saoil sóisialta níos fearr do phobail na Gaeltachta, forbairt áiseanna agus struchtúir do phobal óg na Gaeltachta, tacaíocht a thabhairt chun suíomh oideachais iomlán a chur ar fáil sa Ghaeltacht agus ag forbairt na pobail éagsúla a bhfuil baint ag an údarás leis ar fud na tíre. Tá ról i bhfad níos leithne ag Údarás na Gaeltachta ná mar atá ag na heagraisí eile a chruthaíonn jabanna sa tír, ná an IDA ná Fiontar Éireann. De bhrí sin, tá sé tábhachtach go n-aithníonn muid sin agus muid ag plé an ábhair seo.
Ba mhaith liom buíochas a thabhairt don údarás as an cur i láthair cuimsitheach atá déanta. Tá lúcháir orm a rá go bhfuil obair mhór ar siúl ag an údarás agus muid ag caint ar chúrsaí fostaíochta. Dé hAoine seo caite d'fhreastal mé ar chruinniú míosúil bhord an údaráis i Béal an Mhuirthead i gContae Mhaigh Eo, áit ar cheadaigh an bord 100 poist breise do cheantar Gaoth Dobhair, le cois go leor tacaíochta eile do tograí eile ar fud na Gaeltachta. Ciallaíonn sin go bhfuil an údarás ag cruthú fostaíochta sa Ghaeltacht.
Ba mhaith liom tagairt a dhéanamh don chomhlacht Contact 4, a luaigh daoine eile cheana féin, agus don 108 poist a chailleadh ansin le gairid de bharr an cinneadh a rinne an comhlacht tarraingt amach as an tír seo. Tá díoma iontach orm faoin dóigh a láimhseáil an comhlacht agus úinéir an chomhlachta na hoibrithe agus an údarás. Rinne siad an cinneadh agus d'inis siad do na hoibrithe taobh istigh de uair nó dhó go raibh siad leis na monarchain a bhí acu a dhúnadh. Ní raibh an dóigh ar láimhseáil an comhlacht leis na hoibrithe ar an lá sin cothrom ná ceart.
Ba mhaith liom buíochas a chur in iúl do phríomh fheidmeannaigh an údaráis, go háirithe i dtaobh na cruinnuithe a d'eagair sé leis na hoibrithe chun a gcuid deacrachtaí a phlé. Ní dóigh liom go mbeadh príomh fheidhmeannach eile ar bith sa tír atá i gceannas ar eagras cosúil leis an údarás sásta é sin a dhéanamh. Taispeánann sin dáiríreacht an phríomh fheidhmeannaigh, go raibh sé sásta é sin a dhéanamh tráthnóna Aoine amháin agus maidin Shathairn eile i gContae Mhaigh Eo.
Like previous speakers, I welcome the relevant officials from Údarás na Gaeltachta. As I said in Irish, having been an elected board member of Údarás na Gaeltachta since 1999 and, thus, knowing its internal operations, its role is much wider than solely creating employment. It deals with Gaeltacht residents in the development of tourism, the Irish language, culture, social infrastructure, amenities and youth affairs, education provision at naonrai, pre-school, second and third level, and communities by assisting community organisations on a daily basis. That is an outline of the various work programmes in which Údarás na Gaeltachta is involved on a daily basis.
Gaeltacht areas are not removed from other parts of the country or the world in the sense that a different economic climate is emerging. In the period 2001 to 2003 when many manufacturing industries relocated to other parts of the world, the Gaeltacht was not alien to the impact of that change. Many companies chose to relocate from west Mayo, west Donegal or west Kerry to Latvia, Poland and other countries where they could produce goods at a lower price. Neither Údarás na Gaeltachta nor the Government could curtail that trend. A private company can decide to create jobs in an economic environment in which it can manufacture goods at a lower rate.
Údarás na Gaeltachta, the IDA, Enterprise Ireland or any State agency cannot create jobs; it is not their function to do so. Their function is to create the environment that will allow entrepreneurs create jobs that the communities they represent require. I do not share the views of my colleague, Senator Doherty, that Údarás na Gaeltachta has not been successful in creating employment. Having read the report and heard what is happening in Gaeltacht areas, it is clear that if Údarás na Gaeltachta was not representing those areas, very few employment opportunities would be available to local residents.
Údarás na Gaeltachta represents the most geographically dispersed areas of western European, which would have been the poorer areas of Ireland when the 1956 Gaeltacht Act came into force. They were poorer as the people living in them spoke Irish, while those living in other areas in those regions spoke English. In my father's time and even into the 1970s and 1980s people living in the Gaeltacht areas, from Deputy Ring's area in County Mayo and counties Galway and Donegal, went to Scotland and other parts of the world to work. As they did not speak English, they found it extremely difficult to communicate in their adopted lands. Thankfully, in more recent years, particularly since 1979 when Údarás na Gaeltachta was established, they have had an opportunity to return home to gain employment in their native areas and speak their native language without fear of being intimidated by anyone. If Údarás na Gaeltachta did not exist, many of those jobs would be available either.
Companies such as Contact 4 established in this country during the good times and received substantial grant aid from a State agency. At a very late state it informed that State agency and its employees that it would relocate from this country. If it had not set up in County Donegal at that time, the jobs would not have been created and the resulting local investment would not have fed into the local economy. It is now a matter for the executive of Údarás na Gaeltachta to seek the reimbursement of the moneys paid out. I am appalled at the treatment of the workers in Contact 4 by its management, particularly the managing director or owner of the company. He should not have treated the workers in the way he did or the officials of Údarás na Gaeltachta who dealt with him in a co-operative manner. The treatment the workers endured was despicable. I commend the chief executive on the way he dealt with workers individually and devised a mechanism to ensure they received whatever outstanding moneys were due to them.
Some 11,500 employees, comprising more than 8,000 full-time employees and 3,500 part-time employees, are employed in Gaeltacht companies in the seven counties. That is a reflection of the ongoing work being done in those areas. I support some of the comments of Deputy McGinley in that, as I have mentioned at various board meetings, my Gaeltacht area requires particular attention, given that jobs were lost in certain parts. I am heartened by the fact that a marketing campaign has been launched to promote the Falcarragh industrial estate. I hope 100 new jobs will be created in that industrial estate by the end of this year or early in 2009. Much good work is taking place there and it is our responsibility, as elected representatives, to support the work of Údarás na Gaeltachta. If we do not, we will not achieve the outcomes we desire. I am delighted the representatives of Údarás na Gaeltachta are at this meeting and I thank them for their presentation.
Ba mhaith liom a rá go bhfuil meas mór agam ar an Ghaeilge. Níl sé chomh líofa agam agus ba cheart. Tá brón orm nach bhfuil mé chomh líofa leis na Seanadóirí Ó Domhnaill, Ó Murchú agus Ó Dochartaigh. Ar nós mo chara, an Teachta de Faoite, tá mé ag foghlaim. Tá mé ag dul i bhfeabhas, b'fhéidir.
Tá an Teachta ag foghlaim go tapaidh.
Ba mhaith liom cur leis an méid a dúirt an beirt ionadaí ón údarás. Tá cúpla ceist agam. Ar leathnach 2, deir an údarás, "there is no jobs crisis". I am delighted to read this in the report. At the last meeting of the committee, a section of which I chaired, there was doom and gloom on the part of Deputy Ring and Senator Doherty about the absolute catastrophe befalling Údarás na Gaeltachta. Being from the Dublin North constituency, I must admit that my background information on Údarás na Gaeltachta is limited——
Like the Government, the Deputy would not know a great deal about it.
——but it appeared that there was a crisis and that the Gaeltacht was falling apart. As a person who aspires to having the Irish language and culture promoted, I am delighted to read in the report that there is a net gain in jobs, despite the job losses.
Cé mhéad?
Caoga nó mar sin. Tá sé sin níos fearr ná an rud eile. Obviously, Údarás na Gaeltachta operates in difficult circumstances, given the peripheral location of many Gaeltacht areas. Infrastructural issues must be addressed, as everybody acknowledges. However, things are improving, as I have seen on my occasional trips to the west. With regard to Contact 4, why were the facilities set up in three locations instead of one? I would have expected that a company setting up and receiving grant aid should prove itself in one location. Few organisations worldwide can trade profitably in different locations. The geographical differences between County Donegal, Achill and County Kerry would make it difficult for management to be in full control. That is my observation.
Ar leathnach 6 — foirgnimh, oifigí agus production buildings — Údarás na Gaeltachta refers to getting them under its control. What is meant by this? Does it mean building and owning the buildings? I would have expected this to be well advanced during the years.
With regard to the Irish language, Seanadór Ó Murchú made some relevant points on the promotion of the Irish language and cultural issues. There is a far greater desire on the part of Irish people to recognise our language, culture, music, games and so forth. In nearly every town one can walk down the street and not recognise a language being spoken. When I walk down Main Street, Swords, five out of ten people are speaking foreign languages such as Polish and Latvian. That focuses our attention on being Irish. I believe the climate is favourable for promoting the Irish language and culture.
TG4 has been an outstanding success. One of the reasons is its promotion of Gaelic games. Many of the contributors do not speak Irish — the players and mentors who are asked for comments use English — but there is a great deal of Irish usage. Such programmes help to promote the culture. For Irish people, even if they must read the subtitles, it is a great improvement on watching other foreign stations.
With regard to the involvement of Údarás na Gaeltachta in promoting Gaeilge and cultural issues, is there enough co-operation with other agencies such as Bord na Gaeilge in promoting Irish culture? Senator Ó Murchú mentioned the music sector and cultural tourism. If all the agencies co-operated effectively, there could be a vast improvement.
I welcome the members of Údarás na Gaeltachta. If the figures provided in the presentation are correct, Údarás na Gaeltachta is responsible for 40% of the employment figures through Údarás assisted companies. In that context, will the representatives state if 28,500 people are employed in the Gaeltacht or if that figure refers to the available workforce? It was wonderful to listen to the Irish speakers. If Údarás na Gaeltachta does not develop and continue the current trend, the Irish language will suffer. The Gaeltacht areas form the backbone of current developments with a gaelscoil and, in many instances, a gaelcoláiste in practically every town. If that and the love of the Irish language are to develop further, obviously the work being done in youth clubs and their development, as mentioned by Senator Ó Domhnaill, and everything that goes with it will work in tandem to ensure the language will develop. In that context, Údarás na Gaeltachta is more than simply a development agency for employment.
In my part of the country there is a gaelscoil in Athy, a gaelscoil and gaelcoláiste in Newbridge, a gaelcoláiste in Portlaoise and a gaelscoil and gaelcoláiste in Carlow. There is a huge emphasis on the Irish language and the momentum is encouraging people to move towards Irish. I have mentioned previously that Irish classes are held in a small hall in the area where I live. We are learning, although we are not in the same league as the distinguished speakers I have heard today. It is wonderful to hear them and I hope we will reach that level some day. However, the backbone is Údarás na Gaeltachta and its presence throughout the country.
One can also see the major difficulties concerning its development from an infrastructural perspective. To get the best results from existing companies there is a great need for broadband facilities. There have been discussions on this matter but the Government should finalise it for once and for all. Space could be hired from satellite companies to expand broadband provision. In the most accessible areas there is currently a nine-month delay in having ordinary telephone lines installed, which is very frustrating. What is the alternative in Údarás areas where signals may have to cross mountains or reach islands? If it is that difficult to get a land line, how will we achieve general broadband availability? This challenge must be grasped. When the Minister decides to pursue that line which people are now portraying as the ultimate success story, we may see more opportunities in Údarás areas. Small units can develop with people working from home, giving rise to other possibilities concerning agri-tourism and other business aspects. Broadband availability will suddenly open up all the other mechanisms. As well as paying homage to what is being done, we must also help future development. It is our job as Opposition spokespersons to ensure the good work being undertaken by Údarás na Gaeltachta is brought to the fore. It is wonderful to see the Údarás representatives here today but, as the committee responsible for the area, we need to see this work being done on a regular basis to ensure progress will be made.
As regards the sum of €5 million for accredited third level courses, will those courses benefit Údarás areas of responsibility or will they just be courses for people who live in Gaeltacht areas? There is a difference. Perhaps the representatives can outline the benefits of the courses. Is there a need to advance them further to develop Gaeltacht areas?
One of the smallest sections of the report deals with the marine sector, including aquaculture. What research has been done in that regard? Have we put enough thought into re-establishing the sector to ensure its success? I remember the sad situation when so many fish farms were beginning to lose out because the momentum that had been built up at first was lost. What research has been done to ensure that this time around it will be a success?
As a tradesman in my earlier days, it is wonderful to see that 250 apprentices are attached to Údarás courses. At this stage Údarás na Gaeltachta is probably the largest employer of apprentices in the country. In the old days we had the sugar factories, the ESB and Bord na Móna but they all fell by the wayside for apprentices. Údarás na Gaeltachta is to be commended on its role in employing apprentices.
As regards the overall context, I hope we will have another opportunity to examine this issue and see what developments lie ahead. If the figure of 28,500 employees is correct, the people who lost their jobs in Contact 4 represent a small percentage of the total number employed within the area. I listened to the owner of the company on "Liveline" with Joe Duffy, to whom Senator Brian Ó Domhnaill referred. The owner did not seem to have any regard for what was in place and did not want to discuss it. The attitude seemed to be that if one did not make a mistake, one would never make anything, and that if it was a bad investment, so be it; one learns by one's mistakes and must move on.
I hope Gaeltacht employment will be a core issue for the committee for the duration of the term of office of the Government. I also hope we will see Údarás representatives coming before the committee more often. I am concerned about the development of the Irish language but I am sure Údarás na Gaeltachta will play a significant role in that regard. I congratulate its representatives and wish them well.
Ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas a ghabháil le Mr. Ó hAoláin agus Mr. Ó Cualáin as ucht an achoimre ar obair an údaráis a thug siad dúinn. Is as cathair Chorcaí mé — áit nach bhfuil ach 30 míle ó Ghaeltacht Mhúscraí. Tá an Ghaeltacht sin an-tábhachtach do mhuintir na cathrach agus na chontae ina iomláine. Labhraím go minic le daoine ó Mhúscraí. Tá roinnt ábhair conspóideacha sa cheantar nach bhfuil réitithe go fóill. Tá ionadh orm go bhfuil áthas ar bhaill Fianna Fáil gur féidir le ceannaire úr an phairtí sin an Ghaeilge a labhairt. Tá an Ghaeilge go líofa ag ceannaire Fine Gael, an Teachta Kenny. Bhí iar-cheannairí an phairtí, ar nós an Teachta Noonan agus Alan Dukes, in ann an teanga a labhairt freisin. Ní cloisim an Taoiseach reatha ag labhairt an Ghaeilge go minic, áfach — is dóigh liom go bhfuil easpa Gaeilge aige. Bronnaim mo chomhghairdeas leis an Teachta Cowen as ucht an Ghaeilge a úsáid ar maidin. I hope he will not use the Irish language as a political vehicle to take it away from our leader's ability to communicate trí Gaeilge.
The Senator should listen to our Ministers more often.
Bhí mé ag caint mar gheall ar an gceannaire atá ann faoi láthair.
Tá Gaeilge líofa ag an Aire.
Tá a fhios agam go bhfuil an Ghaeilge ag na Seanadóir Ó Domhnaill agus Ó Murchú. Úsáideann siad an Ghaeilge sa Seanad go minic. Is breá liom an rud chéanna a dhéanamh freisin. Ní chloisim an Taoiseach, an Teachta Parthalán Ó hEachthairn, ag úsáid an Ghaeilge go minic. B'fhéidir gur chóir don Teachta Kennedy éisteacht liom.
Beidh Gaeilge ag an Taoiseach úr.
Tá Gaeilge maith aige.
I would like to raise an issue that was raised earlier. Tá aithne ag an chuid is mó againn ar foirgneamh cáiliúil — Coláiste Íosagáin — i mBaile Mhic Íre. Is dóigh liom go bhfuil sé folamh le 20 bliain anuas. Tá a fhios agam go ndúirt an Aire, an Teachta Ó Cuív, roimh an olltoghchán anuraidh go lonnófar ionad oideachais ann. Dúirt an Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta le déanaí nach bhfuil dul chun cinn sásúil déanta leis an tionscadal sin. I am aware that before the election last year, an tAire Ó Cuív said it would be used as a headquarters building. Chomh maith le sin, tá sé luaite go mbeidh ionad Sheáin Ó Riada sa bhfoirgneamh chéanna. Tá sé beartaithe ag an údarás go n-aistreofaí a gcuid oifigí i mBaile Mhic Íre ann. Tá Coláiste Íosagáin an-tábhachtach do mhuintir Chorcaí. Tá sé thar a bheith tábhachtach do mhuintir Chorcaí go dtosnófar forbairt éigin ann. I hope Mr. Ó hAoláin or Mr. Ó Cualáin will update us on what is happening with regard to Coláiste Íosagáin. I apologise that my Irish is not as fluent as it should be. Perhaps that is a topic for another forum because I did honours Irish in the leaving certificate examination at school and should be able to use it. Like an Teachta Ó Cinnéide agus an Teachta de Faoite, tá mé ag athfhoghlaim an Ghaeilge.
In his presentation Pádraig Ó hAoláin referred to the issue of employment for third level graduates in the Gaeltacht. It is important to re-energise Gaeltacht areas. In particular, we need to have postanna oiriúnacha cruthaithe dos na scoláirí. Will Mr. Ó hAoláin outline the strategy Údarás would use to attract high level industries such as pharmaceuticals and those involved in research and development? He spoke about third level degrees and NUI Galway. It is important we augment and support the work of Údarás na Gaeltachta and I commend it on its work. It is important we hold it to account for what it does.
It is also important that we highlight and promote the use of Irish. One of the ways we can do that is to attract high level industries to Gaeltacht areas. I would like to hear the answer in regard to Coláiste Íosagáin.
I raise a point of order. As a native Irish speaker, I am very disappointed that we do not have simultaneous translation facilities. We are here to discuss the Irish speaking areas of this country. Some of us would like to make our entire contribution in Irish. I tried to make mine bilingually. Others spoke in Irish and then felt obligated to say the same thing in English in deference to those who are not as fluent as we are. I question whether that is the best use of time at a committee such as this. We put much effort into having that facility at the European Parliament. We are dealing with areas in which Irish is spoken but I was not at liberty to speak in my language. What was the point in doing so? I wanted my colleague, Deputy Ring, to know what I was saying.
I hope he was listening.
I would not be as hypocritical as Fianna Fáil has been about the Irish language for the past 75 years.
When Údarás na Gaeltachta has meetings, they are conducted entirely through the medium of Irish but that has not happened in the national assembly. I could have made my entire contribution in Irish but that would not have been fair to members. Everyone here means well and I have never used the language as a political instrument or weapon. However, in the interests of conservation of time and so on, it would be far more efficient if I could make my entire contribution in Irish as other Deputies and Senators would do. Those who want to make their contribution in English are free to do so as they are as committed as anyone else. Why do we not have that facility, which the European Parliament has, here, especially when we are dealing with the Gaeltacht, Údarás na Gaeltachta and even Roinn na Gaeltachta?
The Deputy's points are well made. There is only one committee room with facilities for simultaneous translation. Unfortunately, it was not available today. We have another meeting in a few weeks' time and we have made arrangements to hold our meeting in that room where we will have direct translation.
That is stupid. This is the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Arts, Sport, Tourism, Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. That is the one room which should be available.
Was the other committee speaking another language? Which committee was in that room today?
I am not sure. It is room four and it was not available to us today. We have made arrangements for the next day.
I raised this issue in the previous session. I fully agree with Deputy McGinley. It is difficult for us to speak entirely in Irish if we believe there are people who cannot follow what we are saying. I would have thought each committee room would have had a translation system. This is not only about Gaeilge or Béarla. There is a possibility that in the future someone might address us in French or German. I agree that as far as this committee is concerned, there should be a translation system.
I will write to the chairman of the committees and ask that we are permanently allocated room four so we can avail of the facilities. Would that solve the matter?
I have never had to address Mr. Ó hAoláin or Mr. Ó Cualáin in English. They are at this important meeting at which I had to change my modus operandi as far as the language is concerned. We would appreciate anything the Chairman can do.
A translation facility would be of help to those of us who are not as fluent in Irish.
I will write to the relevant authority and ask that we are permanently assigned room four. The Minister is waiting to come in. I ask Mr. Ó hAoláin to answer the questions.
Mr. Pádraig Ó hAoláin
Tá go leor ceisteanna ansin. B'fhearr liom i bhfad dá b'fhéadfainn an cur i láthair iomlán a dhéanamh trí Ghaeilge. Tá súil agam go gheobhaimid cuireadh ar ais arís amach anseo agus go mbeidh deis againn an Ghaeilge a labhairt an uair sin. Bheadh sé níos feiliúnaí dúinne. D'oireadh sé níos fearr don bhunús ar a bhfuilimid ag obair agus na cuspóirí go léir atá againn. Níl an tseirbhís sin ar fáil inniu, áfach, agus glacfaimid leis an leagan amach atá ann.
I agree with those who stated that this is important for members and for us. It is important we have the opportunity to tease out these issues with members because for us as public servants and for members as public representatives, the bottom line is whether the taxpayer is getting value for money from the Exchequer funding provided each year to Údarás na Gaeltachta as a State agency to achieve the challenging objectives set out for it. I believe the taxpayer is getting good value for money from the Exchequer funding to Údarás na Gaeltachta. I welcome the opportunity to address the questions relating to that objective and the methods Údarás na Gaeltachta utilises to achieve its economic, social and language objectives.
There are many questions, ach déanfaidh mé iarracht freagraí chomh iomlán agus is féidir a thabhairt do chuile dhuine a iarr na ceisteanna. Níl aon tionchar againn ar an cinneadh a dhéanadh sa staidéar teangeolaíochta maidir le ceantar na Rossa nó aon cheantar eile.
We will forward our views on the conclusions and recommendations of An Staidéar Teangeolaíochta to the Department. The categorisation of various areas which has been done has no status at present other than the fact it is used on a language planning basis within the report. Other than that, it has no status.
Deputy McGinley raised a number of questions in regard to ceantar Chloich Cheann Fhaola. We have a focused marketing campaign at present focused on the particular area, ceantar Chloich Cheann Fhaola agus ceantar an Fhál Charrach trí chéile. That is being handled by a number of staff and it means the facilities available are being brought to the notice of a wide range of companies. We are using all the contacts available to us. Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland are working collaboratively with us on that and I am optimistic that good results will emanate from it. It is focused on the particular area and, as I said, the facilities available and the specifications of those facilities have been distributed far and wide through the network of business networks which IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and ourselves have with a broad section of the business community in Ireland, the United States of America and elsewhere.
Hovit was specifically mentioned. It closed last year with the loss of 52 jobs having been hobbling along for approximately two years before that. We are now at an advanced stage of negotiations with a company which will establish there in the near future. We hope to be in a position to complete these negotiations within the next month to six weeks. The number of jobs which will be delivered in that factory will be far in excess of the number when the factory closed last November.
We are working closely with the six islands. The main supports we have provided until now have been through the co-operative structures. We can provide a higher level of funding, as can the Department, through co-operative structures to provide a range of services on these islands and to act as advocates for them. There is an enterprise centre on Árainn Mór. We will work with our staff and the island co-operative to source local enterprises. I will return that issue.
The focus of our overall building programme is from An Rinn i bPort Láirge suas go dtí an Tearmann i nDún na nGall. The committee will notice, in the overall building programme which we have, that we are focusing, from An Rinn i bPort Láirge suas go dtí an Tearmann i nDún na nGall, on providing in each of these outlying areas multipurpose enterprise and service facilities suitable for small to medium sized enterprises and these will be focused specifically on attracting indigenous entrepreneurs in each area. We have completed a number and five or six more are on the cards, some of which are under construction. Their main purpose is to facilitate local entrepreneurs and businesses with work space, which is often a drawback for those who wish to set up facilities. The full range of supports Údarás has for small to medium sized industries is available to them.
Consultants, mentors and a full suite of supports are available for small industries. They are drawn on by a considerable number of businesses but not by others. Part of the job we have is to convince more companies to take up the available instruments, not only mentors and advisers but also research and development grants, which are hugely important to companies to maintain competitiveness and, thereby, retain jobs. Very often one of the reasons companies lay off people is they lose competitiveness and they cannot maintain their market share. We work very closely in this area with Enterprise Ireland, which has national responsibility for the RTI research and development programme. We act as an agent for EI in the Gaeltachtaí.
Níl aon ról ag Údarás sa chéad chéim eile d'fhorbairt aerstráice Oileán Thóraí. Is ceist don Roinn agus muintir an oileáin í sin.
Deputy Ring raised a number of questions relating to Contact 4, which I would like to address. The receiver was appointed on 12 March and met all the staff at the three locations that day. All the forms relating to their various entitlements have been distributed to them and, as of last week, only 50% had been returned. They were forwarded immediately by the receiver to the fund administrators in the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. As soon as they come in, they are forwarded and all their entitlements will be met.
I have stated publicly on a number of occasions that revocation of the grant aid paid by Údarás was set in train on 7 March prior to the appointment of the receiver by us and that will be followed through. There will be no question of a choice between the grant aid being paid back to Údarás and the workers' entitlements being withheld. Priority will be given from the funding available to their entitlements. However, they were told at the first meeting they had with the receiver that it would take between six and eight weeks to get their entitlements through on the understanding that all the necessary documentation would be returned to the receiver, which was not the case up to last week. We are encouraging the workers in all three locations to work with the receiver in order that they can obtain their entitlements. Údarás will follow the normal legal procedures regarding the revocation of grants. The training grants, in particular, are non-repayable.
The Deputy queried whether the company had been checked out. Contact 4 came with an excellent track record and met all the criteria of a national agency in regard to its background, profitability, markets and record. It had a strong presence at the time in the smart loans business and as a high street broker of grants between the main institutions and consumers. I do not need to outline what happened in the subprime loans business. Banks almost went to the wall and this company was squeezed in the middle. Unfortunately, it handled the closure in a very unsatisfactory manner and the staff were treated very shabbily. At the same time, this was our first entry into international traded services and the company was part of the first wave of traded services. A considerable number of people are available, which is one of the reasons we have succeeded in attracting more substantial companies and interested parties, most of whom are in the Irish market, to examine the facilities and make them aware trained staff are available following the failure of this company.
The Achill business was unfortunate because it was the last of Contact 4's to be established. However, between its establishment and closure in excess of €12.5 million was paid to staff in wages and, therefore, into the local economy and approximately €1.2 million in taxes were paid to the Exchequer. These were up to date at the closure and there is some comfort in that, although there is little comfort in the job losses. We are within reach of replacing those jobs in a relatively short period. The advantage is skilled people are available in each of the centres.
With regard to ICP in Belmullet, we are keeping in close contact with the company. We are assured there will be no major change this year. At the same time, we are working on the basis we need to provide not only replacement jobs but additional jobs. We are showing a number of companies the facilities in the area. There are no indications ICP will suffer a setback but I am reasonably optimistic we will be in a position to move quickly if there is a downturn in the company's business or staffing level. Contact 4 met all the criteria we apply on the same basis as all other State agencies.
With regard to grant aid, we operate according to the same regional aid guidelines as all other agencies, except in regard to community development programmes and community-based projects. We do not have flexibility to offer additional grant aid. The advantage we have is we have considerable control over the training and availability of staff and the provision of suitable buildings because we have our own building division. We have no alternative but to build because the Gaeltacht has an insignificant private sector market in factories and office space. There are many advantages to us providing space or refurbishing or reconfiguring to the requirements of new enterprises as they move in.
I am surprised by the references by Deputy Ring and Senator Doherty to support for indigenous enterprises, our plans to support such companies and the perception that a red carpet is laid out for foreign direct investment or Irish investors from outside the area. That is not the case. The door is open in all three regional offices. Our staff visit all Gaeltachtaí and we conduct local clinics beating the bushes to invite people in who have projects that could be grant aided. Some cannot be funded and Údarás has no option but to turn them down. We cannot, for instance, grant aid retail projects and a number of professional services because they do not fall within the terms of reference of the regional aid guidelines. As far as possible, we broaden the parameters of the incentives as far as we can to include as many as possible within the net. One of the indications of that is seven or eight years ago, 70% of jobs created resulted from external investment or FDI whereas last year 54% of new jobs were created by local indigenous enterprises with the balance resulting from external investment. The figure fluctuates from year to year. When I was appointed chief executive three years ago, we set out new development and language maps for the Gaeltacht. One of the targets we set ourselves was to have a 50:50 balance between local indigenous enterprises and foreign direct investment by 2010. We are making good progress, although I do not rule out a swing in another direction next year. Obviously, we would not turn away a major employer with a good background if it met all the criteria.
I would like details of any local projects which are not being grant-aided by Údarás na Gaeltachta or people who are being told it cannot provide grant aid. We would bend over backwards to support any local individual, family or company who wanted to set up or expand. Nevertheless, we cannot give more grant aid than is available in other areas. One advantage we have relates to the level of rent we expect from companies which lease buildings from us. In 99.9% of cases the arrangements for buildings are on a leasing basis. While the leeway we have in this respect is advantageous compared to that in other areas, the overall package must remain within the same guidelines as those implemented throughout the region.
Broadband is still a problem. The first question most companies, both small and large, ask is whether broadband connectivity is available. Broadband is not available in about 45% of the Gaeltacht and in some areas where it is available it is not to advanced DSL standard, the minimum required by most companies. To address this problem, three years ago we commissioned Norcontel to prepare two reports for us, one on the cost of bringing broadband to all the mainland Gaeltacht areas and a second on bringing broadband to all the islands, not only Gaeltacht islands. These reports have been provided for the Department and are available to the Government. It would cost €1.5 million to bring broadband connectivity to all islands with 50 or more residents, while the cost of connecting all Gaeltacht areas to broadband was estimated at €10.5 million. The figures were produced two years ago. The groundwork has been done on advancing the level of broadband connectivity throughout the Gaeltacht.
Deputy White asked about the shellfish sector, specifically mussels and oysters. Údarás na Gaeltachta has supported a considerable number of small projects throughout the Gaeltacht, from Helvick Harbour up to south-west Donegal. The largest project is probably in the west Connemara area where the Connemara shellfish co-operative operated for a number of years with a considerable number of members before getting into trading difficulties two or three years ago. It has been restructured and is being re-established. Údarás na Gaeltachta will part-fund the re-establishment and more than likely fund the appointment of a manager for a specific period to get the new entity back on its feet. There is a substantial untapped resource in the shellfish sector and we believe we have only skimmed the surface of its potential. As the salmon farming sector more or less speaks for itself, I will not address that issue in detail.
My response on the question concerning the focus of our efforts in renewable energy products may answer some of the questions raised by other Deputies, notably Deputy Wall's question on skill levels and jobs for qualified people. Údarás na Gaeltachta is targeting ICT software, food and added value, with particular emphasis on seafood, a sector in which there is untapped potential. Údarás na Gaeltachta is one of the implementing bodies for the Cawley report and will work collaboratively with the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and the Marine Institute.
Other targeted areas include niche manufacturing, internationally traded services, life sciences and medical devices, which we are managing to attract in increasing numbers as small companies begin to come forward in the digital media area. We are confident we can also build on the independent television production area in the Gaeltacht and bring it to a higher level of skill. Last Friday we approved a substantial funding programme to achieve this objective and support existing companies in collaboration with TG4.
Deputy White will be pleased to note that we are also targeting green technology. Údarás na Gaeltachta has established an internal group known as the renewable energy bureau and received some support from Sustainable Energy Ireland to fund the appointment of a full-time person for three years to promote this concept and philosophy in three areas. First, we must put our own house in order. We have a considerable number of buildings under our control. We have buildings extending to approximately 200,000 sq m. Starting with our head office, we will examine energy use to identify the extent to which energy savings can be made. Second, we have decided that renewable energy sources be sussed out to the fullest possible extent for all new buildings or major refurbishments. Third, we will identify renewable energy projects at community level. We are working closely with the Western Development Commission in this regard and also have a team working on the issue. We have staff members working on how we can use green technology to source employment-giving projects in the small to medium sector.
On walking holidays and turasóireacht chultúrtha, to which Seanadóir Ó Murchú referred, a Údarás na Gaeltachta group is focusing on the cultural tourism sector. We offer a range of incentives and work closely with 27 local co-operative groups. Until now, these groups which are funded by Údarás na Gaeltachta presented us with their own programmes of work to service their communities. We now stipulate that in order to avail of grant aid they must focus on three areas, namely, cultural tourism, Irish language management or promotion in their areas and social services for their communities. These three issues must feature at the top of their list of priorities. They must also look for opportunities to promote a higher level of awareness of renewable energies and produce practical projects in their areas. We are establishing a support training and awareness programme for this purpose. This is an essential element of raising the level of awareness of these issues at local community level. Access to land and, in certain places, the foreshore presents some problems in promoting walking holidays.
Labhair an Seanadóir Ó Murchú mar gheall ar ábhar a bhaineann linne. Tá mé an-dóchasach gur féidir linn ár gcuid spriocanna a bhaint amach. It is important that Údarás na Gaeltachta believes in what it is doing and the feasibility of achieving its ambitious targets on job creation and its broad range of economic, social and language objectives. Over the course of the year a considerable number of staff involved in all these areas report on a quarterly basis on the targets set at the beginning of each year. We do not have sufficient time to deal with this issue in detail. I disagree with Senator Doherty's point in this regard, although our disagreement may be on the use of words. I recognise the need for more jobs in areas which have the advantage of having a complex offering a range of job opportunities such as páirc ghnó Ghaoth Dobhair. We have set a target of increasing the number of jobs at páirc ghnó Ghaoth Dobhair to the previous level of 1,000 by 2010. I have no doubt but that we will achieve this. We will take substantial steps towards doing so in the course of the year. On south-west Donegal and the Cloich Cheann Fhaola area, we recognise the need to replace industries. That is one reason we have a focused marketing campaign on Cloich Cheann Fhaola. I do not want to see empty factories in our industrial estates. We are not only putting more energy into achieving this but there is also greater collaboration with other agencies to ensure we are all playing for Ireland Inc. and focusing on the areas in most need of more jobs.
I certainly recognise that there are many areas where there is a great need to increase the level of job creation and sustain the jobs already provided. Some areas have not benefited fully from the progress made in recent years. We have no magic wand to achieve targets that cannot be achieved on a national scale. Overall, the national outturn was such that the job levels of the previous year were more or less sustained. This was regarded as a major achievement.
We had some setbacks last year. Hovid employed 52 staff. Ultimately, we considered it more beneficial to state to the company which was limping along with workers in limbo, three months on and three off or one week on and one off, that we would prefer if it closed. We asked that we be given the opportunity to find a replacement industry which would secure full-time jobs. I am glad we are now at an advanced stage in negotiations with a company which will achieve this and provide more jobs.
Any inability on our part to support services can only relate to services not subject to grant aid because of national policy. An féidir linn seirbhís chomhairleorachta a chuir ar fáil? Is féidir, gan aon amhras. Our staff are available to assist any individual, company or group in submitting forms. We want to make the process as simple as possible. The less bureaucracy at all levels of our organisation and others, the better. I hope there are no bureaucratic reasons people believe they cannot make progress working with us. I attended 26 public meetings throughout the Gaeltacht last year and did not get the message at any one of them nach bhfuil meas ag daoine ar fud na Gaeltachta ar Údarás na Gaeltachta. Perhaps there is this sentiment unknown to us and that those nach bhfuil meas acu ar an Údarás were not at the meetings. We provided the opportunity to attend and will do so again. We will provide the opportunity for them to talk to us about what they want us to do for their community. This is our road map. A partnership between ourselves and local communities is the best way of achieving our goal of sustaining those communities.
Deputy Kennedy asked why the company mentioned was set up in three locations. They are three separate companies, although they are all associate companies of Contact 4. They considered the three locations would offer the best opportunity to have staff focusing on particular aspects of the businesses. They were not all in the same line of business but in related aspects. It was considered that three units operating independently, each with its own local management structure, would be the best approach. On the one hand, we may have learned a lesson from this but, on the other, we have a basis for introducing companies to facilities where there are trained staff who have experience of the financial services operation in question and who will offer considerable advantages to new enterprises with which we are negotiating. We hope the latter will be in place within the next couple of months. The staff will have the advantage of having been trained to the level required in order to operate in the facilities.
I asked about ownership. I assume Údarás na Gaeltachta owns all its properties. The report seems to indicate that it desires to own them but that it does not in reality.
Mr. Pádraig Ó hAoláin
Údarás na Gaeltachta owns all the properties. They are all owned by the State and were built with Exchequer funding. In the normal course of events we lease buildings to companies which operate in them. In the past four or five years we have been selling off some of the buildings, in most cases to existing tenants. There are two sensible reasons for doing so. First, it is a method of recycling Exchequer funding because the buildings were built with taxpayers' funds in the first instance. In most cases the sale secures the company in question. If it owns the building, it is better off on its balance sheet than in our asset portfolio. It also ensures it will invest in the building. Approximately 20% of our overall portfolio of buildings is being sold off over a period of four to five years, which period will end at the end of this year or in early 2009. The moneys accrued are added to the Exchequer funds every year. We own our buildings.
We must finish. We have spent a long time on this issue and the Minister is waiting.
Mr. Pádraig Ó hAoláin
On the question of whether there is sufficient co-operation with other agencies, there is in some respects. There is a very high level of co-operation with the development agencies. Similarly, there is a very high level of collaboration and co-operation with the Department on a day-to-day basis. Our offices are located close to each other and we work hand in hand, particularly in the language and development area.
A particularly beneficial collaboration involves Údarás na Gaeltachta and the Arts Council. Some €1 million per year is invested to support contemporary and traditional arts among a wide range of businesses, individuals, studios and arts festivals in the Gaeltachtaí. This would not be possible without the full participation of the Arts Council.
Deputy Wall asked a number of questions, one of which was related to the investment in third level courses. I refer to courses open to all. They are not confined to Gaeltacht students. They are funded by Údarás na Gaeltachta because it regards them as a very important means of investing in people. In the context of the knowledge economy, having access to a wide range of courses within one's own area is a very important part of our effort to ensure the availability of highly skilled staff. The work we do with the third level colleges — there are five or six involved — is very important, not just from a socio-economic perspective. The colleges are working on the ground in the areas in question and the students are having an impact in areas such as Carna, an Roinn, Gaoth Dobhair, An Cheathrú Rua, etc. Professional staff are employed and they have an impact locally. They have a very important psychological impact in respect of the language.
On the marine sector, there is a very high level of collaboration with the Irish Marine Institute and the Martin Ryan Marine Science Institute in Galway which has a subsidiary research and development unit in Carna which is due for upgrading and substantial expansion in the coming years. This will have a great impact on marine development along the coast.
As mentioned, Údarás na Gaeltachta is more than an employment agency. We work with Comhar Naíonraí na Gaeltachta, which operates 80 preschool groups, or naíonraí, throughout the Gaeltacht, and fund Óige na Gaeltachta, which deals with approximately 2,300 young people in more than 30 youth clubs.
We employed consultants to scope Coláiste Íosagáin. They discussed the particular requirements of all interested parties. It is intended to transfer the Údarás na Gaeltachta regional office there. We have been dealing with the Ó Riada family, the trust and University College Cork to establish a centre there that would be the best of Seán Ó Riada. It would be both a research and development area, an archive and exhibition and where courses could be held. We hope to submit a planning application in mid-summer for that development. Ceapaim gurb iad sin formhór na ceisteanna a ardaíodh.
I thank you both for the detailed presentation and responses to members' questions.
Sitting suspended at 6.31 p.m. and resumed at 6.33 p.m.