Mr. Stiofán Ó Cúláin:

A Chathaoirligh agus a chomhaltaí, táimid an-bhuíoch daoibh as ucht cuireadh a thabhairt dúinn inniu plé a dhéanamh ar an cheist thábhachtach seo, straitéis forbartha inmharthana do phobail oileáin agus cósta. Ba mhaith liom achoimre ghairid a thabhairt ar na phríomhphointí anois. Déanfaidh mé sin i mBéarla.

We are grateful to the Chairman and members for extending an invitation to contribute to this important discussion on the preparation of a sustainable development strategy for coastal and island communities. We would like to present to the committee a brief summary of the principal points detailed in the submission we have made available to the committee.

Síneann cósta na Gaeltachta, atá thar ar 2,500 km, ó chósta thuaidh Dhún na nGall tríd Muigheó, Gaillimh, Ciarraí, chuig an Rinn i gContae Phort Láirge agus tá sé thart ar 25% d'fhad chósta na hÉireann, lena n-áiritear sé chinn d'oileáin Gaeltachta. Tá daonra 71,367 i gceist agus muid ag áireamh sa limistéar sin ach a bhfuil i bhfoisceacht 10 km ón gcósta. Tá 6,500 post lánaimseartha as an iomlán fostaíochta lánaimsearth de 7,000 duine atá fostaithe ag cliant comhlachtaí an údaráis i láthair na huaire.

Údarás has targeted development objectives in the following sectors: seaweed, mariculture, food, sustainable development energy, green and clean tech, and tourism, mostly cultural tourism.

Ba mhaith linn cuidiú lenár gcliaint fiontair bunaithe ar acmhainní chósta nó ar fhiontar atá ag fo-soláthar nó ag tabhairt seirbhísí do na hearnálacha thuasluaite. Ba mhaith linn tacú le comhlachtaí Gaeltachta sna hearnálacha thuasluaite fás agus forbairtí a dhéanamh trí airgead agus tacaíochtaí cuí a chur ar fáil dóibh agus ba mhaith linn páirtnéireachtaí, comhghuaillíochtaí straitéiseacha agus ghréasáin a fhorbairt geallsealbhóirí cosúil le na daoine atá thart ar an mbord anseo inniu.

There are challenges and opportunities. We believe the licence system should be reviewed and simplified. It is critical that sufficient resources are made available to the appeals board to support its ongoing work programme. We would also suggest a three-year development scheme for commercial aquaculture. If that is done, we believe there are many opportunities in seaweed, mariculture, food and tourism development, especially cultural tourism.

Traditionally, the coastal Gaeltacht communities have been dependent on the marine resource. This resource has been integral to the overall economic, social and cultural development of the Gaeltacht. It is imperative that every support and development opportunity is provided to these vulnerable marginal coastal communities to ensure their ongoing viability. Such supports can be delivered in an integrated fashion through financial and development measures, which will create employment and local added value. We believe Údarás possesses the required expertise and experience in local economic regeneration, enterprise development and the delivery of community-based and sectoral initiatives that support such communities. My colleague Jim Keogh and I would be happy to expand on any aspect of this presentation and respond to any questions members wish to submit to us.