Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

-----cé nach oileáin iad a thuilleadh toisc go bhfuil siad ceangailte le droichid – mar réimse ar leith i bplean forbartha. Tá loighic leis. Tacaím leis seo ach is é sin an sórt ruda a bhí muid ag caint faoi inné, sé sin, gur chóir go mbeadh na ceantair Ghaeltachta ainmnithe nó aitheanta mar cheantair ar leith sna pleananna forbartha. Mar sin, anois tá an tAire ag rá go mbeidh siad ann mar cheantair tosaíochta.

I welcome the Minister hinting we are moving towards that recognition of the islands as specific areas that require priority plans. That is in line with what we were arguing but we were arguing yesterday a bit further than that, namely, that Gaeltacht areas within city and council areas would have that recognition and have specific plans. We will come back to that because we will be going through some of the amendments that still have to be reached. Some of them are tied into that issue. The Minister mentioned different councils have different approaches.

That is one of the frustrations for people in Gaeltacht areas. They want some recognition in plans and, in some cases, in the approach of councils to recognise the Gaeltacht even exists. Extra resources need to be dedicated to trying to help and protect Gaeltacht areas. The CEOs of councils came before Coiste na Gaeilge, na Gaeltachta agus Phobal Labhartha na Gaeilge. I yesterday gave the Minister of State, Deputy Noonan, a copy of a letter given to us by the CEOs, of which the Minister is aware. It expressed their frustration at the lack of guidelines. The guidelines we are talking about are long awaited, which was a source of frustration for many. At least we now have a date and a commitment that before Easter, the guidelines will be there and we will begin public consultation. The committee that I chair will help in any way it can. The committee has had a number of hearings on the matter and issued a report, which is there. The Minister will find during consultation that whatever guidelines the Department gives, those views will be reflected.

It is bizarre that amendment No. 30 is not tied to my amendment No. 147, which deals with exactly the same matter. The latter amendment is not in this grouping so I will not speak to it until we get to it. We are trying to give recognition or protection to what are called traditional Gaeltacht settlement patterns. There are two settlement patterns involved, in the main. One is what people call a ribbon development, which runs along a road, but there are others. Mr. Breanndán Ó Beaglaoich was very specific about how it works where you have a cluster of houses. He gave an example on television or at a debate that he would be happy to share with the Minister.