Seanad Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 10 Dec 2013

Vol. 228 No. 4

Adjournment Matters

Local Authority Housing

Senator Deirdre Clune

I thank the Cathaoirleach for allowing me to raise this issue, which has featured for some time. It arose during the annual meeting between members of both the Oireachtas and Cork City Council. We discussed the issue of vacant local authority housing. This is relevant to local authorities across the country. There is a shortage of housing and many thousands of families are looking for local authority housing. The number of vacant units in need of refurbishment so as to be fit for letting is increasing. The figure from Cork City Council is that, in the first nine months of last year, 83% of available houses had been repaired. This has now decreased to 51%. In Cork city alone, there are 305 houses that are not being let because there is no funding to upgrade them. It is a no-brainer that we should be making them fit for purpose, because there is no capital funding available to build. There is no house purchase scheme so the local authorities are not adding to their stock. Many of the vacant houses could fall into disrepair and be boarded up. They can become a source of contention for neighbours.

A sum of €15 million was allocated in the budget for a project to address vacant local authority housing. Perhaps the voluntary sector should be involved in this project given its ability to raise funds by means of loans. Will the €15 million be allocated on the basis of the housing stock held by individual local authorities? If so, the main cities - Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford - would receive the largest amounts. When will this money be made available to local authorities to ensure existing local authority dwellings can be made fit for occupation?

Minister of State at the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht (Deputy Dinny McGinley)

I thank Senator Clune for raising this matter. The Department is committed to supporting local authorities in maintaining and improving the quality of the national social housing stock through a range of measures, including large-scale urban regeneration programmes, improving the standard and energy efficiency of dwellings, pre-letting repairs and improvement and refurbishment works on vacant properties to restore them to productive use as quickly as possible. Making vacant stock available for re-letting was a priority in 2011 and 2012. During that period, the Department focused almost exclusively on refurbishing vacant properties, with the objective of returning as many of these as possible to productive use. As a result, approximately 4,700 units were improved at a cost of over €52 million.

The latest value for money study on management and maintenance of vacant dwellings in local authorities by the local government audit service made a number of sound recommendations on issues such as maintenance and repairs, all of which should help local authorities in implementing improvement works programmes. The best way to ensure that a property does not become void is to have proper, planned maintenance programmes in place. One of the recommendations of the report was that Dublin City Council pilot a term maintenance and refurbishment works contract to significantly reduce the re-letting time for vacant dwellings. This project has been very successful in reducing the average turnaround time from 27.82 weeks to 6.4 weeks. More than 500 units have been completed under this programme to date. In addition, more than 100 units are being refurbished with direct labour.

Given the concentration on vacant properties in recent years and in view of the substantial numbers of vacant properties that have been improved, my Department this year refocused attention on occupied and older dwellings which lack adequate insulation and draught-proofing. On 5 June, the Minister announced a new €50 million three-year energy efficiency investment programme for local authority homes. More than €10 million of this allocation will be spent this year, with a further €25 million to be spent in 2014 and the remaining €15 million to be spent in 2015. This programme will target the 25,000 least energy efficient properties and result in warmer homes and lower energy bills for thousands of families. It will also create approximately 1,000 jobs in the sector. To date, almost 9,000 dwellings have been upgraded under this measure, a figure that exceeds the forecast for the year and is a strong endorsement of the measure.

The additional €30 million Exchequer investment in social housing announced on budget day is expected to deliver some 500 local authority homes for families on the waiting list. Approximately half of this investment will enable the construction of new in-fill developments in areas with the highest demand for social housing. Another €15 million will be invested in bringing long-term vacant and boarded-up units back into social use. Detailed arrangements for the implementation of the two measures are being developed by my Department. It is intended to announce these arrangements as soon as possible, with a view to having the investment programme up and running as early as possible in 2014. The Department will request local authorities to submit proposals for inclusion under both measures in due course.

The 2014 Estimates also include a provision of €79.4 million for the national regeneration programme. The priorities for 2014 include the refurbishment of a substantial number of houses and apartments in Dublin, Cork, Limerick and a number of regional centres. The Minister is confident that the new €15 million programme for refurbishing vacant houses in 2014 will complement the regeneration programme and deliver positive outcomes in terms of value for money and high-quality homes for persons on waiting lists.

Senator Deirdre Clune

I emphasise the urgency of addressing this issue. Local authorities are preparing their budgets as we speak and it is important that the funding announced in the budget be made available to them as soon as possible in 2014 in order that they can address the problem of vacant houses.

Deputy Dinny McGinley

I will bring the comments of Senator Clune to the attention of the Minister, who regrets that he is unable to attend the House for this debate.

Banking Sector Regulation

Senator Lorraine Higgins

I thank the Minister of State, Deputy John Perry, for taking this matter, which proposes that the Minister for Finance or Central Bank consider granting a new licence to a bank which will concentrate its lending in the farming community.

We all remember the Agricultural Credit Corporation, ACC, which was established by the Government in 1927 for the purpose of financing agricultural development. ACC subsequently developed into ACC Bank and expanded its services to include finance for small and medium-sized businesses. While it was in existence, the bank had loan agreements of up to €310 million with 2,900 farmers and had 1,500 farmers among its 5,000 deposit account customers, who saved up to €110 million. As is clear from these statistics, ACC Bank was instrumental in assisting farmers.

The decision by Rabobank in 2002 to purchase ACC Bank from the State sealed the latter's destiny and it was subsequently announced that ACC Bank would close in 2014. While Rabobank has given an assurance that ACC Bank will continue to hold its loans to the agriculture sector, a significant proportion of the bank's loans are in difficulty and have been outsourced to a collection agency. This development poses obvious threats to farmers and their livelihood and places family farms at risk of repossession. I am most concerned about this prospect.

Worse still, Danske Bank announced some months ago that it will close its branches in Ireland. This means Bank of Ireland and Allied Irish Banks will command 70% of the marketplace, a level of dominance by the two pillars of Irish banking that has not been seen since the 1980s. To further bolster this uneven situation, I understand €100 million from the European Investment Bank is being made available to AIB and its borrowers only. While these funds are welcome, it is most unfortunate that they are being concentrated in a single bank and competition is not being allowed to thrive in the Irish banking industry.

The creation of ACC Bank in the 1980s helped alleviate the problem with banking competition. We are on the verge of a similar problem and people are already suffering from its effects, including higher interest rates. Closing ACC Bank hurt our farmers and business owners. The current state of banking cries out for a new initiative, not only to provide finance to small and medium-sized businesses and farmers but also to become a competitive lever to force the major banks to improve their standards of customer service and financial products.

I propose that the Government consider buying back ACC Bank. If that is not possible in the current economic circumstances, it should explore other avenues, especially given the widespread public support for action in the banking industry. A Government initiative to take back ownership of ACC Bank or establish a similar bank would be welcomed on all fronts. The Government could use some of the resources of the strategic investment fund. This would be in keeping with the investment principles of the fund, which include the provision of commercial investment to support economic growth and jobs, investing in areas of strategic importance and recycling capital to enable continuous investment in new projects.

When the Agricultural Credit Corporation was formed its purpose was to finance agricultural development. The original objectives and culture of ACC Bank, when in State ownership, would still hold good today.

Minister of State at the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (Deputy John Perry)

I thank Senator Higgins for raising the issue of lending to the farming community. The Government recognises that a strong agriculture sector is vital to our economy and plays a crucial role in employment growth.

A key priority is to ensure an adequate pool of credit is available to fund SMEs, including farms, in the real economy. It should be noted that the agriculture sector has recently shown increases in turnover, profitability and employment according to the Red C demand survey for the period April to September 2013 which was published earlier this week.

As I am sure the Senator is aware, ACC Bank will close all of its branches and business centres to the public and give up its banking licence next year. However, both AIB and Bank of Ireland are expected to lend to viable businesses, including farms. Both banks achieved their SME lending targets in 2011 and 2012. The Credit Review Office is available to assist businesses which have been refused credit and the upheld appeals have resulted in €18.5 million in credit being made available, protecting 1,521 jobs. This shows there is a strong prospect of success for SMEs going to the CRO and businesses refused credit are strongly encouraged to seek a review by the office. In recognition of the crucial role played by the CRO, in the recent budget the Minister for Finance increased the threshold at which SMEs can appeal refusals from €500,000 to €3 million. This will facilitate requests from a broader range of SMEs, as well as large requests for re-financing. It is vital that the banks continue to make credit available to support economic recovery. However, it is not in the interests of banks, businesses or the economy for finance to be provided unless the business is viable and has the capacity to meet the interest payments and repay the sums borrowed.

In June the Government announced its decision to establish the Ireland strategic investment fund which will absorb the National Pensions Reserve Fund and activate the NPRF's €6.4 billion of resources by making them available for investment on a commercial basis to support economic activity and employment in Ireland. The Minister for Finance anticipates the enabling legislation will be enacted early next year. Using the Ireland strategic investment fund, we will maximise our resources to enhance growth in the economy and improve key infrastructure to maintain Ireland's attractiveness as a place in which to do business and create employment. Already in the lifetime of the Government, the NPRF has established funds that support both strategic projects and a number that support SME financing that collectively involve commitments of €375 million. The role of a strategic investment bank over and above the contribution expected from the strategic investment fund will be informed by the requirements of the economy once the Government's key immediate objectives for the repair of the banking system have been completed.

The Taoiseach has indicated to the Dáil that he has held discussions with the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, and they have agreed that work will be undertaken to find ways to reinforce Ireland's economic recovery by improving funding mechanisms for the real economy, including access to finance for Irish SMEs. The German Government has asked KfW, the German development bank, to work with German and Irish authorities to deliver on this initiative at the earliest possible date. Officials from the Department of Finance have already exchanged working papers on this subject with KfW and the German Ministry of Finance. Discussions with the German ministry have been held in Berlin and a meeting has also been held between Department of Finance officials and KfW personnel. We will be moving forward with this work with KfW and other key stakeholders in the coming weeks both here and abroad.

With support from Chancellor Merkel, the Government's intention is to ensure an effective and successful initiative emerges from the process. We will, therefore, be discussing any and all approaches that meet the strategic objectives of both states and ultimately facilitate lending to the real economy, in particular SMEs in Ireland. Although the precise form and delivery mechanism for any assistance has yet to be agreed, discussions with German colleagues will allow us to consider appropriate options for funding the recovery of the economy in the course of our work with KfW and the German Government.

Senator Lorraine Higgins

I thank the Minister of State for his response. I welcome the positive news about the credit being made available to SMEs and the farming community. However, I urge the Government not to concentrate the funds coming from KfW in the two pillar banks. We need choice in the banking system because a responsible banking sector will only come about as a result of competition. We need more players in the market. By concentrating the KfW funds in the two pillar banks we would create the risk of setting back the banking industry and the sector for years. That would ultimately stunt economic growth. I ask the Minister of State to pass my concerns to the Minister for Finance in order that they can be taken into consideration in discussions that take place in the coming weeks.

Deputy John Perry

I will pass on the Senator's concerns to the Minister. There is a clear commitment from the Taoiseach and the Minister regarding the potential for KfW. Equally, however, Bank of Ireland plans a major new initiative for the fourth quarter involving its prominent branch network engaging with farmers at marts. As part of National Enterprise Week, the bank will be holding a series of agriculture credit clinics. In respect of AIB, the edition of Agri Matters for summer and autumn 2013 was circulated to farming customers beginning in August. Agri Mattersis AIB's publication aimed at farming customers and has a circulation of 15,000. Following the launch in July by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine of AIB's dairy sector report which was prepared in partnership with the Irish Farmers Association, the bank hosted a series of engagements with regional key stakeholders. The budget extended capital gains tax retirement relief to the disposal of farmland in certain circumstances to encourage older farmers to lease their land under long-term arrangements. Relief for young trained farmers was also extended by adding three courses to the list of eligible qualifications. The Government is conscious of the importance of the agri-economy and properly functioning banks.

An Teanga Gaeilge

Senator Brian Ó Domhnaill

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit, mo chomhghleacaí as Dún na nGall agus gabhaim buíochas leis as an rún seo a ghlacadh anocht.

Is cosúil go bhfuil fógra ó Fhoras na Gaeilge sna nuachtáin náisiúnta amárach ag lorg iarratais ó dhreamanna a mbeadh spéis acu tabhairt faoi nuachtán seachtainiúil Ghaeilge a fhoilsiú, agus é ráite sa bhfógra gur nuachtán leictreonach ar líne, atá i gceist agus nach bhfuil sé riachtanach leagan clóite a chur ar fáil don nuachtán. Is cosúil gur socraíodh gur nuachtán leictreonach ar líne amháin a bheadh sa nuachtán nua seachtainiúil, le deontas €1.2 milliún thar tréimhse ceithre bliana ar fáil chun sin a dhéanamh.

Níl an socrú seo ag teacht le torthaí ón bpróiséas comhairliúcháin a rith Foras na Gaeilge níos luaithe i mbliana. Léirigh an suirbhé a reachtáil an foras faoin gceist nach raiibh ach 21% ag iarraidh gur foilseachán nuachta leictreonach ar fáil ar líne amháin a bheadh ann. Bhí 51% de na daoine a rinneadh suirbhé orthu ag iarraidh nuachtáin chlóite de chineál éigin agus bhí 24% ag iarraidh meascán den dá rud. Tá sé tábhachtach go mbeadh ar Fhoras na Gaeilge aird a thabhairt ar mhianta pobal na Gaeilge. Is le freastal ar phobal na Gaeilge atá an Foras ann agus níor cheart an t-airgead poiblí a chaitheamh ar thionscnamh nach bhfuil ach mionlach beag á iarraidh.

Is airgead poiblí é seo agus b'fhéidir go gcuirfeadh an tAire Stáit an cheist cén fáth go bhfuil mé ag ardú na ceiste seo, ach tá 75% den chaiteachas atá ar fáil d'Fhoras na Gaeilge ag teacht ó Roinn an Aire Stáit agus 25% ag teacht ó DCAL, Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure, i dTuaisceart na hÉireann. Tá sé tábhachtach mar sin go mbeidh an t-airgead caite sa dóigh a bheidh in ann an buntáiste is mó a bhaint as an t-airgead sin, go háirithe nuair atá airgead gann.

Níl cúis ar bith nach bhféadfadh an nuachtán seachtainiúil Gaeilge an dá thrá a fhreastal: leagan ar líne do dhaoine ar fearr leo nuachtán a léamh ar líne agus leagan nuachtán clóite, dóibh siúd nach bhfuil, mar shampla, cleachtadh acu ar ríomhairí, nach bhfuil teacht acu ar bhanda leathan sa bhaile agus ar fearr leo, ar chúis amháin nó ar chúis eile, nuachtán a bheith ina lámha seachas ar líne nó ar fáil tríd an ríomhaire nó an iPhone nó mar sin de.

Is fadhb í go ndearna Foras na Gaeilge laghdú ar na buiséid don tionscnamh seo, ó €400,000 go €300,000 in aghaidh na bliana. Más ceist airgid í seo, b'fhiú dul i mbun plé leis an bhforas chun í a phlé. Má tá breis airgid de dhíth, tá sé tábhachtach go mbeidh sé ar fáil. Tá sé ráite ar leathanach 26 den Stráitéis Fiche Bliain don Ghaeilge, faoin teideal Léamh, Scríobh agus Labhairt, go bhfuil sé "riachtanach go mbeidh rochtain éasca ag an bpobal ar ábhar chlóite i nGaeilge i siopaí nuachtán, i siopaí leabhar agus ar an idirlíon má tá todhchaí le bheith ann do litríocht agus d'iriseoireacht chlóite". Deirtear chomh maith sa stráitéis nach mór modhanna traidisiúnta agus nuálacha a úsáid chun leas a bhaint as na deiseanna atá ann chun an Ghaeilge a léamh agus a scríobh agus í a thabhairt chun cinn agus a fhorbairt. An rud atá i gceist anseo ná nuachtán Ghaeilge ar an Idirlíon amháin. Níl sé sin ag teacht leis an méid atá leagtha amach sa Straitéis 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge. Le cois sin, níl sé ag dul de réir torthaí an suirbhé a d'eagraigh Foras na Gaeilge níos luaithe i mbliana.

Má tá nuachtán nó foilsiúchán le bheith curtha ar fáil agus má tá an buntáiste is mó nó an léitheoireacht is mó le bheith bainte as an foilsiúcháin sin, caithfear freastal ar ghnáth daoine. Tá go leor daoine ina gcónaí sa Ghaeltacht agus i bpobal na Gaeilge atá níos mó ná dhá scór nó 50 bliain d'aois nach bhfuil siad cleachtaithe le bheith ag úsáid an Idirlín. Bhí nuachtán Gaeilge Gaeltachta i gcónaí ann, le 40 bliain anuas, agus má chuirtear deireadh leis anois, táthar ag cur deiridh leis an seirbhís seo do na daoine seo. Tiocfaidh linn an dá thrá a fhreastal - é a bheith ar an Idirlíon agus nuachtán traidisiúnta a chur i gcló. Chomh maith le sin, tiocfaidh linn freastal ní amháin ar na daoine atá ina gcónaí sa tír seo a bhfuil Gaeilge acu, taobh amuigh nó taobh istigh den Ghaeltacht, ach ar na daoine go léir atá thar lear fosta, go leor acu san Astráil, i gCeanada, sna Stáit Aontaithe, Sasana, Albain agus áiteanna eile. Bheadh siadsan in ann an nuachtán ar an Idirlíon a úsáid chomh maith.

Níl a fhios agam an bhfuil aon deascéal ag an Aire Stáit dom anocht. Tá se tábhachtach an cheist seo a ardú agus a phlé mar go bhfuil an t-airgead atá i gceist anseo atá ag teacht ón gcáiníocóir sa Tuaisceart agus sa Deisceart.

Deputy Dinny McGinley

Mar is eol don Teach, tá ról reachtúil ag Foras na Gaeilge maidir leis an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn ar fud oileán na hÉireann. Is léir gur mian leis an Seanadóir díriú isteach tráthnóna ar an fheidhm ar leith atá sonraithe don fhoras i ndáil le húsáid na Gaeilge a éascú agus a spreagadh i gcúrsaí scríbhneoireachta. Níl amhras ar bith ach go bhfuil Foras na Gaeilge an-ghníomhach sa réimse sin, mar atá soiléir ó chuid de na mórthionscnaimh atá ar bun aige i láthair na huaire, lena n-áirítear an Gúm, Clár na Leabhar Gaeilge, Áis, an foclóir nua Béarla-Gaeilge agus an straitéis nua léitheoireachta.

Ní miste a aithint go bhfuil obair chriticiúil idir lámha ag an Ghúm maidir le foilseacháin agus áiseanna a chur ar fáil chun tacú le hoideachas trí mheán na Gaeilge agus le húsáid na Gaeilge i gcoitinne. Tuigtear dom go bhfuil thart ar 2,500 leabhar agus 350 píosa ceoil foilsithe ag an Ghúm ó bunaíodh é sa bhliain 1926. Is mór an corpus litríochta é sin gan dabht. Anuas air sin, tá obair fhiúntach ar siúl ag Clár na Leabhar Gaeilge maidir le scríbhneoireacht, foilsitheoireacht agus léitheoireacht na Gaeilge a chothú lasmuigh den seomra ranga. Déantar a leithéid trí scéimeanna foilsitheoireachta agus scríbhneoireachta ar leith agus trí aird an phobail a dhíriú ar leabhair Ghaeilge. Sa chomhthéacs sin, b'ábhar áthais dom an deis a fháil le gairid na gradaim a bhronnadh ar bhuaiteoirí chomórtas leabhair Ghaeilge na bliana i nGailearaí Náisiúnta na nGrianghraf.

Tá seirbhís dáileacháin ar leith, ar a dtugtar Áis, faoi chúram Fhoras na Gaeilge chun cabhrú le foilsitheoirí agus le húdair trí chinntiú go mbeidh soláthar leabhar Gaeilge ar fáil sna siopaí. Thagair mé níos luaithe don mhórfhoclóir nua Béarla-Gaeilge. Tá an tionscadal seo ar cheann de na gníomhaíochtaí is tábhachtaí atá ar siúl ag Foras na Gaeilge faoi láthair, ní hamháin i gcomhthéacs fhorbairt chorpas na Gaeilge ach chun spriocanna na Straitéise 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge a chur i bhfeidhm. Tá an leagan leictreonach den fhoclóir foilsithe ar líne cheana féin agus is dul chun cinn suntasach é go bhfuil cóid fhuaime ar fáil sa trí mhórchanúint. Meastar gur féidir leis an foclóir freastal cheana féin ar 85% den ghnáthchuardach a dhéanfadh aon duine, ach tuigim go gcuirfear leis na hiontrálacha reatha ar bhonn leanúnach go dtí go bhfoilseofar an leagan clóite in 2015.

Beidh an Seanadóir sásta a chloisteáil go bhfuil sé i gceist ag Foras na Gaeilge tabhairt faoi straitéis nua léitheoireachta sa bhliain 2014 ar mhaithe le daoine a spreagadh le níos mó leabhair Ghaeilge a léamh. Chuige sin, d'eagraigh Clár na Leabhar Gaeilge comhdháil faoin léitheoireacht ag deireadh 2012 chun léargas a fháil ar staid reatha na litríochta agus na léitheoireachta i nGaeilge agus ar thionscal na leabhar i gcoitinne in Éirinn agus i dtíortha eile. Tuigim go ndearnadh plé freisin ar chleachtais idirnáisiúnta leis an léitheoireacht a chothú i measc an phobail mar aon le nithe praiticiúla a bhaineann le dáileachán agus margaíocht leabhar. Ag eascairt as an chomhdháil sin, cuireadh próiseas comhairliúcháin phoiblí ar bun níos túisce i mbliana chun deis a thabhairt don phobal a dtuairimí a nochtadh maidir le moltaí na comhdhála agus mar ionchur don dréachtstraitéis nua léitheoireachta atá á fhorbairt ag Foras na Gaeilge. Tuigtear dom go dtabharfar deis eile don phobal a dtuairimí faoin dréachtstraitéis seo a thabhairt sa bhliain nua.

Ag tiontú anois go dtí ceist na nuachtán Gaeilge, caithfidh mé a threisiú i dtosach báire gur ceist pholasaí í seo do bhord Fhoras na Gaeilge. Thóg an bord cinneadh ag a chruinniú le gairid go gcuirfear maoiniú ar fáil do nuachtán Gaeilge seachtainiúil a bheidh ar fáil i bhfoirm leictreonach ar líne amháin. Beidh an nuachtán seo ar fáil saor in aisce agus roghnófar an táirgeoir ar feadh ceithre bliana trí chomórtas tairisceana poiblí a reáchtáil.

Tuigtear dom gur bheartaigh bord Fhoras na Gaeilge go mbeidh fócas agus úsáid aon deontais a bheidh ceadaithe teoranta do leagan ar líne a chur ar fáil den nuachtán. Tógadh an cinneadh seo ar an mbonn gurb é sin an bealach is fearr le freastal ar an líon léitheoirí is mó ar an méid airgid phoiblí is lú. Cibé scéal é, tá sé tugtha le fios ag Foras na Gaeilge go bhfáilteoidh siad roimh thuairimí na n-iarratasóirí i leith na ceiste seo nó i leith aon infheistíocht bhreise eile a chuirfeadh iarratasóirí ar fáil, sa bhreis ar dheontas Fhoras na Gaeilge, chun freastal níos mó agus níos sonraithe a dhéanamh ar riachtanais uile phobal léitheoireachta na Gaeilge.

Maidir le cinneadh bhord Fhoras na Gaeilge sa chás seo, tuigtear dom go ndearna coiste ar leith den bhord - an Coiste Nuachtán agus Irisí - go leor taighde agus plé faoi réimse leathan féidearthachtaí roimh thuairisciú don bhord. Mar shampla, scaipeadh ceistneoir chun fáil amach go sonrach cén cineál nuachtáin a bhí de dhíth ó phobal na Gaeilge agus fuarthas breis is 400 aisfhreagra. Cuireadh fócas ghrúpaí le chéile fosta in áiteanna éagsúla ar fud na tíre chun na ceisteanna uilig a chíoradh. Is iad na háiteanna a bhí i gceist ná Baile Átha Cliath, Béal Feirste, Doire, Gaoth Dobhair, An Cheathrú Rua agus Baile Bhúirne.

Ní miste na dúshláin agus na deacrachtaí reatha atá os comhair nuachtáin chlóite sna mórtheangacha ar fud an domhain mhóir a aithint agus ní féidir dearmad a dhéanamh ar thionchar na bhforbairtí teicneolaíochta is deireanaí ar chúrsaí díolacháin agus dáileacháin. Ar an drochuair, tá na dúshláin agus na deacrachtaí seo níos suntasaí fós nuair atá lucht léitheoireachta níos lú i gceist.

É sin ráite, ní miste a aithint go bhfuil feabhas as cuimse tagtha ar na meáin Ghaeilge le tamall anuas. Tá rogha fhairsing ar fáil do phobal na Gaeilge le leithéidí TG4, RTÉ, Raidió na Gaeltachta, Raidió na Life agus Raidió Fáilte, gan trácht ar Nuacht 24 atá ar fáil ar líne agus i bhfoirm chlóite. Tá fáil ar nuachtáin sheachtainiúla agus mhíosúla ar nós Seachtain agus Saol mar aon le hirisí ar nós Feasta, An t-Ultach, An Sagart agus An Timire. Bíonn ailt rialta sna nuachtáin náisiúnta ar nós an The Irish Times agus an Irish News agus sna nuachtáin áitiúla fosta. Ar ndóigh, tá irisí leictreonacha eile ar fáil, ar nós Beo, Gaelport agus Nós. Mar sin, caithfear a aithint go bhfuil freastal maith á dhéanamh ar lucht léitheoireacht na Gaeilge agus táthar ag obair i dtreo is go mbeidh nuachtán Gaeilge seachtainiúil ar fáil ar líne saor in aisce sar i bhfad.

Mar fhocal scoir, creidim féin go bhfuil sé iontach tábhachtach léitheoireacht sa Ghaeilge a spreagadh agus molaim don phobal an deis a thapú a dtuairimí a léiriú faoi dhréachtstraitéis léitheoireachta Fhoras na Gaeilge sa bhliain úr.

Senator Brian Ó Domhnaill

Tá mé an-bhuíoch don Aire Stáit as an bhfreagra a thabhairt. Aontaím leis go bhfuil jab thar cionn déanta ag na meáin cumarsáide Gaeilge ar fud na tíre le roinnt blianta anuas, go leor acu nach bhfuil ag fáil aon chúiteamh ón Stát leis an obair sin a bhaint amach. Ach tá cúpla ceist bhunúsach agam i dtaca leis an suirbhé a chuir Foras na Gaeilge ar bun. Dála an scéil, thug Foras na Gaeilge le fios do thuairisceoirí nó na meáin nach raibh an tuarascáil ón próiseas comharliúcháin feicthe ag bord Fhoras na Gaeilge sula ndearna sé an cinneadh an deontas a chur ar fáil don nuachtán seachtaniúil Gaeilge ar líne. Ardaíonn sin ceist bhunúsach má tá sé fíor.

Más fíor nach raibh na torthaí ón phróiseas sin ar fáil, cén fáth nár cuireadh an t-eolas sin os comhair an bhoird sula raibh an cinneadh déanta €1.2 milliún a chur ar fáil don nuachtán ar líne, go háirithe nuair nach raibh ach 21% de na daoine, de réir an suirbhé, ag iarraidh go mbeadh an foilsiúchán nuachtáin leictreonach ar fáil agus go raibh 51% ag iarraidh nuachtán clóite. Ardaíonn sin ceist. Tá a fhios agam nach bhfuil an dualgas ar an Aire Stáit agus gur cinneadh pholasaí atá i gceist, ach measaim go bhfuil ceist le freagairt de bhrí go bhfuil beagnach €12 mhilliún ag teacht ón Stát i mbliana d'Fhoras na Gaeilge. B'fhiú an cheist sin a fhiosrú.

Deputy Dinny McGinley

Tá mé cinnte go n-éistfidh Foras na Gaeilge leis an méid adúirt an Seanadóir. Tá bord Gaeilge ceaptha againn, bord neamhspleách agus tá jab le déanamh acu faoin Chomh-Aireacht Thuaidh-Dheas. Tá mé cinnte go ndéanfaidh an bord é sin chomh foirfe agus chomh maith agus is féidir leo. Ní shílim go bhfuil sé san Acht go mbeidh Airí Thuaidh ná Theas ag tabhairt treoracha ná orduithe d'Fhoras na Gaeilge. Tá sé iontach tábhachtach go bhfuil liosta d'ábhair léitheoireachta ar fáil ansin. Is oth liom a rá nach raibh díolaíocht mhór ar an pháipéar Gaeilge deireanach a bhí againn, 1,200 nó 1,300 in aghaidh na seachtaine. Tá a fhios agam ó bheith ag plé le daoine óga gur beag duine anois faoi 40 bliain a cheannaíonn páipéar nuachta. Léann siad iad go léir ar líne agus bíonn fáil orthu ar fud an domhain. Tá comharliúchán ag dul ar aghaidh ag an bhforas go fóill agus feicfidh muid cad é an cinneadh deireanach nó cad é an cinneadh críochniúil a bhéas ar an cheist seo.

Court Accommodation Refurbishment

Senator David Cullinane

I propose to share time with Senator Cummins. The redevelopment of the courthouse in Waterford city is long overdue and the provision of extra courtrooms is to be welcomed. I am concerned that the aforementioned works may lead to a loss of court services in Waterford city. Any loss, whether short-term, medium-term or long-term, would be a disaster for Waterford city. I will not mince my words. It would be an intolerable loss of status for Waterford city as a regional gateway under the national spatial strategy. We cannot allow it to happen.

It is estimated the redevelopment will cost between €15 million and €20 million and that the construction period will be up to two and a half years. Alternative accommodation must be found, which I accept in the context of redeveloping the courthouse. At this point, the Office of Public Works, OPW, is only looking at one replacement courtroom, which is what is being sought. That is the problem. If this is the case, the city of Waterford could lose both Circuit Court and High Court sittings. The District Court already sits five days a week and only one court can sit in a room at any one time. As matters stand, the courts and the people who attend them, including the members of the legal profession, their backup teams, civil servants, gardaí and members of the public, bring essential and much-needed revenue into the city.

Through no fault of its own, Waterford city has a problem with high unemployment. Any loss to Waterford city, even if it is short-term, would be a disaster and is something we must make provision against. I ask the Minister of State why the OPW is not trying to rent an entire building. It would make perfect sense, as we could continue to have all sittings of all courts, and the proceeds that come with that would remain in Waterford and would not be lost to elsewhere. If the courts are moved to another location outside Waterford, the OPW will still have to pay rent for a suitable space, but we are not taking into account the loss to Waterford city in terms of jobs, revenue and morale. Any savings made will be wiped out. These are genuine concerns brought to my attention by solicitors, members of the legal profession, An Taisce and a number of other organisations. I welcome the opportunity the Minister of State has to update the House on the issue.

Senator Maurice Cummins

This is a timely debate. I received an e-mail from a friend of mine suggesting that if court services go to Kilkenny, Waterford will lose the courts into the future. Members employed in the Courts Service have made such suggestions even though people in the Courts Service also said there was no prospect of the extension going ahead. There will be a €31 million investment in the Courts Service. We should embrace the good news and welcome the €31 million investment. I share the concerns of Senator Cullinane with regard to replacement courthouses while the new structure is being built. It is essential that Waterford retain services in the short period of one and a half years. The suggestion I have heard that the courts will never come back to Waterford if replacements are not found is scaremongering. I am not suggesting Senator Cullinane is doing so, but those concerns are unfounded.

I do not know whether the Courts Service falls within the remit of the Department of the Minister of State, but railings have been knocked down in front of the courthouse for over a year. We are trying to have them repaired and the Courts Service has been putting it off for a long time. We are celebrating 1,100 years in Waterford next year and we hope to have the railings repaired by the Courts Service or the OPW so that we can celebrate our 1,100 years and embrace the changes, including the €31 million investment in the courthouse and the €10 million or €15 million to be spent on the building housing the fire service, which the courthouse will take in. The fire service is being moved to the Ballybeg area, which is in urgent need of investment. We should embrace the €50 million investment in Waterford and celebrate it, expecting that these services will be maintained in Waterford while awaiting the completion of construction.

Deputy Dinny McGinley

On behalf of the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Alan Shatter, I thank the Senators for raising the matter. I appreciate the interest in Waterford Courthouse and in the matter of its relocation pending redevelopment. I am informed that this is an issue which has been raised previously in representations made to the Department of Justice and Equality by the Leader of the House, Senator Cummins. However, under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service. The Act provides that the Courts Service is independent in the performance of its functions - which, of course, include the provision, maintenance and management of court buildings - and the Minister, Deputy Shatter, has no role in the matter.

However, inquiries have been made and the Courts Service informs me it is aware of the importance of maintaining court sittings in Waterford during the period of construction for the refurbishment and extension of the city's courthouse. At present, Waterford Courthouse hosts sittings of the District Court, the Circuit Court and, on occasion, the High Court, including the Central Criminal Court. I am informed that the planned development will see major enhancement of court facilities in the city, with the number of courtrooms increasing from the current two to a total of six, which will provide ample facilities into the future for all court sittings.

The courthouse development project is one of seven courthouse projects to be delivered by way of public private partnership under the Government's infrastructure stimulus package.

The procurement for these projects is being undertaken by the National Development Finance Agency and the procurement process will begin in the near future. It is expected that construction work will commence by mid-2015 with the project being completed and the courthouse becoming operational during 2016 or early 2017. As the Senator recognises, temporary courtroom and office accommodation will be required for the construction period as the courthouse will have to be vacated.

I am informed that the Courts Service, with the assistance of the Office of Public Works, is currently looking at possible locations for temporary court and office facilities for the duration of the construction period. It is doing so within the limits of the budget available to it. The Courts Service, in common with all other public service organisations, has been operating in a very difficult and challenging economic environment. A major factor which must be considered is the potential cost of providing such temporary facilities.

The Courts Service has indicated that it is not clear at this point the extent of the temporary facilities which will be available during the construction period. I mentioned that there are currently two courtrooms in Waterford Courthouse. While it would be desirable that a temporary facility would also provide two courtrooms, factors such as the resources available and the affordability of a temporary location will have to be taken into account.

The Courts Service is considering whether any existing public facilities in the area could be used for court purposes and I am informed that there have been discussions with the local authorities in this regard. They are also exploring potential commercial facilities that could be used. However, it will not be possible to indicate what arrangements will be in place for any court sittings until the accommodation has been sourced.

There is a possibility that the fitting out of temporary courtrooms could potentially represent a significant cost element. If any existing facilities were available to be used which would not require significant work and were available at little or no cost then, of course, this would clearly be welcome. If the Senators have particular premises in mind I would ask that they bring these to the attention of the Courts Service.

I want to thank the Senators for raising the matter and I appreciate their interest in the administration of justice in Waterford. I am sure the Senators will appreciate that, at this stage, it is not possible to say what arrangements will be in place for any particular court sittings until all options have been fully examined.

Senator David Cullinane

I concur with Senator Cummins that the overall investment in the Courts Service in Waterford should be celebrated and strongly welcomed. It would make no sense for the Government to invest in increasing the courtrooms and services in Waterford from two to six, and then lose the services altogether. That is a nonsensical argument.

My argument was about the short-term potential loss of services. The Minister of State said in his response that the Courts Service is not clear at this stage as to the extent of the temporary facilities which will be available and that it would be desirable that a temporary facility would provide the two courtrooms. If we cannot find a premises that can provide two courtrooms, the District Court, the Circuit Court, the High Court and the Central Criminal Court proceedings which take place in Waterford cannot continue on a short-term basis.

It is not fair to put the responsibility back on Senators to find alternative premises. I am sure I can provide suggestions to the Minister and will do so, but it is an issue for the Courts Service and the Government. I appeal to the Minister of State to be conscious of the loss, even if it is short term. The overall package is to be welcomed, including the fire station, which is in a part of the city I represented as a city councillor, it is good that we are getting that investment at a very difficult time. However, the concern of people is about the short-term loss. They see a simple fix if we can find alternative premises that can hold two courtrooms so there is no loss of court services. I hope the Minister of State will take on board the concerns of myself and Senator Cummins and bring them to the Minister for Justice and Equality and the Courts Service.

The Seanad adjourned at 10.45 p.m. until 10.30 a.m. on Wednesday, 11 December 2013.