I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Simon Harris.
Adjournment Matters
National Monuments
I raise the issue of King John's Castle in Carlingford. The castle was built in the 12th century on a rocky outcrop overlooking Carlingford Lough. It dominated the lough, the harbour and the developing town. It was the first stone building in Carlingford and, under its shadow, the town grew. It is said King John of England stayed there for a few days in 1210. The original castle consisted of an enclosed D-shaped courtyard with two rectangular towers at the entrance. The eastern part of the castle was built in 1261 and included a number of rooms and a great hall. In the 1950s the OPW undertook conservation works to stabilise the structure. There is an excellent view of the north pier and lough from the viewing area on the eastern side of the castle, although the castle is closed to the general public for health and safety reasons.
I would be most grateful if the Minister of State were to get this most advantageous project for Carlingford back on track. It is essential to the realisation of the enormous growth potential Carlingford offers as a heritage tourism destination. In addition, I stress the importance of having the castle and the whole area of north Louth included in the OPW visitor services map once the castle is reopened to the public. The most northerly town in the north east visible on the Heritage Ireland website is Ardee. Carlingford is 40 miles further north, but the map finishes at Ardee as far the OPW is concerned. We need to let interested people know that the castle is open with the free map given out by the OPW and to be found on the Heritage Ireland website.
Carlingford is one of the medieval walled towns of Ireland and contains three national monuments in State care - the Dominican Priory, the Mint and the great centrepiece, King John's Castle, in addition to sections of the old town walls which thankfully still remain from medieval times, the Thostal Gate and Taaffe's Castle. The Minister of State's predecessor, Mr. Brian Hayes, MEP, stated on a visit to Carlingford that "this town is rich in heritage indeed, particularly for a town of Carlingford's relative size and, taken together with the natural beauty of the area and the general tourism infrastructure, makes it an extremely attractive visitor destination."
I met officials of the National Monuments Service and the former Minister of State at the castle on 12 June 2012. Those at the meeting included the Louth heritage officer, members of the local historical society and the Carlingford Heritage Centre committee. During the visit the former Minister of State was very impressed by Carlingford and the commitment of the local parties - the heritage trust, Louth County Council and the Tidy Towns committee - and their deep interest in sharing its heritage with interested and discerning visitors. This was something the former Minister of State wished to encourage and foster. To this end, he asked the OPW to enter into a new initiative to develop links with local partners all around the country with a view to ensuring heritage sites were more fully presented to visitors and that visitor access was improved as much as possible using local volunteers. The Carlingford Heritage Trust has signed up to this initiative. During the former Minister of State's visit the group was shown the works that had been completed since the project at the castle started in 2009. The remaining works which are scheduled to be completed this year were also outlined. These works consist of a safety and site presentation and their full completion is key to further presentation of the site. They also required ministerial consent from the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht who has a supervisory role in this respect. This consent was given in June 2014.
I ask the Senator to conclude.
I appeal to the Minister of State to bring this initiative to a satisfactory and successful conclusion in time for the 2015 tourist season.
I thank the Senator for highlighting this most important issue for Carlingford and north County Louth. It is not the first time the Senator has brought this matter to attention. In the two months or thereabouts I have been in the job, he has worn a path to my door on this issue. I know he does so because it is very close to his heart and that of his community. I also know that it is an issue on which the collective community in Carlingford has been working with him. I believe I have received correspondence from it and I have written back to the community organisations involved. We can see from the picture the Senator gave me that this is such a scenic area with such huge potential in promoting heritage and attracting tourists. I assure him that, despite what I can only describe as the bureaucratic difficulties the project faced, I am determined to have a renewed focus on resolving the issue.
The Senator knows this, but it is important to say it. Carlingford is a walled town which is famous for its surviving medieval buildings. The OPW has responsibility for three of them - the Mint in the centre of the town, the abbey on the southern side and, since 1919, King John's Castle in its prominent location overlooking the harbour. The castle is an important monument and, with other sites in State care locally, contributes a significant amount to the heritage of the area and has in my view and that of the OPW the potential to attract a considerable number of visitors.
The castle was most likely built by the Anglo-Norman knight John de Courcy and later became the property of Hugh de Lacy around the end of the 12th century. It was seized by King John in 1210 who stayed for three days and hence gave it its popular name. The castle is a D-shaped "shell keep", with corner towers and a large twin-towered gatehouse facing the western side. It suffered great deal of destruction and rebuilding on the western side when the railway cutting was made nearby in 1876. The large gate tower was demolished and the present entrance was made through a window embrasure. The wide access bridge across the railway line was also built at this time to maintain the connection between the town and the castle. The gap in the outer wall of the castle left by the demolition of the gate tower - the traditional main entrance - was filled in with a new stone wall.
Access to the castle for interested members of the public was available previously through a local keyholder system which worked relatively well. However, with changes in health and safety requirements, the entrance and the interior of the castle were not considered safe owing to uneven ground, unprotected edges, low door lintels and irregular steps. The path around the outside did not travel the full circuit of the walls, leaving a gap which was not safe to cross. This also presents a significant hazard.
As large parts of the interior are, therefore, now deemed unsafe, the building has been closed to the public pending a project - as the Senator outlined - to rectify the position.
Bearing in mind the importance of the site and its prominent location in the town, it has been an aim of the OPW for some time to carry out works there in order to address the problem and restore public access to the monument in order that its visitor potential can be more fully exploited. I am really interested in achieving that goal. A number of early phases, including a full archaeological investigation, have already been completed and what remains to be done is the central physical work to address the access and safety issues. The project which has been devised will address these matters directly and will, when it is complete, greatly improve the existing position by facilitating safe universal access for the public, including for those with disabilities, along the line of the original entrance and through the ramped drawbridge. It is also proposed to carry out other works to make the various internal areas safe and provide level surfaces for easier and safer pedestrian circulation.
Following my predecessor's visit to the Carlingford site in the summer of 2012, the OPW's National Monuments Service progressed the design of the project and lodged a consent application in late 2012 to the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht for the necessary works. As the Senator indicated, this consent is required under the National Monuments Acts in all cases where works are being proposed in order that the Minister can fully consider the implications of proposed works and their effect on the monument. Owing to the nature of the OPW proposals, it became apparent in early 2013 that there were a number of important archaeological, architectural and legal implications relative to the project which the Department needed to assess fully before proceeding. The matter at issue related to an element of the works involving the dismantling of a section of wall which had been constructed at the location of the original gate tower after 1876, providing a proper foundation and rebuilding it in the same position but with a new access doorway inserted. This is a key element of the project and will facilitate the universal access route which is the central objective of the work. However, as the proposal obviously involves dismantling an element of the monument fabric, the position clearly needed to be carefully assessed. This is obviously an important consideration in the context where we are trying, above all, to conserve the historical accuracy and authenticity of the fabric and the OPW proposal was an issue that the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht's experts needed to consider most carefully.
In the interim, while these issues were being considered, work could not proceed at the site. As time progressed, it became clear that the OPW workforce and the resources which had been assembled for the Carlingford project and which had been scheduled to carry out the necessary work in 2013 could not be kept in place indefinitely and were diverted to other work. The wall element at the centre of the debate is the first work to be undertaken on the project and, without consent to the treatment, the entire project was effectively delayed. Following detailed consideration of all of the relevant technical and legal issues, the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht issued consent for the project in June 2014 and the way is finally clear for it to proceed. I am sure the Senator will appreciate that in the meantime a number of other urgent works arose elsewhere which need to be addressed. These are works where the structural stability of monuments is under direct risk or where such monuments have already partially collapsed and where there are significant health and safety risks as a result. The resources of the OPW's National Monuments Service have, unfortunately, been significantly constrained in recent years because of the economic situation and its ability to mount large projects at a number of national monument sites simultaneously has been compromised.
The King John's Castle monument is currently in good structural condition and under no imminent threat; therefore, the only option for the OPW is to focus on the more urgent projects elsewhere and return to Carlingford as soon as time and priorities permit. While I completely accept all of what the Senator has to say about the value of the site from a tourism point of view, it is nevertheless clear that the OPW has been obliged to attend to other works. I give him and the community groups and people of Carlingford a clear commitment to the effect that the project has not been abandoned in any way. It remains a very important and worthwhile project which has already attracted considerable investment in terms of time and effort. I have, therefore, asked the commissioners of the OPW, in the light of the very strong representations made by the Senator, to make this issue a priority, keep it under active review and insert it into the office's work programme at the very first available opportunity.
I accept the point the Senator made in the context of the north Louth visitor services map. I take the opportunity to offer to visit Carlingford, meet the Senator and the community organisations concerned and see the castle at first hand. I certainly want to try to give the project a kick start. I am not in the business of providing disingenuous information and, in that context, I am not in a position to provide the Senator with a timeline at this point. However, I assure him that the project is going to be a priority for me and that I will visit Carlingford, inspect the castle with him and, with my officials, meet the local people in order to see how we might get the project back on track now that the various bureaucratic matters have been dealt with.
I am encouraged by what the Minister of State said, despite the fact that there has been a significant delay with the project. I acknowledge the commitment he has given to see to it that the work progresses. I take the opportunity to issue an invitation to him and his officials to visit Carlingford in order that they might witness the significant infrastructure in place for tourists. King John's Castle should play a more significant role in the area, particularly as the thousands of visitors who come to the area are always asking to be permitted to see the interior. I look forward to the Minister of State visiting Carlingford and the project being completed in the not too distant future.
I would be delighted to accept the Senator's invitation and arrange, in conjunction with him, to visit Carlingford at the earliest possible opportunity in the coming weeks. I know the project is very close to his heart. During my two months in office he has made clear to me its importance to Carlingford and north Louth. While I accept that there have been delays and setbacks in recent years, it is important to note that the preparatory works - that is, phases 1 and 2 - have been completed. The substantial work will occur during phase 3 and we need to try to get back on site as quickly as possible. I will work with the Senator and my officials to ensure this happens as a matter of urgency.
Motor Tax Exemptions
I welcome the Minister, Deputy Alan Kelly. I appreciate the fact that he has come before the House to take this matter. I have not spoken to the client to whom the matter relates, which is why I used the term "details supplied" in the text submitted to the Cathaoirleach's office.
The company involved provides significant employment in the tourism sector in County Clare and owns a significant attraction which includes a number of car parks and significant grounds at which some 40 or 50 rubbish bins are located. The company has its own rubbish compactor and on three occasions each week its employees empty the bins to which I refer. The company, at a cost to itself, also empties another 20 to 30 rubbish bins in the vicinity of the attraction which is located in an iconic part of the county. On two occasions each year, when the compactor is completely full, it is driven to a waste recycling facility 20 miles away to be emptied. Effectively, the compactor is only brought onto public roads for approximately six hours each year. For some reason, the company's previous compactor was exempt from road tax. However, it was obliged to upgrade and consequently bought a new compactor. Unfortunately, Clare County Council has refused to provide an exemption for it. I have been informed by officials of the council that the only way to circumvent the problem is if the Minister issues a directive to the effect that a tax exemption be provided for the compactor. The council does not have the power to issue such an exemption, but I have been advised by the officials concerned that the Minister does retain such a power.
In the light of the fact that the company involved is paying massive rates, employs up to 100 people and provides a service which supports tourism and a clean environment at a cost to itself - compactors do not come cheap, they costs thousands of euro - I call on the Minister to take action. This is a minor matter, but it is a big deal to the company involved which is of the view that it has engaged in a partnership with the State and the council in ensuring the environment in the vicinity of its attraction is kept clean. The company also believes it has played a significant role at a cost to itself and that if an exemption were issued, this would represent a gesture of goodwill. I hope for a positive response from the Minister.
I thank the Senator for raising this matter. As Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, I have overall responsibility for motor tax policy, but I do not have the power, under the relevant legislation, to intervene in individual motor tax cases. Imagine what would be the position if I did have such power.
It would be great if the Minister did have it.
I take the opportunity to set out for the House the relevant legislation covering vehicles liable for or exempt from motor tax and the considerations that licensing authorities are bound to take into account in establishing whether tax is payable on a vehicle.
Vehicles must be taxed if they are used in a public place.
A vehicle is not required to be taxed if it is used exclusively other than in a public place, for example, on privately owned farmland.
The definition of "public place" in motor tax legislation includes "any street, road or other place to which the public has access with mechanically propelled vehicles as a right or by permission and whether subject to an entrance fee or free of charge". This clearly includes a private facility to which the public has access in vehicles.
Use of a vehicle includes leaving it stationary. Therefore, a vehicle is required to be taxed if it is parked in a public place. If the site in question meets the criteria set out in the definition of a public place, then any vehicles used there must be taxed. It should be noted that provision exists for an owner to declare non-use of a vehicle if that vehicle is not going to be in use for short periods of time, for example, where the vehicle is in seasonal use. However, the vehicle cannot be kept parked in a public place while it is the subject of a declaration of non-use. If the owner wishes to cancel a declaration of non-use, say if trade picks up or the season begins earlier than expected, he or she can do so simply by taxing the vehicle.
A number of categories of vehicles are exempt in legislation from paying motor tax. Exempting these means revenue is lost to the public purse and, ultimately there is a cost to the taxpayer. For this reason, many of the categories of vehicle that are exempt from motor tax relate to vehicles that provide essential public services that are delivered on a nationwide basis, such as ambulances or fire engines. The exemptions include a category for refuse vehicles, sweeping machines or watering machines that are used exclusively for cleansing public streets and roads and would not apply to vehicles used in other public places.
The critical point is that a public street or road is a more narrowly defined category than a public place. These provisions were put in place during the 1950s for the improvement of public streets and roads for general health and sanitation purposes. This category is, in the main, comprised of vehicles owned by local authorities.
I thank the Senator for the opportunity to clarify the matter, but would ask the outline the case for me in writing so I can put it through the process in the Department to satisfy myself that the regulations and categorisation in place are robust enough. If he does so, I will ensure he gets a reply as soon as possible.
I thank the Minister for his response. I was not surprised by his answer and appreciate that a situation allowing the Minister to intervene would compromise the position.
I would be doing it all the time, I suppose.
Every case made is a good case, but the case in question is unique and I will make a submission on it to the Minister over the next couple of weeks. I will also talk to the providers involved and perhaps something can be done, because they are providing a genuine community service. I agree they are getting rid of their own rubbish, but they are providing an important service that the local authority is not in a position to provide because it would not be practical nor make economic sense. The providers are willing to do it and I would like to believe we could meet them in some way, in terms of recognition if nothing else.
An exemption is unlikely; the rules exist for a reason. However, to satisfy myself that the categorisation is robust enough in regard to the type of vehicle, particularly in regard to the refuse sector, I will ensure the matter is checked out if the Senator writes to me on the issue.
Scoileanna Gaeltachta
I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Joe McHugh, to the House and wish him well with his new portfolio.
Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit go dtí an Teach agus déanaim comhghairdeas leis as ucht a oifig nua a bhaint amach. Tá súil agam agus táim cinnte go n-éireoidh go maith leis. An cheist atá agam don Aire Stáit ná: An bhfuil aon phlean aige le liúntas a thabhairt do na mná nó fir tí maidir leis na coláistí samhraidh agus na coláistí oiliúna mar gheall ar na táillí uisce agus má tá, cé mhéid atá i gceist mar liúntas?
Maidir le táillí uisce, tá sé ráite ag Uisce Éirinn go gheobhaidh páistí liúntas cóir chun a dhéanamh cinnte go mbeidh an úsáid saor. Ar dtús, moladh 38,000 litear do gach páiste faoi 18. Ansin tháinig cinneadh eíle a mhol 21,000 litear, agus sin mar atá sé anois. Faoi láthair, níl aon liúntas ar fáil do na mná nó fir tí sna coláistí samhraidh do pháistí atá ag fanacht sna tithe sin agus iad ag freastal ar choláistí samhraidh. Tá sé ag eirí níos deacra an t-am ar fad do na coláisti samhraidh go leor tithe a fháil do scoláirí de bharr an méid beag airgid a fhaigheann na mná nó fir tí. Chomh maith le sin, nil aon dabht ach go bhfuil níos mó de dhíth ag na scoláirí de bharr an ardú mór atá tagtha ar an gcaighdeán maireachtála le roinnt blianta anuas.
Nuair a chuaigh mise go dtí an Ghaeltacht ar feadh míosa mar ghasúr, níor ghlac mé cithfholcadh nó folcadh an t-am ar fad a bhí mé ann. Nigh mé mé féin, ach ní raibh cithfholcadh agam ar chor ar bith. Chuaigh mé isteach sa pholl snámha nó san fharraige. Anois, glacann páistí cithfholcadh gach lá nó níos mó, b'fhéidir ar maidin, san iarnóin agus arís roimh dhul amach san oíche. Tá a lán uisce de dhíth ar scoláirí sna coláistí samhraidh sa lá atá inniu ann.
larraim ar an Aire Stáit cothrom na féinne a sholáthar do na mná agus fir tí agus iarraim air a dhéanamh cinnte de go bhfaighidh siad íocaíocht ceart agus nach mbeidh orthu costas usáid uisce na bpáistí a thógáil orthu féin. Iarraim freisin ar an Aire Stáit a bheith eolach go n-úsáideann páistí níos mó uisce i rith an tsamhraidh i gcoitinne, go háirithe de bharr méadú mór ar ghníomhaíocht sóisialta agus fisiciúil a bhíonn ar siúl acu sa Ghaeltacht.
Rinne mé iarracht costasaíocht a oibriú amach maidir le seo agus tá scairbhileog agam le tabhairt don Aire Stáit. Tá an t-eolas leagtha amach sa scairbhileog, ach leagfaidh mé amach an t-eolas go simplí anois. Má thógtar an liúntas bliantúil de 31,000 litear do pháiste, bheadh liúntas laethúil de 57.5 litear i gceist. Bunaithe ar chostas €4.88 ar 1,000 litear, bheadh costas laethúil de €0.28 ag dul don pháiste. Ar an dóigh sin, do chúrsa 21 lá, cosnódh sé €5.90 don chúrsa thar cheann gach páiste. Ach, má táimid ag trácht faoi mhéadú ar an usáid ag páisti, agus tarlaíonn sin i rith an tsamhraidh, idir ólachán uisce, cithfholcthaí agus níochán éadaí, mholfainn an chéad mholadh a cuireadh amach a ghlacadh mar chinneadh, is é sin 38,000 litear a thabhairt do pháistí mar liúntas bliantúil. Thabharfadh seo liúntas laethúil 104 litear d'uisce do gach páiste. Bunaithe ar bhunchostas de €4.88 ar 1,000 litear, bheadh costas laethúil de €0.51 ag dul don phaiste. Sa chás seo, do chúrsa 21 lá, bheadh costas €10.57 thar cheann gach páiste.
De bharr go bhfaigheann fir agus mná tí €9.50 in aghaidh an lae do gach páiste faoi láthair, mholfainn go ndéanfaí ardú ar an suim seo go €10 an scoláire. Bheadh sin réasúnta agus chlúdódh sé costas an uisce do na fir agus mná tí. Ní bhfaigheadh siad brabús ar bith, ach thabharfadh sin cothrom na féinne dóibh maidir le húsáid uisce na bpáistí sa teach le linn a gcúrsa.
Mar fhocal scoir, mholfainn go bhfaigheadh na fir agus mná tí an t-ardú céanna seo, €0.50 in aghaidh an lae, do na scoláirí a thagann ó na coláistí oiliúna chomh maith. Freisin, ba chóir go bhfaighidís an liúntas seo do scoláirí os cionn 18 a thagann ar chúrsa samhraidh, ar nós scoláirí atá ag athdéanamh na hardteiste don dara huair. Iarraim ar an Aire Stáit airgead a chur ar fáil do na mná tí ar son chostas uisce na scoláirí.
Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach as na focail chineálta.
Tá mé buíoch don Seanadóir as an ábhar fíor-thábhachtach seo a ardú anocht. Mar atá a fhios ag an Seanadóir, íocann mo Roinn deontas laethúil de €9.50 an fhoghlaimeora faoi scéim na bhfoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge le gach teaghlach nó bean tí a choinníonn foghlaimeoirí Gaeilge ar iostas fad agus a bhíonn siad ag freastal ar chúrsaí Gaeilge sa Ghaeltacht. Tá ábhar oidí san áireamh sa deontas seo. Tugann sé seo deis do na foghlaimeoirí dul i dtaithí ar bhlas agus ar líofacht nádúrtha na teanga sa Ghaeltacht.
Tá áthas orm a rá go bhfuil sé i gceist go leanfar ag íoc cúnaimh faoin scéim amach anseo. Agus cúinsí airgid mar atá, tá áthas orm fosta go raibh ar chumas mo Roinn an deontas a íoctar a choinneáil ag an ráta céanna le cúpla bliain anuas. Ní miste a nótáil go bhfuil aon airgead a shaothraíonn na teaghlaigh saor ó cháin. Ní chuirtear san áireamh ach an oiread é agus iarratais ar éileamh íocaíochta leasa shóisialaigh ón Roinn Coimirce Sóisialaí á meas.
Tá ról fíor-thábhachtach tugtha do na coláistí samhraidh, atá faoi chúram mo Roinne ó 2010 ar aghaidh, i gcur i bhfeidhm na Straitéise 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge. Tá mo Roinn ag tabhairt gach cúnamh agus is féidir dóibh chun an ról sin a chur i gcrích. Go deimhin, bhí cruinnithe ag oifigigh mo Roinne an tseachtain seo caite le CONCOS, an scáth eagraíocht do na coláistí Gaeilge, agus iad ag tabhairt aghaidh ar dhúshláin éagsúla agus leis na hionaid oideachais faoin tréimhse foghlama sa Ghaeltacht do na hábhair oidí.
Cuireadh tús le scéim na bhfoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge mar atá sí faoi láthair breis is daichead bliain ó shin, ach téann an coincheap siar i bhfad níos faide ná sin. Bunaíodh scéim choiste na bpáistí i 1935 chun scoláireachtaí a sholáthar do pháistí ó cheantair taobh amuigh den Ghaeltacht a chuirfeadh ar a gcumas cur fúthu sa Ghaeltacht le linn saoire an tsamhraidh, áit a mbeadh deis acu dul i dtaithí ar bhlas agus ar líofacht nádúrtha na Gaeilge trí chaidreamh le muintir na Gaeltachta. Sa lá atá inniu ann, bíonn na cúrsaí Gaeilge ar siúl ar feadh trí seachtainí go hiondúil agus is i mí an Mheithimh, lúil agus Lúnasa a eagraíonn na coláistí na cúrsaí. Íocann mo Roinn deontas laethúil faoin scéim seo chomh maith i leith foghlaimeoirí Gaeilge a bhíonn ag freastal ar roinnt coláistí cónaithe. Chomh maith leis sin, cuidíonn mo Roinn le coistí atá i mbun coláistí Gaeilge agus le pobal na Gaeltachta chun trealamh agus áiseanna eile atá riachtanach a chur ar fáil do na coláistí Gaeilge.
Is iad na coláistí féin a dhéanann na socruithe leis na foghlaimeoirí maidir le cúrsaí lóistín agus iad ag freastal ar na cúrsaí. Is léir go bhfuil leibhéal spéise forleathan i bhfoghlaim na Gaeilge i measc daoine óga i gcónaí. Anuraidh, d'fhreastail os cionn 22,700 scoláire ar choláistí Gaeilge sa Ghaeltacht agus íocadh deontais os cionn €3.7 milliún le timpeall 700 teaghlach atá cláraithe faoi scéim mo Roinne chun scoláirí a choinneáil.
Maidir leis na costais éagsúla a thiteann ar na teaghlaigh, cuirtear iad ar fad san áireamh agus cinneadh á dhéanamh maidir leis an leibhéal deontais a íoctar faoin scéim. Bíonn plé ar siúl i mo Roinn ag an tráth seo gach bliain faoin ábhar agus go deimhin, pléadh na táillí uisce ag an gcruinniú a bhí ag oifigigh mo Roinne le CONCOS an tseachtain seo caite. Ar ndóigh, má cheaptar go mbeadh sé cuidiúil ceist na dtáillí uisce a phlé le páirtithe leasmhara eile, breathnóidh mo Roinn ar an gceist a ardú leo amach anseo. Tuigfidh an Teachta, ar ndóigh, go mbeidh aon phlé a dhéanfar faoi na nithe seo le tarlú i gcomhthéacs na n-acmhainní a chuirfear ar fáil do mo Roinn ó phróiseas na Meastachán do 2015.
Mar fhocal scoir, caithfear a chur san áireamh nár laghdaíodh an ráta deontais a íoctar le teaghlaigh le roinnt blianta anuas nuair a bhí gearradh siar déanta ar bhuiséad mo Roinne. Ina theannta sin, caithfear na buntáistí eile atá luaite thuas a fhaigheann teaghlaigh faoin scéim a chur san áireamh freisin. Chomh maith leis sin, caithfear a chur san áireamh gur coláistí príobháideacha iad na coláistí Gaeilge agus go n-íocann siad siúd táille leis na teaghlaigh fosta atá níos airde ná an deontas a íocann mo Roinn leo.
Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit as a fhreagra. Is freagra cuimsitheach é agus caithfidh mé é a staidéar go cruinn. Deir sé gur pléadh na táillí uisce ag an gcruinniú le CONCOS agus oifigigh na Roinne an tseachtain seo caite. Cad a tharla ag an gcruinniú sin, muna bhfuil an t-eolas sin príobháideach?
Tuigim go bhfuil an t-am ag sleamhnú thart.
Tá an t-am caite.
Freisin, gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit as an gcuireadh a thug sé do ghrúpaí eile dul i dteagmháil leis an Roinn ar an ábhar seo.
Tuigim gach rud a dúirt an t-Aire Stáit ach an bhfuil an Roinn ag smaoineamh ar aon rud a dhéanamh mar gheall ar seo? Is the Minister of State thinking of doing anything about this?
Caithfidh mé a rá, bhí mé ag smaoineamh faoi gach aon rud agus mar a dúirt duine i mo pharóiste féin cúpla seachtain ó shin, d'íosfainn an t-úll dá mbeadh úll agam. Dá mbeadh an t-airgead agam, bheimís san áit cheart. Tá eolas agam faoin obair atá ar siúl i gceantair iargúlta na Gaeltachta. Chuir muintir na Gaeltachta fáilte chroíúil romham i rith na tréimhse a chaith mé ann sa samhradh agus chonaic mé le mo shúile féin an sár-obair a dhéanann na mná tí. Is í an Ghaeilge agus bheith ag obair leis na daoine atá ag obair go dian agus go díograiseach chun í a chur chun cinn an fhreagracht is tábhachtaí atá agam i mo ról mar Aire Stáit. Tugann Scéim na bhFoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge €50 milliún gach bliain chuig ceantair Ghaeltachta. Is í an éifeacht eacnamaíoch seo an rud is tábhachtaí faoin scéim. Nílim ábalta ceist an tSeanadóra a fhreagairt anocht ach beidh mé ag smaoineamh faoi.
Mar fhocal scoir, cé go bhfuil mo Roinn sásta ceist na dtáillí uisce a phlé le páirtithe leasmhara, ag deireadh an lae tuigfidh an Teach nach dtagann na socraithe a bhaineann leis na táillí uisce ó mo Roinn. Tá Ranna eile ag obair ar an ábhair seo. Is í an obair atá á dhéanamh faoi Scéim na bhFoghlaimeoirí leis na mná tí an rud is tábhachtaí. Ba mhaith liom oibriú le daoine sna ceantair seo i rith m'am mar Aire Stáit, ba mhaith liom oibriú leis na mná tí agus ba mhaith liom cabhair a thabhairt d'aon Seanadóir ar an gceist. Is é sin mo dhualgas. Níl mé freagrach as táillí uisce, ach tá sé tábhachtach bheith ag labhairt sa díospóireacht anocht faoin sár-obair atá déanta agus atá fós á déanamh ag na mná tí i gceantair iargúlta na Gaeltachta. Gabhaim buíochas arís leis an Seanadóir.
Déanaim comhghairdeas ó chroí ar an dul chun cinn iontach mhór atá á dhéanamh ag an Aire ar a chuid Gaeilge. Togha an fhir.
The Seanad adjourned at 8.35 p.m. until 10.30 a.m. on Thursday, 25 September 2014.