Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 February 2010
10 Deputy Mary Upton asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the progress made to re-instate the scheme for áisitheoirí pobail for the smaller Gaeltacht areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8365/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is carrying out a comprehensive review of arrangements currently in place regarding the structure and funding of various organisations involved in all aspects of community development in the Gaeltacht. The purpose of the review is to ensure greater co-ordination and efficiencies in the delivery of a range of services to Gaeltacht communities by strong community structured organisations, encompassing community development, community enterprise, social inclusion and language planning. It is proposed that these organisations will operate within clearly defined geographical regions throughout the Gaeltacht.
Having regard to the Government's clear commitment to maintaining and developing the Gaeltacht and in the context of the draft 20 year strategy for Irish, language planning will be a critical element of the overall community development process in the Gaeltacht in the years ahead.
The role of smaller Gaeltacht areas such as Ráth Chairn-Baile Ghib in County Meath and Na Déise in County Waterford is being considered in the context of the overall review. It is envisaged that areas such as these will be recognised as entities in their own right and afforded the opportunity to have a community based organisation recognised for the purpose of delivering a comprehensive range of community development services, including language planning, as outlined above.
Arising from a meeting convened in Na Forbacha on 18 January 2010 to initiate the review process, the various Gaeltacht community organisations have been invited to submit their views and proposals to my Department, which will then formulate formal proposals on how the process will be advanced. It is intended that the revised arrangements for delivery of community services in the Gaeltacht will be operational by 1 January 2011. In the case of the smaller Gaeltacht areas, I understand Údarás na Gaeltachta will continue to support Comharchumann Forbartha Ráth Chairn for the remainder of this year. I understand also that an tÚdarás has approved funding to Comhlacht Forbartha na nDéise for the employment of a community development officer in the Waterford Gaeltacht to assist that company's development plan in the coming months.
I thank the Minister for his reply. Clearly, progress is being made on the issues I have been raising. The áisitheoirí pobail were financed by MSF but that funding was withdrawn. The áisitheoirí teangan were financed by the Minister's Department on the basis of a survey and development plan for the language. Which posts are we discussing in terms of the funding available for Gaeltacht na nDéise — An Rinn agus an Seanphobal?
Déanfaimíd cínnte go bhfuil an dá phobal i gceist. Bhéinn i dtrioblóid dá ndéanfainn dearmad ar cheachtar acu. Tá deontas de €50,000 ceadaithe ag an údarás. Tá Comhlacht Forbartha na nDéise tar éis glacadh leis sin. Is ceist don chomhlacht fhéin í cé mhéad daoine a fhostófar ar an €50,000 sin. An bhfuil aon fhoinse ag an Teachta? Is le haghaidh oifigeach forbartha pobail atá an €50,000 atá ar fáil i mbliana. Ar ndóigh, níl anseo ach rud eatramhach. De réir an phlean nua atá á chur le chéile agam, beidh comhlacht buan — maoinithe tríd an Stáit — sna Déise. Is rud eatramhach é seo, ach déanfar socrú buan ceart sa todhchaí. Beidh clúdach iomlán á dhéanamh ar Ghaeltacht na nDéise faoin bplean nua.
An mbeidh an socrú buan in áit ó 1 Eanáir 2011?
Nuair a bhí mé sna Forbacha, bhí focal agam le muintir na nDéise. Mar is eol don Teachta, chas mé leo nuair a bhí mé i nDún Garbhán roimh an Nollaig. Dúirt mé gur thuig me a gcás. Ó tharla go bhfuil an dá phobal sásta oibriú le chéile, agus go bhfuil na struchtúir acu, tá súil agam socrú buan a dhéanamh an-luath sa phróiseas. Ní chaithfidh siad fanacht go dtí 1 Eanáir 2011 le socrú buan a chur in áit. Is é sin an dáta deiridh do gach ghrúpa sa tír. Má tá na grúpaí réidh le bogadh ar aghaidh le socrú buan roimhe sin, ní bheidh fadhb ar bith agam leis sin.
An mbeidh an maoiniú ar fáil?
Beidh. Tá €50,000 ar fáil ar aon chaoi. Ar ndóigh, caithfidh an socrú nua bheith níos fearr ná sin le teacht in áit roimh an dáta sin. Tá mé cinnte gur mhaith le pobal na nDéise go mbeadh socrú fadtéarmach in áit agus fios acu cá seasann siad go fadtéarmach. Déanfar cinnte de go bhfuil cúram ceart déanta do na Déise. Caithfidh mé a rá go bhfuil an-mheas agam ar phobal na nDéise. Is beag Gaeilge a bhí fágtha sa cheantar sa bhliain 1926. Tá éacht déanta acu chun an Ghaeilge a choinneáil beo. Tá iarrachtaí an-dáiríre á dhéanamh ag an bpobal áitiúil, go mórmhór na daoine óga, ó thaobh na Gaeilge de. Is féidir leis an Teachta bheith cinnte go dtabharfar aitheantas do sin sna socruithe.
In regard to small and large Gaeltacht areas, will the Údarás na Gaeltachta elections be held this year? Will the Minister give an undertaking to the House that he will speak to the directors general of RTE and Raidió na Gaeltachta about their public service obligations to broadcast Irish mass on four Sundays every year? I ask that he restore the Sunday mass to Raidió na Gaeltachta.
The Deputy made as good an attempt at the end of Question Time as he did in the beginning. Cathain a bheidh toghcháin Udarás na Gaeltachta?
Tá ceist á fhreagairt faoi sinn inniú. Deputies are debating an Stratéis Fiche Bliain. Allowing that good suggestions are approved by the Government, it will be necessary to introduce new Gaeltacht legislation. I could delay the elections until October but I am not sure if there is much point in an election if we are introducing new legislation which would require us to rerun it in a changed context. I may introduce a short Bill later this year in order to postpone the election until the new legislation is enacted. That is something we should tease out in the coiste when I am invited to discuss the stratéis. I will be guided by the Deputy's opinions on how we should proceed.
I wrote to ceannaire Raidió na Gaeltachta and received a reply from her. I then wrote to the stúirthóir of RTE and he wrote back. I have made the case that there was grave disappointment among older Gaeltacht people at the withdrawal of the mass. They regarded it as a lifeline.
Written Answers follow Adjournment Debate.
