Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As the Chairman rightly pointed out, and I believe it is a question he has raised before given it is of interest to his home county where there are a number of non-Gaeltacht islands, it was highlighted before Christmas that there would be changes to the funding streams as a result of the new cap. I am delighted to inform the committee there is going to be a change. I acknowledge the work that took place behind the scenes, particularly by the Minister, Deputy Alan Kelly, and the Minister of State, Deputy Ann Phelan, and their officials, with my own officials in finding a solution. From 1 April, responsibility for the non-Gaeltacht islands will be moving to the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht and there will be a move in funding from the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government to the tune of €300,000, and €400,000 in 2016.

There has been a lot of uncertainty around the non-Gaeltacht islands. I met people on both Bere Island and Sherkin Island and I had two public meetings prior to this decision, so I know there was a degree of stress and distress on this issue before Christmas. However, work can progress with willpower. We can sometimes be critical of a lack of interdepartmental thinking and a lack of proactivity at an interdepartmental and Government level. However, in this instance, I believe a tremendous effort has taken place between my Department and the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, and also with the Minister of State, Deputy Ann Phelan's officials, to ensure there is a proper funding stream in place from 1 April onwards.

I say this by way of an update, given this was announced in the last number of hours. I acknowledge the role of the Minister, Deputy Kelly. For the first time, there will be continuity of responsibility in one Department for both the non-Gaeltacht islands and the Gaeltacht islands, which I believe is a good thing.