Ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghabháil as ucht an tacaíocht atá ann don chuid seo den Bhille. Ní mór dúinn a bheith cúramach anseo. Nílim ag caint faoi theach saoire do dhuine a chaitheann a laethanta saoire sa Ghaeltacht. Táimid ag caint faoi dhaoine atá ag filleadh ar an nGaeltacht chun cónaí ann. Tá a fhios agam go bhfuil daoine ag obair ón nGaeltacht sna cathracha mar shampla ach má tá an chlann ina ngnáthchónaí sa teach, beidh siad ábalta an deontas a fháil.
Maidir leis an deacracht eile, aontaím gur deacracht phraiticiúil é. Tá daoine ag filleadh ar an nGaeltacht atá pósta le daoine atá gan Ghaeilge. Tá scéimeanna againn sa Roinn a chuidíonn le daoine, go mór mór leis na páistí – an scéim cúnta teanga i scoileanna éagsúla mar shampla. Táthar ag caint freisin ar scéim chúnta teanga a chur ar fáil do dhaoine fásta, fosta, agus tá súil agam go gcuideoidh sé sin le hiarrthóirí atá ag iarraidh an Ghaeilge a fhoghlaim.
An Ghaeilge an rud is tábhachtaí anseo mar tá daoine ábalta deontais do thithe úr a fháil ón Roinn Comshaoil. Má bhíonn siad ábalta Gaeilge a fhoghlaim tig leo deontas breise a fháil ó mo Roinn, de thart ar £800. Ní haon mhíbhuntáiste é dóibh a bheith sa Ghaeltacht gan Ghaeilge mar tá siad ábalta an deontas eile a fháil. Ach i gcás deontais fheabhsúcháin agus mar sin de tá buntáiste ag na daoine sin a bhfuil Gaeilge acu mar níl na scéimeanna sin le fáil taobh amuigh den Ghaeltacht.
Tá súil agam go mbeidh daoine ag filleadh ar ais chun gnáthchónaí a dhéanamh sa Ghaeltacht. The grant for thatched houses has been increased in Gaeltacht areas from £2,300 to £2,796 up to £5,500.
The other matters referred to on Second Stage related to planning. If I had the chance to deal with planning in the Gaeltacht, I would be very happy, but the Roinn has consulted every county council regarding development plans and has had an input into the planning Acts. When one comes from a place like County Donegal, one can appreciate this. In places like Tory Island one is taken aback by the colour of the houses, but that is the tradition of the people and it would be wrong of me or anyone else to say that we think the particular shade of purple being used is a horrible colour. That is the nature of the people and what makes them unique. This tradition has been accepted in many planning offices.
It is very difficult, if one represents a constituency like mine and that of Senator Bonner, when people are characterised and designated in areas in which they have lived all their lives and where they would like to live. Those coming home from America and England also want to live in such areas and find it more than difficult to get planning permission. We have tried to support them by targeting the planning laws and development plans towards them. Those coming on a day trip or for a couple of weeks' holiday might think that it is a desecration to build a house in a certain area, but we must be balanced in supporting those who live in these areas and encouraging people to return to Gaeltacht areas while at the same time being cognisant of their beauty given that most are on the west coast. It is difficult to achieve that balance, which is a matter for county councils and local councillors. When it comes to the idiosyncrasies of island people and those who have lived all their lives on the west coast, we must view them as being unique and support them. That is the reason the Gaeltachtaí are different and we should encourage people to visit them and support tourism.
This is a planning matter on which I would not care to interfere with my colleague, the Minister for the Environment and Local Government, or locally elected representatives on county councils.