Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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Cuirim fáilte mhór roimh chuile dhuine a tháinig anseo inniu. Is onóir mhór í domsa a bheith mar Chathaoirleach ar an gcoiste seo freisin. Táim ag tnúth le hobair dian a bheith os ár gcomhair as seo amach.

I advise everyone that headsets are provided in the committee room with an interpretation service provided by Rannóg an Aistriúcháin.

I welcome the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Deputy Heather Humphreys; the Ministers of State, Deputies Seán Kyne and Michael Ring, and all of their officials. A great team of officials have been brought to educate all of us.

The purpose of the meeting is to consider the Department's Revised Estimate for 2016. I draw everyone's attention to the draft timetable circulated for the meeting and the fact that there are fixed time limits for each programme. Is the timetable agreed to? Agreed.

Briefing material which provides details of the Revised Estimate was circulated to members. I propose the following arrangements: there will be no opening statements; the Minister will make a brief opening statement prior to our consideration of each programme, in she should indicate if there are emerging pressures likely to impact on departmental performance or expenditure on each of the programmes in 2016; whether there are concerns about performance or service delivery in particular areas to the extent that there is a possibility that the funding allocated will not be fully spent by year end; the areas involved and the reasons for a possible saving or underspend; and whether reallocation of funds to, from or within the programme has taken place or is contemplated. The issue of administration will be considered under these headings when each of the programme areas has been disposed of or as we deal with each of the programmes. I propose that questions on programmes be taken together, at the end of which the Minister can respond.

I will deal with the individual programmes and corresponding subheads under the Vote. The Minister might make a brief opening statement on programme A.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Before the Minister begins, the briefing material sets out expenditure information. It refers to changes since 2015 and the following percentages are given: 20%, 12%, 19%, 2% and 7%. There was a big jump in the total Estimate from €317 million to €370 million. Would it be possible to get an overview of the total allocation this year and the portents for the future?

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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If we proceed in the fashion suggested, the Deputy will have an opportunity to ask his question.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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First, I congratulate the Deputy Peadar Tóibín on being appointed Chairman of the committee. I also congratulate its members and look forward to working positively with all of them and the Chairman. Is mór agam an deis seo a fháil inniu chun Meastúcháin mo Roinne don bhliain seo a phlé.

I am very pleased to have the opportunity to outline the priorities of my new Department. To be helpful to members, I have provided everybody with an overview that sets out some of the issues Deputies may wish to raise with me. A full briefing document was also provided. Does the Chairman wish to me to speak on-----

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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Programme A, yes.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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More than €188 million is being provided in 2016 for the arts, culture and film sector, an increase of 20% on the figure for 2015, with a further €6.158 million being provided by way of a capital carry-over. A key driver of the increase in funding for the arts and in cultural expenditure in my Department in 2016 is the ongoing commemorations programme.

The allocation in 2016 is almost €49 million, including €31 million in capital and €18 million in current expenditure. The programme is ongoing, but the main commemorative events of the Easter period are now concluded. The people of Ireland embraced the opportunity to commemorate the events of 100 years ago, and in doing so they made them a great success. I look forward to the remainder of the year's activities.

The capital allocation of almost €31 million for commemorations, supplemented by €6.158 million in carryover from 2015, has provided for a number of flagship projects or permanent reminders that are being progressed this year, including the interpretive exhibition in the GPO complex, the tenement museum in Henrietta Street, the refurbishment of Richmond Barracks, where the leaders of the 1916 Rising were held after their surrender, and the new visitor centre at Teach an Phiarsaigh in Rosmuc. Funding for 2016 has also supported the following projects, which form part of the Ireland 2016 commemorative programme: the development of a recital room at the National Concert Hall, as well as the works to the foyer and front of house facilities; and the redevelopment of the National Archives at its Bishop Street headquarters. In addition to this significant investment provided under the commemorations programme for the concert hall and the archives, the major refurbishment of the National Gallery of Ireland continues in 2016, in addition to investment of more than €39 million this year in our national cultural institutions.

The important and valuable work of the Arts Council has also been recognised. This is reflected in the 2016 current allocation of more than €60 million, which is an increase of €1.2 million over the 2015 allocation. Funding of €5 million is also provided to meet the anticipated demand in 2016 for the funding of the Cork events centre. Some €5.5 million is provided in 2016 for Culture Ireland, which includes €3 million for "I am Ireland", or "Mise Éire", the Culture Ireland international programme that forms part of the Ireland 2016 centenary programme. I am happy to expand on any issues that Deputies would like to raise relating to this programme area.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The Minister had a carryover of €6.158 million into this year from last year in capital expenditure. Might she explain how that arose? At this stage, what is her estimate: will she spend all the capital under the arts, culture and film subhead this year? Having a carryover is something to be avoided at all times because, as the Minister knows, when you have a carryover and you go to the Department of Finance looking for more money, they will say, "Well, you did not spend what we gave you last year." It will use that stick to beat you.

The Department got a considerable amount of money this year for the 1916 commemoration across a number of subheads and programmes. That is why I hoped we might have a quick debate at the very beginning about the overall allocation to the Department. First, I take it that the Department will not expend as much next year on the decade of commemoration. Second, I am sure that every one of the organisations that benefit, whether it is the likes of the National Museum and galleries, the archives, the Arts Council or whatever, is starved for finance. Does the Minister expect to hold the same amount of gross money for the Department's Vote next year as this Revised Estimate, now she has it? Can we encourage the Minister to make a very strong case to the Minister for Finance, Deputy Noonan, that if he can afford it this year he can afford it next year - that the arts, heritage, the Gaeltacht and the islands have been starved of cash for the last five years and that it would be a welcome boost if the Department kept its headline budget for next year at least, because there are many things that need to be done?

We have a lot of problems in our country, but probably the most intractable problem we face is areas of high urban deprivation. They seem to be intergenerational. I often wonder why, with all the modern communications and interconnectivity of the world, these areas seem to be stuck in a rut of poverty. When one compares those areas now to areas in post-Famine Ireland that were really poor, they are not self-generating and creating wealth like post-Famine Ireland. Then one has to ask why these areas are not coming forward because they are a lot richer than post-Famine Ireland was. Why are they not progressing like post-Famine people did, either at home or abroad? Was there a much higher cultural and educational value in the great poverty of post-Famine Ireland? Did people have that value of culture and education that maybe is not currently there in the highly deprived areas? Therefore, would we get a great benefit in economic and social terms if we put more money into arts, culture, heritage, language and all the other things of the mind in these highly deprived areas? When one looks at the output in, for example, the poorest of Gaeltacht areas in terms of the literature of the 19th century and compares it to some of our vast urban areas with massive populations, one has to ask whether we have starved these people and kept them separate from these things on the basis that culture, heritage and art are an added extra for the middle classes, but not really for everybody? Has any analysis been done by the Minister's Department of the penetration of this €188 million last year into these areas of high deprivation? For example, how many people from the poorer, more socially disadvantaged RAPID areas go to the Abbey Theatre, the National Museum or the National Gallery, or are involved in drama and all the things of the mind? As I said, people underestimate the power of the mind for social and economic good and they think that, in the modern world, this is not for everybody, that it does not really have much importance and that it is an add-on, rather than a huge social driver.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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To take the last question first, I agree that investment in the arts, our culture and our heritage does a huge amount to improve deprived areas and, as the Deputy said, urban areas. That is a developing problem. The Arts Council strategy, Making Great Art Work, targets every sector of society. We have the Arts in Education Charter. We are working with the education sector to get young people involved in the arts at a very early age. When one gives the gift to a child of playing an instrument or to perform, one gives it to him or her for life. The Arts in Education Charter is something we want to build on. I agree that we need to look at that. As I said, the Arts Council is the main body that expends money to these different areas. It is something that we should look at. Arts spending should be even across the country. I am very keen on that. I get a lot of representations from rural counties that feel they do not get their fair share. It is very important that arts spending should be spread evenly.

The €6.15 million carryover mainly related to the permanent legacies, which were the capital commemoration projects.

Some of them did not spend as much money as they thought they would in 2015. It was carried over to continue and finish some of the projects. As the Deputy knows, we have had some very good projects that have been finished.

The Deputy mentioned the commemorations and the extra funding for them. I certainly want to hold the baseline figure. I would like the opening figure for next year to be the same as the closing figure for this year, as agreed. Anything I can do I will do and I will make the case for it. On investment in the arts, the commemorations have really allowed people to reconnect with the arts and their heritage and there have been huge benefits across the country. In every local authority area there have been commemorations and there is a plan for every county. That is why I will make the case based on the benefits of investing in the arts and argue that we need to hold on to this budget. I look forward to receiving the Deputy's support. The record speaks for itself this time: we invested extra money in the arts and it certainly paid off. There was great engagement across the country. We had young people performing plays related to the events of 1916.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I have just two very quick questions. The Minister has a budget of €56,730,000, and a carryover figure of €6.155 million. That gives a capital sum of €62 million to be spent by the end of the year under the various subheads. The biggest lump is being spent on the programme for a decade of commemorations. How much had been spent by the end of June? In other words, are we at least halfway there, as we would expect?

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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We are broadly in line with the profile for the end of June.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Is the figure 50%?

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Yes, but I will come back to the Deputy with the figures. We have the May figures. The profile figure is €14 million. We keep very much in touch with the different projects in process. We maintain a lot of contact with them to try to have their budgets spent. Like the Deputy, I want to see every penny spent, but sometimes there are delays for different, sometimes very valid reasons. For that reason, the money was not spent as quickly as we thought it would, but the Deputy can rest assured that pressure will be exerted every month when at the MinMAC meeting, when I will want to know what is holding up projects. We will certainly make every effort to spend as much as we can.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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As this is a new committee, we have not fully organised our modus operandi, but I suggest we have a maximum of ten minutes per member per programme? That means that if we all travel that distance, we will be here for four and a half hours. Obviously, we want to get the job done, but we want to do it in a timely fashion. If we allow ten minutes per member on each programme, it should give us enough time.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I have one final question. Would it be possible for the Minister to ask the Arts Council to give us a breakdown of local schemes in disbursing the money around the country, rather than just giving it to the Abbey Theatre which is central? Will it give us a breakdown of the moneys it has allocated to RAPID programme areas?

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I think that information might be available on the website. It may not be available for RAPID programme areas, but I will ask the Arts Council. It is available per county, but I will ask the Arts Council to provide us and the Deputy with the information sought. That will not be a problem.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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Ba mhaith liom mo cheist féin a chur ar an Aire ag an bpointe seo. Most people reading the Department's figures will realise that the funds are not enough for the sectors for which they are to provide. There has been much positive commentary in the past while in regard to the funding allocated to the arts. I asked a dozen people who had a particular interest in this what they thought would be the breakdown in terms of the Department's finances. They thought the spend for the Irish language would be approximately 30% of the spend but were shocked when they saw that the percentage was significantly lower than that at between 13% and 16% of the total figure.

I have a question similar to the one asked by Teachta Ó Cuív. What measurements are being carried out by the Government in regard to the socioeconomic and regional delivery of funds? Do we know the percentage the socioeconomic sectors and the regions are receiving?

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Again, the Arts Council would have responsibility for assessing and disbursing the funding provided to it. We did a value for money audit on the Arts Council and a good deal of information came through on that. The Arts Council has its policy, Making Great Art Work, and one of the issues I raised with it is the need to make sure there is a regional spread of the funding.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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There is not a socioeconomic measurement in regard to funding.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Arts Council would have those figures.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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If the Department could provide those figure, we would appreciate that.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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We will provide them.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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There was an output in regard to the number of artists and organisations receiving support through the departmental spend, which appears to be small and the number appears to be reducing. Is there a reason for that?

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Again, that is the Arts Council. There are 400 individual artists but there are 450 arts organisations. I raised this question with the Arts Council also. Many artists involved in some of the arts organisations get funding. It is the Arts Council which assesses those applications and decides who gets funding.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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Is there any spend included for Moore Street?

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Yes. It is under heritage.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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I thought it was under the 1916 heading.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Sorry.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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The Minister suggested that a consultative body would be set up with stakeholders.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Yes.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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Stakeholders have requested that this be done before the summer recess. Is that likely to be set up before the summer recess?

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I hope it will be set up before the summer recess. We are progressing that this week; we are working on that.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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Go raibh maith agat.

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I will focus on arts and education aspects. I know the Minister is a big supporter of arts and education and she worked closely with me in my former job with Cavan and Monaghan Education and Training Board. In regard to the Arts in Education Charter, how is the higher implementation group progressing with the Arts Rich Schools programme, which is an objective of the Arts in Education Charter?

Will the Minister comment on the local arts in education partnership - I know she was very supportive of the Cavan and Monaghan - and on that relationship between the education and training boards and the local authority arts officers and the county councils and that over-arching relationship between two closely connected statutory bodies? Will she comment on Arts in Education officers and whether her Department has any plans to roll out something similar nationally? As the Minister is aware, we had a very good pilot scheme in Cavan and Monaghan of which she was a major supporter. What is the position on that?

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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In terms of Arts in Education, there is a committee chaired by Professor Coolahan. A sub-group has been set up on the Arts Rich Schools programme, which will report to the high level implementation group in the coming months.

The Arts Council will be reporting to the high-level implementation group in the coming months. It is coming forward with some very good suggestions.

The Deputy is very familiar with the arts and education sectors. The Cavan-Monaghan ETB was regarded as having a good working relationship with the arts officers. As the Deputy said, it is a question of two statutory bodies coming together. The organisation was very proactive in Cavan and Monaghan. Other counties could have examined the model, which worked so well there. I am very keen on it. When young people get the chance to experience arts of any kind in school, including primary school, they carry this with them for life. We should be able to impart this to all children.

With regard to arts and education officers, the matter can be examined by the committee. However, I do not want duplication. There are arts officers in the local authorities, heritage officers, museum curators and the ETBs. I want everybody working together. I really do not want duplication. It is important to facilitate artists to go to schools and to spend time with young people. I was at such an event myself in Inver College in Carrickmacross. An artist was brought in and it was tremendous for the pupils to be able to express themselves through painting. We need to build on and progress this.

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The charter is really well written and clearly laid out. Bearing in mind my involvement, I would have no apprehension regarding duplication. I am very conscious always that there should not be two separate bodies providing the very same service.

What was super about the arts and education charter is that it focused on delivering the expertise of the professional arts sector to schools rather than expecting teachers to pick up the pieces or expecting a maths teacher or primary school teacher to start teaching an art class. There is a great opportunity to provide professional artists with a job. We know professional artists have very little job security. They could deliver a very professional, contemporary arts practice within primary and secondary schools and in the adult and further education sectors. It has received considerable attention. I would not be fearful at all about duplication. As I understand it, the remit of the local authority arts officer is to focus on the professional development of an artist within the community. By contrast, the job of the arts education officer is to bring professional artists into the education sector so we will not expect our academic teachers to pick up the pieces and start teaching as part of an artistic programme.

The initiative has great potential. I acknowledge the Minister was very supportive. She got to see the benefits of the initiative in Cavan-Monaghan. With the amalgamation of the ETBs, there is now a great opportunity. A I stated, there are only 16 ETBs across the island. Appointing an arts education officer would have far-reaching benefits for artists, whom we said have very little job security, and young people, because it is with them that it really starts.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I accept what the Deputy saying but I would like to see more involvement by the Arts Council in that project. It has plans in its ten-year strategy on making great artwork. It plans to emphasise providing for children and young people specifically.

I do not know how many counties have arts education officers. Cavan–Monaghan had one, namely the Deputy herself. I do not know the position around the country. As I stated, the model worked very well in Cavan–Monaghan and it has been regarded as an example of a pilot project that worked very well. We need to do some work on it.

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I have a final question. Is the high-level implementation group answerable to the Minister or to the Department of Education and Skills?

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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It is a joint charter.

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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So it reports to both Ministers?

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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It reports to both Ministers. I have not had an opportunity to meet it since my appointment but I hope to be able to do so very shortly. I am very conscious of that.

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister.

Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent)
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I welcome what the Minister said about even expenditure across the country. This is a considerable issue, especially in rural communities. In representing my community, I met representatives of the West Cork Arts Centre and learned they believe the centre is receiving funding at the lower scale. If there is a carryover of €6 million, it is only fair that this money would be evenly spent, especially in rural communities where unemployment is at a very low level. It might help to create some employment in rural communities. How does the Minister intend to roll out the funding more evenly?

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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That carryover concerned capital projects. Sometimes, in spite of having the best will in the world, one does not finish a house when expected. That is where the money needs to be carried over. The money is still needed to finish the project.

There is a very fine arts centre in west Cork. We have been supporting it. Sometimes there are good reasons why money is not spent, although I like to see money spent if it is budgeted for. No Minister wants to carry over money but it is sometimes the case that one cannot spend it because the work has not been finished. One cannot pay out the money in advance of the work being finished.

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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It is good to have the Minister and Ministers of State present. With regard to badly-needed support for regional arts centres across the country, is there a plan to address the current need for capital injection in such buildings? Could the Minister provide the committee with an update on the current position in Culture 2025 and the national cultural policy?

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The issue of the regional arts centres has been raised with me on a number of occasions. During the downturn, there was very little capital investment in many arts centres across the country. I was glad it was agreed, in the context of the budget for 2016, to have a grant scheme for regional arts centres. The applications and guidelines are being finalised. I hope to have the scheme opened very shortly. It is important to invest in arts centres because the windows are rattling and the roofs are leaking in some of them. The primary focus of the scheme will be the refurbishment and enhancement of the existing stock of arts centres. There will be €3 million per year over the next three years. That is a total of €9 million. Stream 1 will offer grants between €20,000 and €300,000 for essential repairs to and enhancement of existing dedicated arts and cultural facilities. Stream 2 will offer grants from €300,000 to €2 million for large enhancement or expansion projects. Stream 3 will be geared towards providing grants of up to €20,000 to community and voluntary groups. A small amount can often make a huge difference. The centres really need to have refurbishments carried out.

With regard to Culture 2025, the strategy is at an advanced stage. We carried out extensive public consultation right across the country. We then consulted a high-level group of experts. We invited people to make submissions and all of those have come in.

We are working with the group of experts and at the end stage. Culture 2025 will be the basis for an ongoing formative discussion on culture and should facilitate the development of evidence-based strategies to achieve an ambitious vision. The aim of Culture 2025 and what I want to see is the provision of a clear vision and strong foundation for the continued vitality, development and viability of Irish culture between 2016 and 2025. I want to see it permeating all decision-making by the Government. The programme for Government commits to the publication of Culture 2025. At this stage we are in the final stages of putting together the draft document. I will bring it to the Oireachtas committee in order that we can have a conversation about it. I look forward to hearing its members' suggestions. We are trying to put it together and include the suggestions of those who have spoken to us, but I will be happy to sit down and work with and have a discussion with committee members on it. I hope to do this shortly. We will publish the draft document and let the committee members consider it. The committee can then come back to me with its suggestions on how we can improve on it.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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Tá dhá cheist agam. What proportion of the funding in programme A was spent on cross-Border activities? The Minister also mentioned that existing arts centres would be the first to receive grants. Are they the ones that are registered and officially-----

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Yes.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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Second, the Film Board has had its budget cut to about €11 million by successive Governments. Despite this, it has been able to produce good quality output. It released a request yesterday that there be a doubling of its budget, I think, to €20 million. Would that be possible and is it among the Government's objectives?

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Film Board does tremendous work and has supported a number of successful films such as "Brooklyn" and "Room". In 2016 it has supported up to six creative feature film co-productions, ten documentary feature films for cinema release and the production of four animated TV series. It supports the development of TV drama productions in English and Irish and for cinema distribution. Therefore, it does extremely good work. I was glad that I was able to move it in the right direction and secure an increase in its budget last year. If we can build on the support we give it, we can get even better results. It is very positive and proactive in that there is so much it can and wants to do. This will be in the context of the budgetary discussions to be held later in the year, but the Film Board states we improved the level of section 481 tax relief. The Revenue Commissioners estimates that the projects which availed of section 481 tax relief in 2015 supported 12,000 jobs and had combined expenditure of almost €160 million. The raising of the cap on film tax relief was, therefore, most welcome and helped to attract some very high-profile film productions. In this context, I need only mention "Star Wars"; everybody knows the benefits it brought to west Cork, County Kerry, Malin Head and all along the west coast. Up to 500 people were working on the set at any given time. I visited it in County Kerry and it is amazing what such activity can do for a local town. It was through the work of the Film Board and the tax incentives in place that the production was able to be attracted to Ireland. It was hugely significant.

I went to see the first of the second or third series of "Star Wars". A little flicker of the Skelligs can be seen at the end of it and, goodness me, it is amazing. I hope that in the next film, we will see a lot more of Ireland.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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My question concerned the North-South spend out of the €188 million.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The main cross-Border spend in the Department comes under North-South co-operation, on which there is a small arts measure. For example, the Cross Border Orchestra of Ireland is based in Dundalk. Members may have been fortunate enough to attend the start of the 1916 commemoration ceremonies and the Cross Border Orchestra of Ireland performed at an event in the National Concert Hall. It was absolutely amazing. I am sure the Chairman is familiar with the Cross Border Orchestra of Ireland. It does great work, so I was delighted that we were able to increase its funding last year through the commemorations. Some Arts Council spend on a North-South basis goes to Annaghmakerrig in County Monaghan. The retreat there is funded by the two arts councils, North and South, and it is a great place, a retreat for artists. I was delighted to be able to assist it with some additional funding in order to provide a recording studio because many famous artists have been to Annaghmakerrig. It is a great place for them to come to and they continue to return over the years.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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Does the Minister have a figure?

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The current funding for co-operation with Northern Ireland is €160,000.

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I have one final question for the Minister. The capital investment in regional arts centres around the country is a welcome development. My experience, which I have expressed before, is that while these buildings have infrastrucutral deficits, the main deficits are staffing and running costs. As the Minister knows, even in the Garage Theatre in Monaghan, the ETB staffs it. That is the big downfall of any of these fabulous arts centres in that they have the best of facilities but do not have the staffing and the funds to employ the people to run them, programme them and so on. Many of these arts centres are run through CE schemes and various other temporary schemes. There is no continuity. Are there any plans to roll out funding to staff these centres given that we have them?

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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We will take two questions at once.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Was any thought given to talking to the Minister's colleague, the Minister for Social Protection, about expanding the community services programme, which is a long-term programme, unlike CE schemes, which last two or three years? Tús schemes last one year. The community services programme is a long-term programme for people who are employed. A payment is received for a manager and a number of full-time equivalents are granted and one can actually employ people and supplement the wages. Such schemes are ideal for arts centres. I think some arts centres have had them from the time I was in government. They are ideal because there must be some element of income but they must also be charitable bodies and have a deficit. In other words, the service must not be economically viable, which no arts centre is, without some support. In support of my colleague, I believe the Minister and the Minister for Social Protection could collaborate. The difference in cost between people drawing the dole, jobseeker's allowance, and putting them on these schemes is quite modest. It becomes particularly modest when it takes into account that many people who work on these schemes are unlikely to get commercial employment and their social and medical well-being, which is costing the State a fortune, is radically improved. The Department of Social Protection has some very good medical evidence of the hugely detrimental mental and medical effect of unemployment, that unemployed people have higher morbidity and mortality rates, go to the doctor more often, die younger and are ill a lot more often. Imagine all the money that could be saved. The Minister could bring her colleague, the Minister for Health, in on this too because his Department would save a fortune if she did this. That is very important. There is no point in building big capital projects without staffing them.

I have one other question. I understand that each Department is meant to make its archives available going back 30 years or whatever by the end of the year and that the archives come under the Minister's Department. Her Department has singularly failed to make its archives available on time for the end of the year.

Perhaps this year the Minister could lead by example and make the archives available. The transfer of files does not happen on time. I am a little surprised by this. Perhaps the Minister could check to ensure it happens on time this year when the archives are ready to be opened.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Funding for the running of the arts centres is provided by the Arts Council. I do not provide any direct funding for the running of arts centres. The local authorities are involved at local level.

Like the Deputy, I believe the community services programme is great. I was able to assist in a programme not too far from me at home. There are arts involved in addition to community services such as meals on wheels. The programme gives employment to people who might not otherwise get an opportunity. I have spoken briefly to the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Leo Varadkar, regarding the programme. I will be having further discussions with him because I agree with Deputy Ó Cuív that, even in terms of the rural areas brief we will be speaking about later, there are great opportunities. A village with nothing in it and a closed post office could use the community services programme to gain assistance where it would not otherwise be financially viable. It is a great programme. I will certainly be having conversations on this with the Minister for Social Protection.

The timely transfer of the archives is an issue right across government. My Department, with the National Archives, is about to embark on a study with a number of Departments to determine whether improvements can be made and how money could be saved on the storage of non-essential files and paper.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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My understanding is that there is an obligation to have them available within a certain timeframe and that the Minister’s Department is not adhering to this. Surely this is giving a very bad example to all the other Departments. I understand it is the law the land. I never take kindly to State agencies ignoring the law when they expect citizens to obey it.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Part of the problem was storage in the National Archives. We have invested in this and work is ongoing to improve the storage facility in the archives. We will continue to work with the National Archives on this.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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An bhfuil aon cheist ar chlár B, faoi heritage? Ar mhaith leis an Aire píosa beag a rá faoi heritage, faoi chlár B?

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Both the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Ring, and I will make some introductory remarks on the heritage programme. Funding of €44 million has been made available from my Department’s heritage programme. This includes €35.4 million allocated for current expenditure, with a further €8.6 million in capital funding. The protection of Ireland’s unique raised bog special areas of conservation is a key concern, as is the avoidance of major fines by the European Court of Justice. That is reflected in the allocation of a further €1 million in 2016 for peatlands restoration. Priority is also continuing to be given to the turf cutter compensation schemes and investment in alternative turf cutting sites for affected turf cutters.

The Government committed in a programme for a partnership Government to the continuation of current processes involving all stakeholders affected by measures put in place to meet the conservation objectives and legal obligations on the State under the habitats directive.

I announced the built heritage investment scheme, which was based on a highly successful built heritage jobs leverage scheme. It was allocated €2 million for the 2016 budget to protect our built heritage and create and protect employment across the country. The scheme for 2016 was announced in October, with capital of €2 million available to 31 local authorities, to which responsibility for administering the scheme has been devolved. City and county authorities are participating in the scheme and, to date, 50 projects have commenced, with eight now completed. The amount of privately leveraged funding is €869,000, with a total of 1,888 days of employment created.

The Minister of State, Deputy Michael Ring, will speak on the Estimate as it relates to the national parks and nature reserves.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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An bhfuil aon cheist ag éinne?

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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Could the Minister give me an update on the Heritage Bill 2016 and the proposed amendment on the closed period for hedge cutting?

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I have got agreement that the Heritage Bill will continue where it left off. It is ready to proceed to Committee Stage in the Seanad and I am waiting on a date from the Seanad in this regard.

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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What about the closed period for hedge cutting?

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The closed period for hedge cutting will remain as it is until the legislation goes through the Dáil. Where there are road safety issues, it still applies that local authorities can cut a hedge. Owing to the election and other developments, the legislation got held up. It is to proceed to Committee Stage and I look forward to the Deputy's support on that.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Are we just referring to built heritage or are we referring to natural heritage also?

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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Everything in programme B.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The Minister said Minister of State, Deputy Michael Ring, was to make a statement.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Yes.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Could we hear it before we ask him a few hard questions?

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I congratulate the Chairman. I wish the members well. I am looking forward to working with them over what I hope will be the next five years.

I appreciate the opportunity to discuss with the select committee the 2016 Estimates and to outline this year’s priorities for a number of areas under my Department’s Vote. For the benefit of the committee members, I would like to set out my responsibilities in the Department. They include national rural development schemes, including rural recreation, the rural walks scheme, the rural development fund and the CLÁR programme. Also under my remit are the national parks and nature reserves, the development of the Atlantic economic corridor, reinforcing the role of the Western Development Commission, dormant accounts measures, tidy towns, social enterprise and the development of the rural post office network. I will assist the Minister in the rolling out of rural broadband in Connacht.

With regard to the heritage programme, more than €1 million in capital funding will be made available to invest in and develop visitor facilities in the national parks and nature reserves for 2016. My intention as Minister of State is to conserve the parks and reserves, to increase awareness of the benefits of those important natural assets and to show they can help to create and sustain jobs in addition to contributing to economic and regional development. I will be working with Fáilte Ireland and the National Trails Office of the Irish Sports Council to determine how the trails network in our parks and reserves, particularly along the west coast, can help to develop the tourist experience along the Wild Atlantic Way. I am convinced that the development of walking and hiking infrastructure and the enhancement of the visitor facilities at our natural heritage properties can provide opportunities for job creation and economic growth, particularly in rural areas.

The refurbishment of Killarney House and Gardens in Killarney National Park, costing a total of €8 million, is co-funded by Fáilte Ireland, which contributed €5.2 million. I was glad to be Minister of State when the latter sum was allocated for the project. Works on the gardens are nearly completed and it is expected that they will be fully open to the public within a few weeks. The exhibition element in the house itself will be completed later this year and it is envisaged that it will open to the public in early 2017. After it opens, the additional tourism created by the project will greatly benefit the local and regional economy and promote job creation. The Minister and I will answer any questions members wish to ask.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Could the Minister tell me whether the Heritage Bill is a Seanad Bill?

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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It is a Seanad Bill.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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It will be coming to the Dáil later.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Yes.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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We can deal with that on another day through pre-legislative scrutiny. There are a few issues concerning the legislation that need to be addressed.

I do not know how, but they need to be dealt with.

Since, like me, he lives in the west, I think the Minister of State, Deputy Ring, would agree that there is a fair spend on heritage. However, most of the people who conserve the heritage believe that the role of the Department is a totally negative one of "don'ts", rather than positively working with farmers on how to preserve the heritage. What extra resources would be required so that instead of the Department being negative and reactive on natural heritage, which has caused a lot of anger among farmers and rural people, it can work positively with rural communities which have preserved the heritage we all care about and which care about it deeply? Can the Minister of State give some indication of how the Department intends to identify the resources that would be needed in order to change its outlook from seeming to be more concerned about keeping Europe at bay than preserving the heritage in partnership with landowners, who have created the incredible heritage we have? If one travels around Mayo, Galway, Donegal, Cork or Kerry, huge distrust relating to conservation has built up between authority and landowners. We will never conserve if we do not have buy-in and positive relationships.

Has a consensus been achieved between the people who cut bogs and the Department on a way forward to ensure that traditional rights are recognised and preserved? This is about more than money. There seems to be an attitude in the Department that it is all about money. I know hill farmers, as will the Minister of State, who are more concerned about having sheep than they are about making any profit from them. No matter what monetary compensation they are given, they would prefer to keep the animals.

Finally, the regulations under which the habitats directive operates in Ireland - dating back to 1997 - says that where the traditional output of a farmer is impacted by a designation, and where they are not in an agri-environmental scheme, they should get direct compensation from the Department. I understand that this is not currently in operation. I have no doubt that a new brush sweeps everything clean. Perhaps the Deputy could outline when he will reinstate the legislative provision, which is there in law, for compensation if something a farmer had traditionally been doing is interfered with by the designation of an SAC, SPA, NHA or any other of these many designations.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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On the first question relating to the trust between farmers, Departments and Government, that dates back a long way. It is very simple. The Deputy is a rural man, like me. Sometimes the State thinks it can just walk into people's land and property. Sometimes it just does not talk to farmers. I will give the committee a very simple explanation of where it works and where it does not. In the Deputy's county of Galway we have provided a great deal of funding for the walks from Dublin to Athlone and Athlone to Galway. That was handed over to the National Roads Authority, which thought it could treat the farmers like it were treating people. It was taking over land for roads, using compulsory purchase orders and things of that nature. That does not work. We had to suspend that scheme because it was going into green land, dividing farms and land. One cannot do that.

Take another example of the greenway from Westport to Newport to Mulranny and on to Achill. Everybody said that it would not work, it would not happen and that we could not get buy-in from the farmers, but we did, simply because officials and State agencies went and talked to the farmers.

They talked to the communities. Where there was a difficulty, they got the communities to talk to the people who had the difficulties. Eventually, they were ironed out. Whatever scheme we do, instead of these people reading about it in the newspapers or hearing announcements from Ministers, Deputies or whatever the case may be, we need to talk, consult and work with the landowners because it is their land and we need their help, support and buy-in. Deputy Ó Cuív introduced a very good scheme, the walks scheme, which worked very well. There was very little compensation but it was not about that. It was about respect. The one word that is not used often enough about people's land is "respect" because it is their land. We need to have co-operation from the farmers for any buy-in. Whatever schemes we introduce, we need first to sit down with the farmers, whether it is my Department, the local authorities or whatever State agency is dealing with whatever we are doing. The Minister, Deputy Humphreys, will deal with the two other issues.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I asked specific questions.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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We have four minutes left on this section.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I asked two specific questions. First, no doubt when the Minister of State goes to his officials about the nice approach he is talking about, he will be told that we do not have enough manpower or womanpower. Has the Minister of State made any assessment of the staff he would need to implement his new, highly positive programme relating to NHAs, SPAs or whatever? Second, will funding be made available to comply with the law relating to compensation for farmers who have had their traditional way of life interfered with, be it a reduction in the number of sheep or whatever, and who are entitled to compensation under the Habitats Directive regulations, as brought in in this country?

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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On the staffing composition, the Deputy is aware that this is a completely new Department. We are recruiting staff, including from different Departments. We certainly need more staff. Like every other Department, this Department has been badly affected by the embargo over the past number of years. On environmentally friendly farming relating to the Exchequer schemes, we are at a time of diminished resources but at the same time, GLAS has an annual budget of €250 million, with around €3.2 million allocated for agri-environmental support for 2014, €2.5 million in 2015 and €1.66 million in 2016. There is a scheme there, which I would like to see used. I would certainly like farmers compensated for any losses they have.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Is the Minister of State telling me that if farmers can prove that they have had to adjust their farming system since he imposed designations, he is guaranteeing compensation, as provided under the law? Lots of farmers - 70% of them - will never join GLAS. In fact, I think GLAS represents only 25% of farmers. I think the Minister's target is 50,000. Can we get an absolute assurance today?

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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No, we cannot.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Therefore, is the Minister of State telling me that the Department will continue flouting the law? Under the regulations brought in by Michael D. Higgins, when he was Minister rather than President, there was compensation to be paid to farmers. As the Minister of State's Secretary General will be able to tell him, for many years there was a scheme whereby, if farmers had a loss due to designation of traditional farming practices, they were entitled to compensation. That was stopped on the spurious excuse that there was no money but unless one changes the law, one has to find the money. It is not a question of discretion. Can the Minister of State reassure farmers that that money will be made available and that they will not have to take the Department to court to get the money?

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy and I know that we work with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. There is support and funding there.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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Through the Chair.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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It is a matter for the Department to be able to draw up a scheme. If farmers are losing and they need to be compensated, that is a matter between the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the farmers.

The money is in place in the scheme that is there. The GLAS scheme is there for them and I hope to see it used for the next couple of years.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Unfortunately, the Minister of State is dodging the issue. The situation is very simple. Under the regulations which were introduced in 1997, a farmer was not obliged to join GLAS. As I said, the majority of farmers are not in GLAS. If their output was affected by the habitats directive, they were entitled to compensation. Is the Minister of State going to comply with the law and make that compensation available? This was put in place under the Department and its regulations. I accept that if a farmer is in GLAS, which the minority are, he or she cannot get double compensation for the same action. That is the point. However, as the Minister of State knows, for many years, if one was not in the GLAS scheme and had to destock, one could get the money from the National Parks and Wildlife Service scheme.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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We are over time.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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That was ceased. Is the Minister of State going to reinstate it?

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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To be helpful, the Department has not introduced any specific restrictions outside the NPWS scheme or the GLAS scheme.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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As such, the Minister of State is saying that a farmer-----

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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Please, Deputy.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Finally.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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Very finally.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The Minister of State is saying that if a farmer can prove that when the designation came in, he had 300 sheep and the Department reduced him to 200, he can now go back to 300 because no restriction has been brought in. Of course, the Minister of State knows that is not true, as do I. In reality, the Department, unilaterally and contrary to the regulations under the habitats directive, did away with the compensation. I am asking if the Minister of State is going to reinstate it and comply with the law.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The compensation scheme went back to previous Governments when the Deputy was a Minister. He was also in the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine himself in relation to the GLAS scheme and the other schemes that were in place. If any restrictions were brought in, I am sure the Deputy was there himself at the time.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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And we paid.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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We all agreed to ten minutes but the Deputy is now on 12 minutes on this section.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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We are not getting answers.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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We could be here for three years without getting answers, to be honest. If we are going to agree to ten minutes, we should stick to it. If we want to agree to 15 minutes, we will do that.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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What is the point of being here if the Minister of State is not going to answer questions?

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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We have to move on to the next speakers.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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This is------

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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I understand that it is a serious issue and that the Deputy may feel the Minister of State has not answered his question, but there are a heap of other questions we also have to put to him.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I know, and if he had answered the question, we could have moved on within two seconds. It is "Yes" or "No".

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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We are not going to get any further by apportioning more time to the question, so we are going to move on to the next set of questions.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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That is a weak view from the Chair who is meant to be protecting the members' interests.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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We agreed to ten minutes not 30 minutes ago, so we are going to move on. I have a couple of questions. The State was involved in a court case regarding Moore Street. How much was spent by the State on the case and how much will it cost to proceed with the forthcoming case?

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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That figure is not in these Estimates.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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It is from last year's spend.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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No, the case was this year. It was defending a case and we have not received any billing yet.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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Is there any estimate the Minister could make as to the cost?

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I will have to come back to the Chairman with that figure. I do not have it off the top of my head.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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Perhaps the Minister could estimate the cost to the State of the upcoming next phase of the court action. Is it likely that there will be a cost to the State with regard to the infringement cases from the European Commission?

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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We have not had any fines yet, but have been working with the Commission. We have been over to visit it in terms of trying to comply with the case. As such, no fines have been imposed due to the ongoing work with the Commission on a number of infringement issues in respect of peatlands and special areas of conservation, which relate to the turf action.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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There have been no fines.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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That is right. We have been working with the Commission very closely to explain that we recognise the right of traditional turf cutters. That is in the programme for Government. I have met the Commissioner personally and explained to him that this is a very sensitive issue.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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Sure.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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It is very much part of our heritage. We are working on that.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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Has there been a change with regard to the funding of greenways? While greenways are under the Department's remit, does the funding of greenways remain a matter for the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport?

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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It is in the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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What role does the Minister of State's Department have?

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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We do not have a role. It is a matter for the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, but I have asked the Government to transfer responsibility for greenways to my Department. A Cabinet sub-committee is investigating that.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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With regard to the work on re-wilding the Nephins, which is a project in the Minister of State's county, what funds are being spent?

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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There is some funding for this year. There will be an allocation of €25,000 for the Ballycroy National Park. Srahduggan is an area where we get access into the national park and major funding has been put in place to buy that this year. Ballycroy National Park recently won a major international dark sky park classification and €28,000 is being invested to have it ready for an event in October.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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It is near my place and I got to visit it myself a couple of weeks ago. I hear there are 46 cases of dedesignation with regard to raised bogs. Will the Minister explain that?

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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It is something we had been looking at. We looked at these bogs and felt they were not as important as others. The heads of a Bill have been agreed at Cabinet and are with the committee for discussion. We are dedesignating bogs, but will also be designating other bogs which we feel are more important in terms of their conservation. It will take a lot of landowners out of the system and they will be able to continue to cut. We will compensate for that by designating other bogs which we feel are very important.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Are any of those special areas of conservation or are they all natural heritage areas, NHAs?

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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I am going to have to follow the line, Deputy Ó Cúiv. I might let you back in at the end of this particular programme. I call Deputy Danny Healy-Rae.

Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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I had my hand up before the Minister finished talking about hedge cutting, an issue which has been lingering for too long. An extension of time was requested by my local authority going back Christmas 12 months. On that day, there was also a unanimous request to extend the period for gorse burning. I have a question for the Minister of State on rural water and group water schemes. Is he responsible for those?

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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That is the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government.

Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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I am very concerned when I hear the Minister say other bogs will be designated.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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Deputy Collins has a related question. It might be useful to let him in now.

Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent)
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The Minister might be answering the same question twice. Deputy Healy-Rae referred to hedge cutting and things moved on. I would like to go back to it. We are talking about a closed period. Obviously, a Bill is going through. I do not think there is a full realisation of the situation that is out there. I can only talk about Cork County Council. Going back many years ago, it had full authority and was cutting verges, which the community appreciated and was willing to pay for to a degree. That has ceased to be the case.

The local authority does not cut the verges any more and it is left to the local community to do so. Grants have been provided and local community groups try to draw down money to cut some of the verges. The reality is that 80% of the verges are not cut. That costs us and operators with lorries thousands of euros worth of damage and only the damage to vehicles is covered. The overgrowth at verges will definitely be the cause of deaths on our roads. Such overgrowth is to be found throughout rural Ireland. A closed period for the cutting of the verges seemed to apply in rural Ireland. When I was driving on the motorway to Dublin at 7.30 a.m., a gentleman telephoned me about this issue. I have been inundated with calls on it for the last pew days due to the very strong growth in vegetation in west Cork. As I was travelling here this morning, I saw three machines cutting the verges of the motorways between Cork and Dublin. Where is the concern for the protection of the wildlife on the route between Cork and Dublin? We have to protect the wildlife in rural Ireland. Such is the level of growth that we cannot get around our bins and we cannot pull out onto our roadways without taking the vehicle halfway across the road to check for oncoming traffic. On our motorways, however, the verges are cut to keep the edges clear at any time of the year one wants. What is the closed period for such cutting on the motorways? I would like a review of this area to try to find a compromise that would suit everybody. We have to protect our wildlife but, more importantly, we also have to protect human lives.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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The Minister might respond to those two questions together.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Yes, the questions relate to hedge cutting and gorse burning. The Heritage Bill was commenced by the previous Government. I initiated it in the Seanad and it has progressed as far as Committee Stage. I obtained agreement from the Government to progress the legislation and it will continue on Committee Stage. I am awaiting a date to go to the Seanad to continue with the Bill. The proposal in the Bill is that the gorse-burning period would be extended to the end of March and that hedge cutting would be allowed from 1 August within certain conditions.

Under section 42 of the relevant act, local authorities are allowed to cut hedges at any time of the year for health and safety reasons. The issue of whether they cut the hedges is a matter for them in terms of a programme which covers such activity. There is hedge-cutting programme in the local authority area in Galway but there is none in my local authority area. If there is a health and safety issue, local authorities can arrange to have hedges cut. I understand the point Deputy Michael Collins was making. As sure as the rain comes, the hedges grow halfway out into the middle of some of those small roads and that can present a danger. I cannot understand why people cannot cut the grass, where it is not part of a hedge, around their property at the side of the road. That could be done but, obviously, people want to cut the hedge and the grass at the same time. I know what the Deputy is talking about in terms of road safety. That issue will be dealt with in the Heritage Bill and I have to wait until I get a date form the Seanad to proceed with it.

Regarding the national heritage areas, NHAs, that we plan to de-designate, to be clear on this, that is being done to compensate for the loss of habitat. In terms of the ones we are de-designating, we are going to redesignate most of the bogs which are in public ownership. That will impact less upon on the turf cutters in terms of those bogs being in public ownership and belonging to the State on which there would be no turf cutting. Those are the bogs that will be designated to compensate for the ones that we wanted to de-designate. The current NHA network comprises 284 raised bogs and the new NHA network will comprise 290 raised bogs. That was the thinking behind it and the Bill will proceed through the Oireachtas. There were more than 3,000 active turf plots in the current NHA network and 3,000 people were impacted upon and there are only 500 in the new network, in the new areas that will be de-designated.

That means that 2,500 people will be allowed continue to cut their turf.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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I will allow Teachta Healy-Rae to ask a supplementary question.

Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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Will those 500 people be allowed have their say? They are human beings and this will affect their traditional way of life. Will the Minister have any discussions with them before she designates those bogs?

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Yes. There will be full consultation with them and they will have the option to apply for compensation or opt for relocation. Those will be the options that will be available to them.

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I have two questions for the Minister of State, Deputy Ring. First, has a Heritage Council board been established? It is my understanding that only a chair is in position since last November and that there is no board or committee in place to drive the work of the Heritage Council? Second, regarding a national heritage plan, my understanding is that every heritage officer in each local authority must have an individual heritage plan. Obviously, that is to draw down funds, but is there an overarching heritage plan or even a plan for a plan?

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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If the Chairman agrees, I will take that question as it falls under my remit. We are working with the Heritage Council on a new heritage plan. That is in progress. Regarding the board of the Heritage Council, it has gone through the Public Appointments Service, PAS, process. I have a recommendation on my desk, and in the coming week or so I intend to appoint the members to the board of the Heritage Council. All of them have gone through the PAS process. There is a list of names, and I have to do that.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I have three short questions. What steps have been taken by the Department to ensure the upgrade of the N59 can progress? As the Minister is aware, the National Parks and Wildlife Service, NPWS, has not yet agreed method statements on the Maam Cross to Oughterard section - I understand this comes under the remit of the Minister of State, Deputy Ring - and in the section west of Maam Cross I understand it did not arrive at an agreement with the county council before it went to An Bord Pleanála, with the subsequent disaster in terms of An Bord Pleanála turning down the planning permission application even though the road was largely on line. How much progress has been made in resolving that?

My second question is straightforward. In the designation and redesignation of alternatives, are we talking about natural heritage areas, NHAs, only? Is it a fact that it is nearly impossible, except for a natural disaster, to redesignate or dedesignate a special area of conservation, SAC, under European law?

The Minister mentioned a €2 million fund and the purpose for which it will be used. If that is a national fund spread among 30 counties, among Dublin's four local authorities, and among Cork's two, taking account of the city and the county, that is €66,000 per county. Will the Minister not agree that in a county like Galway that stretches from Ballinasloe to Clifden, €66,000 will do nothing?

Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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I was very interested to hear the Minister of State, Deputy Ring, speak about the way he progressed the development of the greenways in his part of the country. We have a proposal for a greenway in south Kerry. It is an important and laudable project but it is running into difficulty in that a compulsory purchase order, CPO, process has been initiated. In recent days, unsavoury slogans were erected on roadsides, including where the Ring of Kerry cycle took place where 13,000 or 14,000 people could see it. I am sad that such actions were taken that condemned our officials in Kerry County Council.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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Deputy Healy-Rae, this Minister does not have responsibility currently for greenways. We have a massive amount-----

Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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The Minister of State spoke about it in the same way that I would like to talk about it. The CPO process is being initiated in Kerry. I gather from the way the Minister of State spoke that the officials went down to speak to the people on the land and got agreement.

They got other stakeholders to talk to the landowners as well. That is how we would have preferred our projects to be carried out. Now, we are going down the road of the compulsory purchase order process and I do not know where that will finish up. Who initiated or suggested that Kerry County Council should undertake a CPO? Where did that come from? Those of us on Kerry County Council were told that it came from the Department.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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We will have to ask the Ministers to respond at this stage.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I will address the question on the greenways. The Deputy is correct. If we do not have buy-in from landowners, then we have a problem. Previously, I was in the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and we ran into difficulty in Galway. The project had to be suspended. I am not a believer in the CPO process if an alternative is possible. If we cannot get negotiation, we have a problem. There may be certain times when we may need to use that option, but I am not a believer in it. The best way forward is for communities to try to work this out for themselves.

I know I have said it already but the greenways have been one of the greatest successes, especially in towns in rural Ireland. They have given the likes of Newport, Mulranny and Achill a major lift in tourism because of the numbers of people coming in summer and winter. All I can say is that Kerry has a very good tourism product and this would add to it.

Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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We want it but I do not believe the CPO process is the way this is going to be delivered. I am unsure how we can liaise with the officials and get them to deal with the landowners, but that is the way to do it. I do not believe the CPO process is going to work and I am concerned about it.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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Minister, can you answer the three questions, please?

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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There was a question on the upgrade of the N59. There was a meeting on the matter attended by the Minister of State, Deputy Kyne, as well as other Oireachtas Members. I can confirm that the experts from my Department are sitting down with the local authority experts. They are trying to find a solution and move this forward.

I understand the frustration of Deputies. The Minister of State, Deputy Kyne, raised this at the departmental management meeting. I realise all Deputies want to get the project progressed. The relevant people are sitting down and they are to find solutions and work their way through what needs to be done.

De-designation is for national heritage areas only.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Am I right in what I said about special areas of conservation under European law? It would only apply if some natural disaster destroyed the SAC. Is that correct?

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy is correct. De-designation of SAC is provided for under the EU habitats directive. The basis for such de-designation is very narrow but a natural disaster is one of the possible reasons. It is difficult, but, having said that, we are continuing to work with the EU Commission on the matter.

There was another question on the €2 million fund. I presume the Deputy was referring to the €2 million under the built heritage investment scheme announced in October 2015. It has already leveraged almost €870,000 in private funding and 50 projects have commenced. I am keen to see it operate on a multiannual basis because there are extraordinary benefits in investing in our heritage. With that in mind as well as rural Ireland and towns and streetscapes, I will be making the case for another built heritage investment scheme. It is great for local communities. There is nothing like a heritage project to bring people together. People get extraordinary value from these projects, so I am hoping to get the support of Deputies on that in the budgetary process.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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An cheist dheireanach.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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County councils are putting preservation orders on everything, including barns. The idea that it is all happening in town and villages is inaccurate; it is happening throughout the countryside. I do not know what the hang-up is; everyone is talking about towns and villages as if everywhere else is in some kind of fantasy hinterland. The townlands of Ireland are as real as the towns. People are finding that every second building that has any heritage problem is being preserved but they are not being given the resources to preserve them. They are frozen in time and impossible to renovate in any way because they have become too expensive with all the stipulations of conservation architects and so on. I am simply making the point that I will support a €20 million, €30 million or €40 million fund, but given the rate of designation the Minister is going to have to put her money where her mouth is.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The designation is the responsibility of the local authority and the elected members. They make the decision. There are many examples of good heritage projects, but there are also different levels. The local authority and the elected members make the decision and the responsibility is theirs completely. I do not have an input. We set guidelines, but they make the final decision.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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I suggest a five minute suspension to enable people to take a break. We will return at 6.50 p.m. Is that agreed?

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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May I make a suggestion? What do we have left to do?

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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We have four more programmes to deal with. As we have gone through two programmes, we are one third of the way through.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The next one deal with the Irish language.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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Yes, followed by the one dealing with North-South co-operation.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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As some Deputies might not want to stay, perhaps the Irish language programme might be left until the end.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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It is useful to have a debate on and a good discussion about these matters. It is not every day we get the opportunity to properly debate them with the Minister. It is a good idea to stick to the ten minutes allowed. If we cannot ask questions and make the point we want tomake within ten minutes, we probably need better debating skills. I ask the Minister and the Ministers of State to confine their responses to the direct answers asked. I understand the Minister wants to put in the shop window all of the good work she is doing, but it would probably expedite the meeting and make it more efficient if we were to stick to context and direct questions and answers.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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We will resume in public session. I invite the Minister of State, Deputy Kyne, to make his presentation.

Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Go raibh maith agat, a Chathaoirligh. Gabhaim comhghairdeas leat as ucht do phost nua. Go n-éirí an t-ádh leat. Is mór agam an deis seo a fháil Meastúcháin 2016 sna réimsí Gaeilge, Gaeltachta agus oileán a phlé leis an gcoiste. Tá os cionn €51 milliún le caitheamh ag mo Roinn sna réimsí seo i mbliana. Tá os cionn €11 milliún le caitheamh ag mo Roinn i mbliana ar na scéimeanna tacaíochta Gaeilge agus Gaeltachta chun tacú le cur i bhfeidhm na Straitéise 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge taobh istigh agus taobh amuigh den Ghaeltacht. Cuirfidh an méadú atá tagtha ar an tsuim atá ar fáil don straitéis, ó €551,000 anuraidh go €1 milliún i mbliana, ar chumas na Roinne dul chun cinn a dhéanamh ar réimsí na straitéise agus tacaíocht a thabhairt don straitéis agus don phróiseas pleanála teanga.

Tá Údarás na Gaeltachta freagrach as na heagraíochtaí a roghnú chun plean teanga a ullmhú agus a fheidhmiú sna limistéir pleanála teanga chun cabhrú le cur i bhfeidhm an phróisis. Tá deontas de €400,000 curtha ar fáil ag an Roinn don údarás sa bhliain reatha don phleanáil teanga.

Maidir leis na hoileáin, tá €6.631 milliún ar fáil faoin mbuiséad reatha sa bhliain 2016, agus ardú suntasach atá i gceist ar an méid a bhí ar fáil sa bhliain 2015. Tá €644,000 ar fáil i mbliana faoi bhuiséad caipitil na Roinne do na hoileáin amach ón gcósta. Tá breis airgid ar fáil ón Roinn Comhshaoil, Pobail agus Rialtais Áitiúil do chaladh Inis Oírr agus is féidir é sin a chur leis an airgead atá luaite agam.

Tá áthas orm a rá go bhfuil soláthar méadaithe de €18.51 milliún ar fáil d'Údarás na Gaeltachta i mbliana chun cabhrú leis an údarás a chuid spriocanna fostaíochta agus teangacha a bhaint amach sa Ghaeltacht. Sna Meastacháin Athbhreithnithe, cuireadh €1 milliún breise ar fáil do bhuiséad chaipitil an údaráis, maoiniú a chuirfidh ar chumas an údaráis 500 post úr a chruthú sa Ghaeltacht i mbliana.

Is gné thábhachtach í d'obair mo Roinne tacú leis an chomhoibriú Thuaidh-Theas i gcomhthéacs an Fhorais Teanga. Tá os cionn €13.2 milliún ar fáil don Fhoras Teanga i mbliana. Tá soláthar méadaithe de €670,000 ar fáil i mbliana d'Oifig an Choimisinéara Teanga chun a cuid feidhmeanna reachtúla a chomhlíonadh faoi Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla, 2003.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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Go raibh maith agat, a Aire Stáit. An bhfuil aon cheist ag an Teachta Ó Cuív a bhaineann leis an méid atá ráite aige?

Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Níl ceist ar bith aige.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit as an méid atá ráite aige. Baineann an chéad cheist atá agam leis an Straitéis 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge. Níl ach fíorbheagán den straitéis á chur i bhfeidhm.

An bhfuil sé i gceist ag an Aire Stáit teacht ar an maoiniú leis an straitéis a chur i bhfeidhm go huile is go hiomlán, mar a bhí aontaithe ag an Rialtas sa bhliain 2010? De réir na meastúcháin atá curtha amach ag leithéidí Conradh na Gaeilge, teastódh suas agus anuas le €5 mhilliún breise an bhliain seo chugainn chun é sin a dhéanamh. An mbeidh an tAire Stáit in ann teacht ar an airgead sin? Gan an maoiniú sin, ní bheimid in ann obair na Gaeilge a dhéanamh i gceart. Tá allúntas breise d'Údarás na Gaeltachta san áireamh ansin, ar ndóigh. Chomh maith leis sin, go sonrach, an féidir leis an Aire Stáit a rá liom an bhfuil sé i gceist aige breis airgid a chur ar fáil don údarás le haghaidh na deontais bainistíochta a thugtar do na comharchumainn agus na heagraíochtaí pobalbhunaithe? Is it the Minister of State's intention to increase the meagre funding that is made available to community development projects on the offshore non-Gaeltacht islands? Proper funding needs to made available to the development officers there.

Tá €644,000 curtha ar fáil mar bhuiséad caipiteal le haghaidh na hoileáin, ach is léir nach gcaithfear é sin ar Inis Oírr i mbliana. Is beag caiteachas a bheidh ar Inis Oírr ach ar réamhphleanáil agus mar sin de. Ós rud é nach bhfuil an tAire Stáit tar éis tairiscintí a lorg ag an am seo, de réir mar a thuigim, is ar éigean go mbeidh aon chonraitheoir ceaptha roimh dheireadh na bliana. An mbeadh an t-údarás aige an maoiniú seo a chaitheamh ar thograí eile oileánda, nó ar thograí eile Gaeltachta, roimh dheireadh na bliana? Bheadh sé sin an-úsáideach. Tá go leor oibre le déanamh. Is féidir go leor tograí a chur i gcrích ar na hoileáin agus ar an mórthír, ach an t-airgead sin a bheith ar fáil go ginearálta seachas é a bheith coinnithe le haghaidh togra nach tarlóidh i mbliana. Tá súil agam go bhfaighfidh an tAire Stáit allúntas mar a chéile an bhliain seo chugainn agus go mbeidh sé in ann dul ar aghaidh leis na céanna ar Inis Oírr agus ar Inis Meáin. Tá gá le tús a chur leis an bpróiseas pleanála i ndáilcheantar an Aire Stáit, an Teachta Ring, le haghaidh feabhas a chur ar Ché Rú an Átha. Tógfaidh sé thart ar cheithre nó cúig bliana sula mbeidh tógáil ar bun ansin. Is é sin an méid ama a thógann sé anois pleanáil a dhéanamh leis na rialacha ar fad atá ann. Ar ndóigh, tá Cé an Rannaigh le déanamh thuas i dTír Chonaill. D'fhéadfainn go leor tograí beaga eile oileánda agus Gaeltachta a lua. Is ceist ollmhór é sin.

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit mar gheall ar an gcruinniú a bhí againn inné. B'fhéidir gur féidir leis a rá linn inniu, anseo ar thaifead na Dála, cén chaoi a seasann muid i dtaobh na haersheirbhíse go hÁrainn. An bhfuil aon dul chun cinn déanta ó shin maidir le comhaontú a dhéanamh le úinéirí an aerfoirt sna Mine? An bhfuil sé i gceist ag an Aire Stáit féachaint le hairgead a fháil an bhliain seo chugainn le haghaidh an dá aertheirminéal ar an gCloigeann agus ar Inis Bó Finne agus le haghaidh seirbhísí aeir rialta a chur ar fáil go hInis Bó Finne?

Bhí sé luaite in Acht na Gaeltachta, 2012, a thug an Rialtas deireanach isteach, go mbeadh gréasáin Gaeltachta taobh amuigh den Ghaeltacht; sé sin, in áiteanna ar nós Cluain Dolcáin agus mar sin de. Ní féidir a leithéid a chur i bhfeidhm gan airgead. An bhfuil sé i gceist soláthar ceart airgid a chur ar fáil do na pobail sin, ionas go mbeidís in ann pleananna a leagan amach? Céard a chaitheadh a bheith ar fáil sna pobail seo ionas go mbeadh an stádas sin acu? Iarraim ar an Aire Stáit déanamh cinnte de go gcuirfidh an Stát an t-airgead seo ar fáil leis na saoráidí sin a sholáthar.

Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Tá a lán ceisteanna curtha ag an Teachta. Tá a fhios agam nach bhfuil chuile rud atá i Straitéis 20 Bliain na Gaeilge bainte amach mar a theastódh uainn, ach tá dul chun cinn déanta. Caithfimid an straitéis go léir a chur i bhfeidhm. Tá sé ráite agam gurb é sin ceann de na príomhaidhmeanna atá agam. Beidh mé ag obair ar an aidhm sin. Tá mé ag obair ar phlean gníomhach ionas go mbeidh a fhios againn cén Roinn nó cén eagraíocht a bheidh sé mar phríomhról acu an straitéis a chur i bhfeidhm - b'fhéidir go mbeidh an ról sin ag Foras na Gaeilge nó grúpa eile - agus go mbeimid in ann an t-airgead a fháil ionas go mbeidís ábalta é sin a dhéanamh.

Tá rudaí áirithe bainte amach. Mar shampla, bhí cruinniú againn le Foras na Gaeilge anuraidh maidir leis an bhfoclóir atá ar líne anois. Tá nuachtán ar líne, tuairisc.ie, curtha ar bun freisin. Tá córas ríomhaistriúcháin forbartha ag Fiontar agus Coláiste na Trionóide. Bhí Cathaoirleach an choiste ag an gcruinniú a bhí againn ó thaobh an 62 phost nua a chruthófar tar éis don Rialtas deireanach cinneadh a dhéanamh deireadh a chur leis an maolú a bhíodh ann i dtaobh córas aistriúcháin an Aontais Eorpaigh.

Is é an dúshlán atá againn anois ná go mbeimid in ann daoine a fháil chun na postanna sin a líonadh. Is deascéal é cinneadh an Rialtais ó thaobh cur i bhfeidhm na straitéise. Tá an ceart ag an Teachta nuair a deireann sé go dteastaíonn airgead chun an straitéis a chur i bhfeidhm. Tá sé ráite agam go bhfuil sé i gceist agam athbhreithniú a dhéanamh ar sin. Beidh mé sásta oibriú leis an gcoiste seo, nó leis an bhfochoiste nua i dtaobh na Gaeilge agus na Gaeltachta, chun é sin a chur i bhfeidhm.

Beidh an tAire, an Teachta Humphreys, i láthair ag cruinniú idir oifigigh na Roinne agus oifigigh ó Údarás na Gaeltachta an tseachtain seo chugainn. Sílim go mbeidh na hoifigigh ag plé na deiseanna agus na dúshláin atá ag Údarás na Gaeltachta ó thaobh airgid de. Tá sé ráite agam léi go mbeidh siad ag iarraidh níos mó airgid le haghaidh na pleananna atá acu chun postanna a chruthú agus obair torthúil a dhéanamh ar na pleananna teanga. Is cinnte go dteastaíonn níos mó airgid ón údarás. Tá sé sin ráite leis an Aire agus leis an Taoiseach. Beidh cruinniú idir an Taoiseach agus na hAirí Stáit go léir amárach agus déanfar plé ar na pleananna atá againn sa chomhthéacs sin. Tá sé fíorthábhachtach go mbeidh níos mó airgid ar fáil d'Údarás na Gaeltachta. Cuirim fáilte arís leis an mbreis airgid a fuair muid anuraidh.

I understand that responsibility for the non-Gaeltacht islands has been transferred from another Department. Certainly, the funding streams for such islands must have parity, at least, with the funding streams for the Gaeltacht islands. We will be looking to ensure such parity is there if it is not there already. Tá thart ar €643,000 i gceist mar bhuiséad caipitil agus €307,000 de sa chiste seo. Bhí deal déanta le Comhairle Contae na Gaillimhe ó thaobh €7.4 milliún.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Tá a fhios againn é sin.

Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Bhí an Teachta Ó Cuív ann mar Aire ag an am. Níl sé socraithe go fóill. Ní raibh Pat Carey, Dinny McGinley ná an Teachta Joe McHugh in ann socrú a fháil. Tá iarrachtaí chun socrú a fháil ar an mbord anois. Tá thart ar €1 milliún caite ag mo Roinn ón am a rinneadh an deal seo. Tá €307,000 sa bhuiséad i mbliana. Tá €276,000 curtha ar fáil chun obair a dhéanamh ar an héileapad ar Oileán Thoraí. Tá an obair sin ag dul ar aghaidh. Tá €36,000 curtha ar fáil chun obair a dhéanamh ar na haerstráicí ar na hoileáin. Tá €22,000 curtha ar fáil chun obair a dhéanamh ar an infreastruchtúir ar na hoileáin i gContae Chorcaí.

Ní bheidh an t-airgead a fuair muid le déanaí le haghaidh na hoibreacha ar Inis Oírr caite. Níl seans ar laghad go mbeidh sé caite. Tá an t-ábhar seo pléite agam leis an Aire, an Teachta Donohoe. Tá Ardrúnaí na Roinne tar éis plé a dhéanamh freisin ar céard ba cheart a dhéanamh leis an maoiniú sin. Caithfimid cead a fháil ón Roinn Caiteachais Phoiblí agus Athchóirithe sa chomhthéacs sin. Tá a fhios agam go mbeadh Comhairle Contae na Gaillimhe an-sásta na hacmhainní sin a fháil. Tá billí acu ó thaobh calaí, bóithre agus an obair atá ar siul ar Inis Mór. Tá an cheist seo á plé againn faoi láthair leis an Ardrúnaí agus leis an Roinn Caiteachais Phoiblí agus Athchóirithe.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Bheadh sé go maith dá mbeadh an tAire Stáit in ann an méid atá molta agam a dhéanamh. Bheadh muid glan leis seo in aon uair amháin. Beidh orainn an t-airgead seo a íoc sa dheireadh.

Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Níl mé ag tabhairt gealltanas.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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No.

Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Tá a fhios agam-----

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Cuirfidh mé mar seo é - má choinnítear an t-airgead seo siar go dtí an bhliain seo chugainn, beidh an tAire Stáit in ann a rá leis an Roinn Caiteachais Phoiblí agus Athchóirithe go bhfuil go leor tacaíocht aige ón taobh seo den Teach. Tá an maoiniú seo ann anois. Mar is eol don Aire Stáit, ní chaithfear é ar Inis Oírr. Mar sin, dá mbeadh muid in ann na fiacha seo a ghlanadh agus fáil réidh leo, b'fhéidir go dtabharfadh an Roinn an €1 milliún eile atá i gceist. Tá €6 mhilliún ag an Aire Stáit. Dá mbeadh €1 milliún eile aige, bheadh muid glan leis na fiacha seo. Bheadh muid in ann tosú as an nua, agus dul ar aghaidh agus Cé Inis Oírr, Cé Inis Méáin agus na céanna ar fad eile a dhéanamh an bhliain seo chugainn.

Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Bhéinn an-sásta a leithéid a dhéanamh, ach níl mé chun aon ghealltanas a thabhairt.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Tá lán-tacaíocht an Fhreasúra ag an Aire Stáit.

Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Tá an cheist seo á plé agam leis na feidhmeannaigh agus leis an Ardrúnaí.

Cosúil leis an Teachta Ó Cuív, is as Contae na Gaillimhe mé. Tá sé seo an-tábhachtach don chomhairle contae ó thaobh an airgid a theastaítear chun na seirbhísí a chur ar fáil agus chun na billí a íoc.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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Tá deich nóiméad rite.

Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Ó thaobh an PSO d'Árann, tá ceist curtha síos sa Dáil faoi arís ar an Déardaoin. Níl rudaí socraithe fós le h-úinéirí Aerfort na Minne ach tá spriocdháta ann agus sin an 15ú lá den mhí seo. Tá na feidhmeannaigh sa Roinn ag obair ar an scéal seo ar feadh trí mhí go leith agus iad i dteagmháil le h-úinéirí an aerfoirt. Tá siad fós ag obair ar an bhfadhb ach níl sé socraithe fós agus tá an conradh atá ann faoi láthair le hAer Árann le críochnú ar an lá deireanach de mhí Mheán Fómhair.

Ó thaobh Cleggan go hInishbofin agus na haerstráicí atá ann, rinne mé cinneadh leis na feidhmeannaigh sa Roinn sna Forbarcha próiseas comhairliúcháin a thosnú. Fógrófar é sin sna nuachtáin agus go h-áitiúil chun tuairimí dhaoine áitiúla agus dhaoine eile a fháil faoin rud is ceart a dhéanamh. Tá an-infheistíocht déanta ag an Stát. Cé go raibh cinneadh déanta anuraidh, agus is é seo mo thuairim pearsanta, ba cheart go mbeadh na haerstráicí sin oscailte, b'fhéidir fiú go príobháideach ar dtús, ach tá an próiseas sin tosnaithe agam anois.

Ó thaobh na hAchta de, bhí Bille réidh le foilsiú ach níor fhoilsíomar é. Tá mé chun é seo a phlé leis an Taoiseach ag an gcomhcoiste idir-rannach. Fuair mé comhairle ón gCoimisinéir Teanga agus chas mé freisin le h-ionadaithe Chonradh na Gaeilge chun é seo a phlé. Tá a fhios agam go bhfuil fadhbanna acu leis. Tá a fhios agam go raibh fadhbanna ag an bhFreasúra leis anuraidh agus sílim go bhfuil fós. Caithfimid é sin a phlé ag an gcomhcoiste. Níl a fhios agam an bhfuil ról ag an Teachta Ó Cuív nó ag an gcomhcoiste ann chun é sin a phlé. Sin an chomhairle a bhfuair mé ó Chonradh na Gaeilge freisin.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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Tá cúpla ceist agamsa don Aire Stáit freisin. Aon duine atá ag déileáil leis an earnáil seo, tá sé nó sí den tuairim go bhfuil géarchéim ann sa tír don Ghaeilge ag an móimint. Ceapann a lán daoine go bhfuil an straitéis 20 bliain i bponc iomlán. Ceann de na rudaí is mó atá faoi chúram an Aire Stáit ná Údarás na Gaeltachta. Níl a fhios agam an bhfuil aon eagraíocht Stáit tar éis titim chomh mhór infheistíochta nó buiséid a fháil ná mar atá faighte ag Údarás na Gaeltachta thar na blianta. Tá sé dochreidte. Dar le daoine in Údarás na Gaeltachta, tá fadhbanna ollmhóra ann ó thaobh an easpa muiníne atá ann san údarás, an easpa treo atá ann agus an easpa cáilmheasa atá acu siúd atá ag obair ann. Cad é an scéal le hinfheistíocht Údarás na Gaeltachta? Cé mhéad post nua atá cruthaithe ag an údarás? Tá mé ag caint faoin net figure don bhliain a chuaigh thart.

Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Tá an tAire, an Teachta Humphreys, chun teacht síos ar cuairt agus casfaidh sí leis na feidhmeannaigh sa Roinn an Luain seo chugainn. Beidh sé seo á plé againn. Aontaím leis an gCathaoirleach go bhfuil an laghdú i mbuiséad Údarás na Gaeltachta ó bhí an bhliain 2009 ann an-mhór. Laghdú ó €26 milliún go €16 milliún go €10 milliún agus ansan go €6 milliún a bhí ann, ach anois fuaireamar breis airgead caipitil. Tá an ceart ag an gCathaoirleach gur laghdú an-mhór a bhí agus atá ann. Tá sé sin ráite agam cheana agus tá sé ráite agam freisin gur cheart níos mó airgid a bheith ar fáil don údarás don obair thábhachtach atá á dhéanamh aige chun poist a chruthú agus don ról nua atá aige ó thaobh na pleananna teanga freisin.

Ó thaobh na post, i 2014, bhí 7,053 duine ag obair agus cruthaíodh 737 post nua.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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An é sin an net figure?

Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Sin an méid post a chruthaíodh-----

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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Cad é an net figure? Sin an figure is tábhachtaí i ndáiríre.

Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Níl a fhios agam an bhfuil an net figure agam.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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Má bhreathnaítear ar Fiontar Éireann, nó IDA Ireland, feictear go bhfuil na trends don net figure agus an dul chun cinn ansan go hiontach. Táim den tuairim go bhfuil an net figure in Údarás na Gaeltachta fós beag agus mar a bhí sé le linn na géarchéime eacnmaíochta atá anois thart.

De réir iar-Airí Stáit, ba iad na pleananna teanga an fhreagra nua ar an gcúlú teanga sa Ghaeltacht. Cé mhéad pleananna teanga atá eagraithe? Cé mhéad atá obair ar siúl orthu ag an móimint, agus cé mhéad atá fós le déanamh?

Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Tá 18 plean déanta - gabh mo leithscéal ach tá an figiúr áit éigin anseo agam - agus sílim go bhfuil 26 plean ar fad le déanamh. Tá an próiseas maidir le hullmhú pleananna teanga tosnaithe go dtí seo in 18 de 26 limistéar pleanála teanga Gaeltachta ar fad. Beidh an próiseas tosaithe san ocht limistéar eile idir seo agus deireadh na bliana. Tá preasráiteas curtha amach agam inniu ag deimhniú go bhfuil ceithre cinn acu san ceadaithe anois agus ceann amháin acu i mo cheantar féin i Maigh Cuilinn. Tá ceithre cinn ceadaithe inniu agus ceithre cinn fágtha fós.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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Tá ceithre cinn fágtha.

Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Sea.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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Tá an próiseas ag dul ar aghaidh-----

Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Tá.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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-----go mall. Cé mhéad airgead atá taobh thiar den obair sin?

Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Tá deontas €400,000 curtha ar fáil ag an Roinn don údarás sa bhliain reatha don phleanáil teanga.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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An sin an figiúr iomlán? Táimid ag caint faoi méid airgid an-bheag do jab an-mhór agus an-tábhachtach. Muna maireann an Ghaeilge sa Ghaeltacht, beidh an teanga go hiomlán i dtrioblóid sa tír. Is í an Ghaeltacht tobar na Gaeilge.

Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Tá nn t-airgead atá ar fáil ansin chun cabhrú leis na grúpaí na pleananna a ullmhú. Ó thaobh céard a thagann amach as na pleananna agus céard a theastaítear ó thaobh infheistíochta agus na rudaí a bheidh siad ag iarraidh a dhéanamh de, teastaítear buiséad eile chun na rudaí sin a chur i bhfeidhm. Sin scéal eile, mar a deirtear.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Sea-----

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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Féadfaidh an Teachta Ó Cuív teacht isteach tar éis é seo, más maith leis.

Cathain a bheidh an próiseas tairisceana maidir le seirbhís Aer Árann críochnaithe? Tá an cuma ar an scéal go bhfuil sé ag dul ar aghaidh is ar aghaidh agus nach bhfuil solution ann ar chor ar bith. Táimid ag teacht anois go dtí an críochdháta don phróiseas ach fós tá gach rud thuas san aer. Tá brón orm faoin pun.

Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Tá rudaí thuas san aer fós, ach tá sé seo fíor-chasta. Tá na feidhmeannaigh sa Roinn ag déanamh chuile rud a theastaítear chun é seo a shocrú. Tá siad ag déileáil le h-úinéirí Aerfort na Mine faoi láthair. Tá Oifig Phríomh-Aturnae an Stáit agus Oifig an Ard-Aighne ag coinneáil géarshúil ar an rud seo. Is rud dlíthiúil atá i gceist, cé go bhfuilimid ag déileáil le h-aerfort amháin. Tá an-seans go mbeidh an comhlacht nó úinéirí an aerfoirt ag cur isteach tairiscint freisin don PSO. Sin an fáth go bhfuil rudaí casta. Maidir le cén uair a bheidh sé críochnaithe, táimid ag déileáil leis na húinéirí ar feadh trí mhí go leith ach níl mé in ann a rá cén uair a bheidh sé críochnaithe. Táimid ag déanamh chuile rud a theastaítear chun é a chríochnú.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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An bhfuil aon bhaint ar chor ar bith ag an Aire Stáit le oiliúnt nó teagasc Gaeilge nó scoileanna Gaeilge nó Gaeltachta?

Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Tá an scéim maidir le cuntóirí teanga ag cabhrú le scoileanna taobh istigh den Ghaeltacht.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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Cén saghas obair atá á dhéanamh ag an Aire Stáit leis an Aire Oideachais agus Scileanna faoi seo?

Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Tá buiséad ann don obair sin. Tá 107 cúntóir teanga fostaithe in 103 scoil náisiúnta Gaeltachta agus tá €781,000 ar fáil ann in 2015.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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An fhadhb atá agamsa, agus an t-eolas atá agam, ná nach bhfuil ach 60% de na scoileanna sa Ghaeltacht ag feidhmiú i nGaeilge amháin agus go bhfuil beagnach 40% de na scoileanna sa Ghaeltacht ag feidhmiú mBéarla nó i mBearla agus i nGaeilge ar bhonn leath is leath. Ó thaobh thodhchaí an teanga, tá sé sin dochreidte.

Maidir leis an nGaeilge thar timpeall na tíre, tá caighdeán Gaeilge mhúinteoirí ag titim. Labhair le haon duine anois agus déarfaidh sé nó sí nach bhfuil an caighdeán ag dul suas agus go bhfuil an caighdeán Gaeilge atá ag múinteoirí nua ag laghdú bliain ar bhliain. Maidir le Gaelscoileanna, tá easpa soláthair ann agus sin fadhb eile. Tá 23% de thuismitheoirí na tíre ag éileamh áit i nGaelscoil dá bpáistí ach níl ach 5% á fháil. I dtuaisceart Bhaile Átha Cliath, bhí 733 páistí ag iarraidh freastal ar Gaelscoil a theip orthu áit a fháil. Tá a fhios agam nach bhfuil sé seo go díreach faoi chúram an Aire Stáit, ach is é an t-oideachas ceann de na rudaí is mó sa straitéis 20 bliain maidir le dul chun cinn na Gaeilge thar timpeall na tíre. Is léir go bhfuil sé ina phraiseach cheart ó thaobh dul chun cinn na Gaeilge.

Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Tá an ceart ag an gCathaoirleach go bhfuil sé lárnach sa straitéis agus go gcaithfimid an líon daoine atá ag labhairt Gaeilge a ardú. Táimid ag obair chun é sin a chur i bhfeidhm. Ta ceart ag an gCathaoirleach freisin go bhfuil fadhb ann ó thaobh an caighdeáin Gaeilge atá ag múinteoirí. Níl a fhios agam an aontaíonn siadsan linn, ach tá sé sin ráite agus is fadhb mhór é. I mo Dháilcheantar féin agus i mo pharóiste, tá ceithre scoil ann agus iad san Ghaeltacht agus tá dul chun cinn déanta acu ó thaobh na Gaeilge de. Tá scéimeanna ar nós an Gael Brat ann. Bhí mé i gContae na Mí cúpla seachtain ó shin ag bronnadh an brat sin ar scoil sa Seanchaisléan. Tá cailín ó mo Dháilcheantar féin ag múineadh ann agus líofacht aici sa Ghaeilge. Tá dul chun cinn déanta aici ó thaobh an chaighdeáin Ghaeilge atá ag na páistí agus atá ann sa scoil. Tá an deis ann níos mó a dhéanamh ó thaobh scéimeanna ar nós an Gael Brat agus ó thaobh chaighdeán na teanga. Ach tá an ceart ag an gCathaoirleach go bhfuil fadhb ann maidir leis an gcaighdeán atá ag múinteoirí scoile.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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Pléifear Foras na Gaeilge sa chéad programme eile freisin. Leanfaimid ar aghaidh mar sin.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Luafaidh mise dhá rud go han-scioptha. Tá go leor ceisteanna ann ach beidh deis againn ag an gcoiste eile dul faoi na rudaí seo i bhfad níos mine nuair a bheas sé ag feidhmiú. Is maith an rud go bhfuil coiste iomlán reachtaíochta bunaithe ag plé leis an nGaeilge, leis an nGaeltacht agus leis na hoileáin. Tá dhá cheist an-shonrach agam. Gheall an Rialtas ar iarratas ó Fhianna Fáil go mbeadh breis airgid curtha ar fáil don Ghaeilge. Tá sé i gclár an Rialtais. An bhfuil i gceist ag an Rialtas an gheallúint sin a chomhlíonadh?

Baineann an dara cheist leis an airgead a luaigh an Aire Stáit atá curtha ar fáil do na comharchumainn oileánda agus do na heagraíochtaí pobail oileánda. An bhfuil a fhios ag an Aire Stáit go bhfuilimid ag caint ar dheontas reachtála de thart ar €50,000 in aghaidh na bliana ar an mórthír do na heagraíochtaí pobalbunaithe? Ní chlúdódh sé sin barrchostais eagraíocht ar bith. Bhíodh €90,000 ar fáil tamall de bhlianta ó shin. An bhfuil sé i gceist airgead réalaíoch a chur ar fáil do na heagraíochtaí pobalbunaithe ar na hoileáin - glacaim leis go bhfuil costas breise ann ar na hoileáin - agus ar an mórthír a chinnteodh go bhféadfaidís feidhmiú go héifeachtach taobh istigh de na pobail agus an obair atá ceaptha a dhéanamh a dhéanamh?

Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Ceist maidir leis an Meastacháin do 2017 atá ag an Teachta ansin. Tá sé lárnach sa chlár Rialtais go gcuirfimid breis airgid ar fáil agus sin comhaontaithe le pháirtí an Teachta. Beidh mise ag obair chun an t-airgead sin a fháil. Beidh mé an-sásta tacaíocht an Teachta agus an chomhchoiste seo a fháil chun an t-airgead sin a fháil. Phléigh mé é seo le hÚdarás na Gaeltachta. Aontaíonn feidhmeannaigh na Roinne go dteastaíonn níos mó airgid do na comhlachtaí ar na hoileáin. Tá siadsan ag iarraidh breis airgid agus beidh mise á iarraidh sa Mheastacháin do 2017. Mar a dúirt mé, beidh an tAire, an Teachta Humphreys, i Furbogh an tseachtain seo chugainn chun na rudaí seo a phlé.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Táim cinnte go meabhróidh an tAire Stáit don Roinn Caiteachais Phoiblí agus Athchóirithe go gheall muide tacaíocht don bhuiséad an bhliain seo ach, ar ndóigh, beidh sé ag brath go hiomlán ar na geallúintí a thug an Rialtas dúinn a chomhlíonadh. Má bhíonn, agus rud beag coinníollach faoi sin, glacaim leis go seasfar leis an ngeallúint, go mbeidh an t-airgead ar fáil agus go meabhrófar don Roinn Caiteachais Phoiblí agus Athchóirithe nach ligfear leis ó thaobh Fhianna Fáil de mura gcomhlíonfar an gheallúint sin. Tá sé chomh simplí leis sin. Fuaireamar an gheallúint agus táimid ag iarraidh go mbeidh beart de réir briathar.

Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Sílim go mbeidh urlabhra Fhianna Fáil ar chaiteachais phoiblí agus athchóiriú ag insint an scéal sin freisin don Aire, an Teachta Donohoe, ag an gcomhchoiste. Tá mé sásta glacadh leis sin.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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Táimid chun dul ar aghaidh go dtí an chéad cheann eile, programme D, North-South co-operation. B'fhéidir gur mhaith leis an Aire tosú.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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On North-South co-operation, a provision of more than €37.7 million is made available to support the two North-South implementation bodies, namely, an Foras Teanga, comprising Foras na Gaeilge and the Ulster-Scots Agency, and Waterways Ireland. These are also subject to the approval of the North-South Ministerial Council. In respect of Waterways Ireland, the overall allocation of almost €23 million is adjusted in line with efficiency savings mandated by the finance Departments, both North and South. If there are any questions on Foras na Gaeilge, the Minister of State, Deputy Kyne, will take them.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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An bhfuil aon cheist ag éinne?

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Tá dhá cheist agamsa. I dtaobh Foras na Gaeilge, an féidir liom glacadh leis, ó tharla go bhfuil Gaeilge anois ag an Aire Airgeadais ó Thuaidh, go mbeidh an Roinn sásta €3 a chur ar fáil d'aon euros atá an tAire sin sásta a chur ar fáil. Sa gcás go mbeidh go leor airgid do thairiscint ag an Aire ó Thuaidh, an tUasal Ó Muilleoir, an mbeidh an comhmhaoiniú ar fáil ón Rialtas ó Dheas d'Fhoras na Gaeilge, don Fhoras Teanga i gcoitinne agus don bhord of the Ulster-Scots Agency?

Tá mé cinnte go mbeidh mo chomhghleacaí, an Teachta Niamh Smyth, go hiomlán taobhach liom anseo, but will the Minister insist on getting the money to start the first section of the Ulster Canal. It is an absolutely fantastic project. It is a North-South project and one which I believe should have progressed during the bad times. The Shannon-Erne waterway was done in the 1980s, which were fairly tough too. It is a project that Unionists and Nationalists on both sides of the Border on this island fully support. Will the Minister be able to raise the capital? She will not be able to spend it. It is a slow spend anyway, because it is slow work. However, I am bitterly disappointed, us having gone so far, that, as I understand it, there has been no progress in the past five years. I am sure she, like me, would like to see this as her legacy and I am sure Deputy Smyth will support me in this particular demand.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I will take the last question. Deputy Ó Cuív knows that the Ulster Canal project is very close to my heart. There were great plans for it but, unfortunately, they did not materialise. I am delighted, therefore, that I got work started on it and was the first to do so.

Funding has been made available through the Waterways Ireland budget for the first part of the canal, which goes from Belturbet to Castle Saunderson. There was a bit of a delay in one aspect relating to the contractor but that has now been resolved, so the process is moving. It is my wish that the Ulster Canal would go to Clones and from there to Monaghan and Middletown. I am happy it has started. As has been said, if we had all the money in the morning, we could not spend it, and that is right, but I would like to think that we can do this on an incremental basis. I will certainly put the case forward. The Ulster Canal is mentioned in the Fresh Start agreement and I was very anxious for it to get its rightful place there. It has been discussed at every North-South ministerial meeting and each sectoral meeting. The work has started and I want to see it moved to the next phase.

Monaghan County Council has made an application for INTERREG funding, in conjunction with Waterways Ireland. It is seeking to develop the walkway along the canal from Clones through Monaghan town and on to Middletown. I really want to see it opened and I want to see the boats on it. I was in Ballyconnell when they started work on the Ulster Canal and when the late Mr. Charles Haughey opened the project. It made a huge difference to the town and I am very familiar with it. I will be making the case for the Ulster Canal.

Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Ó thaobh Fhoras na Gaeilge, beimid ag plé na ceiste sin ag na cruinnithe Thuaidh-Theas. Bhí mé ag cruinniú coicís ó shin in Ard Mhacha agus chas mé leis na hAirí nua, Chris Hazzard agus Paul Givan. Níor phléigh muid an cheist seo ag an am sin ach sílim go mbeimid á plé ag an chéad chruinniú eile den chomhchoiste san fhómhar.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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Más féidir liom teacht isteach ar an gceist sin, is í an fhadhb atá ann ná go bhfuil na Tories sa Bhreatain ag gearradh bhuiséad an Tuaiscirt faoi láthair. Maidir le Brexit, tá an cuma ar an scéal go rachaidh an próiseas sin ar aghaidh mar go mbeidh an Rialtas i Londain níos déine ar an Tuaisceart sa todhchaí. An féidir an chomhréir a athrú? Beidh bac ar fhorbairt san earnáil seo má leanfaimid ar aghaidh leis an struchtúr atá ann. Ag tús an chruinnithe bhí mé ag caint faoin gcomhréir infheistíochta a fhaigheann an Ghaeilge. Maidir le hÚdarás na Gaeltachta tá titim uafásach tar éis teacht ar an mbuiséad sin. Nuair a fhéachann tú ar an mbuiséad North-South, Foras na Gaeilge ach go háirithe, tá sé sin ag titim freisin. Caithfear rud éigin a dhéanamh faoi.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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An bhféadfainn deimhniú gur €3 in aghaidh €1 atá i gceist maidir leis an maoiniú d'Fhoras na Gaeilge a thagann ón Rialtas ó dheas i gcomparáid leis an méid a thagann ó Fheidhmeannas Thuaisceart Éireann? A mhalairt atá i gceist leis an Ulster-Scots Agency. Tagann €13 mhilliún de mhíniú Fhoras na Gaeilge ón Rialtas anseo agus níl ach an tríú chuid de sin i gceist ag Rialtas an Tuaiscirt. Glacaim leis, ós rud á go bhfuil Gaeilge ag an Aire airgeadais, nach mbeadh mórán faidhbe aige teacht aníos le cúpla céad míle euro eile. Níl mise i bhfábhar go mbeadh aon athrú sa gcomhréir. Ceapaim féin go bhfuil sé suas do na tuaisceartaigh an t-airgead a chur ar fáil. Táim cinnte go dtarlóidh sé sin ós rud é go bhfuil duine le Gaeilge mar Aire airgeadais ó thuaidh. Beidh breis airgid ag Rialtas Shasana freisin tar éis an tAontas Eorpach a fhágáil, mar chuireann sé go leor airgid isteach ann agus faigheann sé beagán amach. Beidh sé in ann a bheith an-chroíúil leis an Tuaisceart.

Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Is comhréir atá ann ó 1999 ach tá mé sásta an cheist sin a phlé arís. Beimid in ann é sin a dhéanamh laistigh den Chomhairle Aireachta Thuaidh Theas ach níor chas mé leis an Aire Ó Muilleoir fós. Beidh ar an tAire Ó Muilleoir rudaí a réiteach leis an Aire Given maidir le buiséad Fhoras na Gaeilge ach tá a fhios agam go ndéanfaidh siad jab an-mhaith agus go bhfuil a lán grúpaí ag fáil airgid uathu - Gaelscoileanna, Gael Linn, Glór na nGael, Oireachtas na Gaeilge, Conradh na Gaeilge agus Cumann na bhFiann ina measc. Tá an-mheas agam ar Chonradh na Gaeilge agus an ról tábhachtach atá aige.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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Does the Minister want the number of waterways under the remit of Waterways Ireland to be increased? There is a canal running from Navan to Drogheda which is in bad repair and which does not come under the remit of Waterways Ireland. If it was, it might be more likely to receive the funding necessary to make it a tourist and citizens' amenity. Has the Minister considered that option?

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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There are no plans at the moment to expand the number of waterways under the remit of Waterways Ireland. The first priority is the existing waterways. Waterways Ireland does a great deal of work on recreational activities on the waterways. I recently attended the opening of a recreation-based facility for canoeing and so on in Ballyconnell on part of the Shannon-Erne waterway. There has been a lot of investment in it. Waterways Ireland is particularly good at collaborating with others. There is no plan to extend the waterways system but I know the canal to which the Chairman is referring. It has been brought to my attention.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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It runs by the Battle of the Boyne site and would make a great amenity.

Under the Good Friday Agreement, these North-South bodies were initially intended to evolve into a North-South executive or a counterpoint to the different executives on the island and to grow into a structure which would, I hope, gain more power and influence and see more development on an all-Ireland basis. The all-Ireland economy, spatial planning and infrastructural development would, therefore, become more important. To a certain extent, in light of its current remit and structure, Waterways Ireland seems to be fairly limited in what it can do. We discussed greenways earlier and the fact that they should possibly come within the remit of the Department. Greenways, canals and waterways almost go hand in hand as tourism facilities are concerned. Has the Minister made any effort to broaden the scope of the North-South ministerial bodies to take in more areas where they can co-operate to improve the lives of the people of Ireland?

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I am happy to work on a cross-Border basis and I am all for wider co-operation. We need to do that in terms of arts, heritage and the natural heritage. There is a lot of departmental co-operation. Yesterday, I met the two new Northern Ireland Ministers, Paul Givan and Chris Hazzard. I had a very good working relationship with the previous Ministers, Carál Ní Chuilín and Michelle McIlveen. If there are areas on which we can co-operate, as we did on the Famine commemoration last year, which was a huge success, I am happy to facilitate such co-operation. We worked very closely with the local authorities in Newry on that project. Anywhere I see opportunities to co-operate on a cross-Border basis, I am very happy to do so.

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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There was a long discussion at Monaghan County Council yesterday and there is a great appetite among public representatives there to talk positively about seeing the Ulster Canal opened. I know the Minister is working on having it opened up as far as Clones. Is there a timeline for that to happen?

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The project going on at the moment relates to Castle Saunderson. That will be a huge benefit to the scouting centre there, which receives in the region of 11,000 visitors every year, mostly young people from various countries. Those responsible for the project are absolutely delighted that they will get this additional facility. Deputy Smyth would be very familiar with Castle Saunderson and what they do there.

It will probably be towards the end of 2017 before all the work is done on that project. A bridge must be built at Derrykerrib. The workers ran into some difficulties as they needed firm ground and then the opposite. That said, I have outlined the plan. I want to work with all of the various organisations involved, including on a cross-Border basis, to ensure we can obtain funding to progress to Clones.

I have spoken to Waterways Ireland about adding water to a portion of the canal to encourage water-based activities such as canoeing and paddle-boarding. I have asked it to work with local communities and the local authorities. This is important if we are to make progress. Monaghan County Council has applied, or is in the process of making an application, for a greenway or a blueway along the route of the canal. It is also a question of protecting the route because some parts of it pass through the North where there are issues that must be dealt with. We were fortunate that much of the canal in the county remained in the ownership of the State, but there is not the same clear title to it in Northern Ireland. Therefore, there are a number of issues that must be overcome. One can rest assured that I would love to be in a position to sit on a boat coming into Clones.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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When I was in the Department, I started working with Waterways Ireland to ensure it would check that it had registered all property in its ownership. Was that project completed?

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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It is very well advanced.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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That is good.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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There might be a question about a couple of matters that must be resolved, including old ownership issues.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I notice that the Department sold the gatehouse on the Grand Canal at Upper Mount Street.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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Leanfaimid ar aghaidh go dtí programme E, regional development and rural affairs.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Regional development and rural affairs comprise a new and important part of the work of my Department. The Minister of State, Deputy Michael Ring, will address the aspects related to his brief. This is a key priority for the Government. Over €61 million has been allocated for these purposes in my Department's Vote this year, with €40 million allocated for the Leader element of the rural development programme. The Leader programme provide will provide €250 million to support the development of sustainable rural communities in rural areas in the next five years or so and I am confident that this funding which is decided on by locals at local level will be funnelled to the areas most in need.

There are a number of Votes that are well established and new funding schemes that will provide specific supports for rural communities in the coming years. They include a town and village regeneration scheme and an allocation of €4 million this year, supplemented by a further €1 million allocated to the Western Development Commission.

I assure Deputies that my priorities in this area include the design and implementation of an action plan for rural Ireland, in addition to working with local authorities and other stakeholders to eliminate in advance delaying factors and to enable effective rural broadband delivery once a contract has been awarded under the national broadband plan in terms of procurement. While the resource requirement for these tasks will largely be met in 2016 from within existing resources, work on these priorities is already under way. I look forward to working with the committee to make progress on this agenda over the lifetime of the Government.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Building on the remarks of the Minister, Deputy Heather Humphreys, I would like to outline for the committee my role in this area. In so far as the 2016 Estimates are concerned, €2.7 million will be spent under subhead E.8 to discharge existing commitments on the walks scheme. There was a commitment to expand the walks scheme in A Programme for a Partnership Government and plans in that regard will be developed during 2016, subject to the availability of funding, with a view to rolling out an expanded scheme in 2017. This is an important element of a broader commitment set out in the programme to provide for significant capital investment to take the Wild Atlantic Way to the next level, including an Atlantic blueway route and the Ireland Way, and to invest further in developing a nationwide greenway network. My Department looks forward to playing a central role in that process.

In addition, I envisage €3.5 million being spent on small-scale development and enhancement of existing rural recreation infrastructure. Other ongoing issues in 2016 include the roll-out of the mountain access scheme, the implementation of the national indemnity scheme and the negotiations with other State agencies to agree a national outdoor recreation plan for public lands and waters in Ireland.

My Department was also assigned responsibility for acting on the recommendations of the final report of the post office business development group, including supporting the implementation of a basic payment account and enabling the payment of motor tax through the post office network. The various Departments, including my Department, the Department of Social Protection and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, are working together, along with NewERA, to develop the business case that will be brought back to Government shortly. Funding of any initiatives in this area in 2016 will be met from within the overall Vote.

The Tidy Towns competition organised by my Department and sponsored by SuperValu continues to be a well-recognised and successful way of encouraging community participation and volunteerism. It attracts a large number of entries every year. My Department also supports other related competitions like the Best Kept competition, which is a North-South collaboration involving eight towns from the South and six from the North in 2016. Tullamore in County Offaly and Straffan in County Kildare have been entered into the Entente Florale competition, an EU-wide competition, while Letterkenny in County Donegal is participating in the Communities in Bloom competition. The Minister and I will take any questions.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Has the Minister of State raised the issue of why so little was transferred to him in the first place? For example, I understand that the so-called greenways scheme, which is actually about black ways because one is talking about cycle paths which are fenced on each side, remain with the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport. The rural social scheme remains with the Department of Social Protection where, under the current Minister, there does not seem to be much of an appetite for it as does the farm assist scheme, which again seems to be anathema in the Department of Social Protection. Rural transport remains in the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport. God knows where marine leisure remains. When I asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether he was responsible for it, I received a fairly vague answer. Is it intended to give a real and wide remit to the Minister of State in respect of rural development? I do not see anything relating to regional development, which I take to mean county towns and developing all parts of the country equally. Can the Minister of State tell me whether it is intended to transfer more functions to him and to make this a real Department of rural development. Perhaps the Minister can answer that.

My second question is addressed to the Minister. I understand that she has responsibility for CLÁR, which used to run at about €20 million per year. She might tell me what the budget for CLÁR is this year. I understand that she has inherited responsibility for the Western Development Commission. I see that it has capital of €1 million. Is that right? Again, would the Minister not agree that it would be a good idea to make possibly €100 million available from the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund because the Western Development Commission was quite successful in picking winners - enough winners to cover the losers? Pension funds are 30-year projects and I have no doubt that the Western Development Commission would give it back with a profit to the State in 30 years' time if it was given the money. Would the Minister not agree that in terms of developing business in the west from Donegal to Clare, €1 million is a joke and an insult? Would she agree with me that the remit of that fund should be extended to cover Kerry and west Cork because they are equally as rural as Connacht and Donegal? In respect of Leader, could the Minister give me the breakdown between capital and current and the €40 million?

My understanding is that current expenditure this year will just pay staff wages. How much of the capital expenditure will relate to outstanding commitments under the old programme that might have to be wrapped up? How much relates to the new programme? I do not see any capital expenditure occurring in reality under the new programme this year. When will it go live? There is huge discontent in the whole Leader family over the reduction in funding and the total uncertainty over whether they were meant to be in with LCDCs or not. Generally there is considerable dissatisfaction with how the Government has rolled out Leader.

The Minister of State had responsibility for tourism and is now the big hope for rural development. What is the thinking in Government behind the decision to take land from a farmer, black-top it - effectively build a road - put two fences up and do it on a concessionary basis that can be revoked on either side at any time? On the one hand, the Department is investing millions of euro and, on the other, the farmer or landowner is not getting any compensation. If we are going to build these roads, which are called greenways for some reason but which are actually roads with permanent infrastructure, would the Minister of State agree that the land should be bought by agreement from the landholders at the market value as if it was for the purpose of building a road on which motor vehicles would travel? One would never think of taking land permanently from an urban dweller, even if it is only five feet from the front of a front garden, without fully compensating them for the market value of the land plus disturbance money and also restoring all the walls and fences to a very high quality.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy is correct on the greenways, farm assist scheme and the rural transport scheme. When I attended the first meeting with the Taoiseach and the Cabinet subcommittee, I made the point. When the Deputy was a Minister in the past, he had the same problem. I have made a strong case on the greenways. That is not decided yet and I hope I will have responsibility. If we have responsibility for the walkways and the other schemes in place in our Department, we should have the greenways as well. I have worked with the Taoiseach on this and we will hold discussions and meetings in coming weeks with the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport.

As the Deputy will know from his dealings with Secretaries General and assistant secretaries, nobody wants to let any powers go or let any budget go. However, I believe this should be in this Department. I also believe that many of the community schemes the Deputy mentioned should be in this Department.

I would not agree with him on the farm assist scheme, which should be handled by the Department of Social Protection. I have been talking to the Minister, Deputy Varadkar, about that scheme and I know he is looking at it. We need to simplify that scheme and assist farmers in need of it.

The rural transport scheme is not coming with us and, again, it should be with us. If we have responsibility for rural development, we should have it. I am sure it will be considered at Government.

The Deputy asked specifically about the farm programme. This year, there are 100,000 in the programme. That scheme was suspended previously and it has been kept open every year with a very small budget. I intend to develop that scheme this year and next year. I will go back to the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, and the Department looking for further funding. If there are any savings within the Department, I intend for them to go into the CLÁR programme, which is one of the best schemes the Deputy introduced. It has assisted rural areas and is very badly needed now.

Deputy Danny Healy-Rae spoke earlier about group water schemes. In the past, where the local contribution was difficult to get, it was topped up by the CLÁR programme. Deputy Ó Cuív introduced some very good schemes in that regard. I will look at those schemes again. I have asked my officials to draw up plans immediately for any savings or any further funding we can get this year. I hope we will be able to divert funding from other schemes where money is not being used. Previously there were class two and class three roads and that worked well.

The flashing amber scheme outside schools was brilliant. We want to examine the local improvement scheme in the context of roads, an issue that was raised with the councillors yesterday. I also want to examine small group sewerage schemes and a few other schemes that I have in mind to put in place.

The Deputy also asked about compensation for farmers and I agree with his comments. In my previous Department, the goodwill payment was suspended for five years but I put the scheme back in place last year because it works. The National Roads Authority experienced little disruption in taking land from farmers. In addition to them getting compensation for their land at the going rate, they received a goodwill payment of up to €5,000 in some cases. The payment has been reduced but the old funding was allowed to remain for some of the older schemes. The top-up is now €3,000 per acre. With regard to greenways, if we are taking land off farmers, they will have to get the going rate where possible. If the land is in public ownership, that is a different ball game but we should consider a scheme in the future, when resources permit, for people who co-operate with the State and make their land available.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I asked a question about the WDC and a specific question about the funding for Leader. I then have a question about broadband.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Minister will take the question about Leader.

The €1 million allocated to the WDC is for this year and €1 million will also be allocated next year. The commission has serious proposals and I will meet its representatives next week to discuss them.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Has the Minister of State asked the Government to give him money from the strategic investment fund? The fund always has to generate a commercial return but the basis of the WDC's venture capital fund is a commercial return. There are swings and roundabouts. One wins some and one loses some but one can win big. Will the State stop always thinking in billions of euro for cities and thinking in thousands of euro for rural areas? Will the Government realise that, despite perceptions, rural Ireland gets the thin of the wedge financially under many schemes?

Does the Minister of State agree that two issues relating to broadband need to be addressed in the context of rural Ireland? Fibre, not some radio solution, must be provided to every premises in the country. A scheme is being developed in France - which, therefore, must comply with state-aid regulations - where, in areas of difficult topography in which telecommunications companies do not provide 100% coverage, the state will provide the basic infrastructure, such as the towers, and connect it before letting it out to the companies, which will then put the equipment in the towers and provide the service. Unfortunately, because of the licensing agreement in this State, telecommunications companies only have to cover 27% of the landmass and do not have to provide 100% coverage. Would the Minister be willing to ensure universal coverage in that way?

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Minister will deal with broadband and Leader. On the WDC, €5.6 million in seed capital funding is available. I will listen to the commission's proposals next week. I have received a submission and I will not respond until I meet the representatives next week to discuss their proposals. The commission has played a major role in the development of the west and I will give serious consideration to the proposals. I am worried about the number of agencies that we have dealing with rural development, which is something I will examine as well. I did not realise so many agencies deal with the same problem and I am sick and tired of duplication. I will examine this issue seriously and if I have to make decisions on it, I will not be afraid to do so.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The €40 million allocation for the Leader programme is all capital.

The old programme is in its final stages and is nearly closed. Then we will have the new programme. We had a successful pilot scheme, REDZ, the rural economic development zones. I want to look at this in terms of getting money out to the Leader groups.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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On that-----

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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No, Deputy Ó Cuív. We are already 15 minutes into this question time.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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This is my last question. I am entitled to an answer.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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No, Deputy.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The Minister said €40 million was for capital.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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No. The Deputy is not to ask this question. We are 14 minutes into the question already.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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This is a fundamental-----

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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I am not allowing the Deputy to proceed. There are four other Deputies who want to put their questions.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The Minister said something that is totally erroneous.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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The point is that the Deputy is 14 minutes into a question time for which he only has ten minutes.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Can I give the Minister a chance to correct the record?

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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No. I am not allowing the Deputy to proceed.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The Minister said-----

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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Will the Deputy stop interrupting the Chair?

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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-----the €40 million was for capital.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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Will the Minister proceed with her answer?

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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My understanding is that the wages of the Leader companies are paid out of this €40 million allocation. Is that correct?

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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The Deputy is showing disregard for everyone in the room by proceeding to ask the question.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Is that correct?

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Yes.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister for clarifying that point. I am correct on that.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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It is correct that the administration element of the Leader programme is paid out of the €40 million capital allocation for this year. It is all in the capital allocation.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I know that but that capital-----

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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We are finished with Deputy Ó Cuív’s questions. We are already 15 minutes into his slot. We will proceed to the next question.

Regional development was an obvious major issue for the State in the last election. It is a major crisis across the State because we have such a concentration of development in the Dublin region with a lack of development in the other regions. This is causing major headaches for people living in Dublin because services are hard to come by and difficult to access. However, in the rest of the regions, we have a massive depletion in services and in population. To many the Government’s response to this and the budget allocated to it seems to be an empty husk. If one looks at the size of the problem and the Government’s response to it, it is not comparable in any way.

The spatial plan is happening within the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government. This will be the first spatial plan since 2002. To a certain extent, we are travelling rudderless in this regard. What work is the Minister’s Department doing with regard to the spatial plan? The plan is the blueprint for future regional development.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The focus has to be to move development from the east coast and move investment and jobs into rural areas and the regions. I will be shortly developing an action plan for rural Ireland and I will be happy to take on Deputies’ suggestions for it. All the different Departments will feed into that plan. The Action Plan for Jobs is successful. It sets targets, is measured and is reported on every month. It will be the same for an action plan for rural Ireland.

There are 200,000 jobs planned over the next several years. The target is to have 135,000 of those located in rural Ireland. There will be a real focus on the regions. I, along with the Deputies here, want to see Enterprise Ireland, which does great work in rural areas, and IDA Ireland present rural Ireland as a place where we want to do business. There is much energy and enthusiasm and there are many skills in rural Ireland.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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The only way that will happen is if there is disruptive investment. In other words, investment made not on the basis of a current demand but demand in 20 to 30 years time.

That means that the response of the Government must alter radically to the need for investment and development.

I have some specific questions about the document. A fall in the number of post offices is being planned for. The post office is a key element of the viability of rural settlements, an issue which has been the subject of controversy in the past while. The Minister might address it.

The document also appears to show there has been a radical fall in the number of villages benefiting from enhancements, from 1,300 to 199.

The Minister might address these two issues.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I will let the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Ring, deal with the post office issue.

I want to see the town and village enhancement scheme rolled out as soon as possible. I have some ideas, but I want to work through the local authorities. The best approach is to get them to engage with local communities. I want the town teams to come forward with proposals on how they can improve their towns. That is a collaborative way to do business, to have a bottom up approach to find out what people living in towns and villages need because they know more about them than many of us do. They know what will improve and regenerate them. It is very important to have chambers of commerce in towns. Having an active chamber means a great deal to a town which reaps the benefits.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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What is the reason for the cut in numbers?

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I am not aware-----

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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The report states the number of villages and communities which benefited from enhancements in 2013 was 1,300, whereas the number for 2015 was 199.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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As that responsibility has only recently been moved to my Department, I will have to come back to the Deputy with an answer. I am sorry, I do have the answer. There was no programme last year. It is a new programme this year.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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In 2013 there were 1,300; 1,000 in 2014 and 199 in 2015.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Yes, that was to finish off of the 2014 programme.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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The Minister might provide clarification in that regard. I do not want to delay the committee.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I will seek further clarification for the Deputy because I do not have the-----

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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Go raibh maith agat. The Minister of State might respond on the number of post offices.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Last week I had a fruitful meeting with Mr. Bobby Kerr of the Post Office Network Business Development Group which recently produced an excellent report. He told us that the group intended to finish its work by October this year. A number of recommendations will be made to the Government soon. We are looking at network renewal, the basic payment and motor tax issues. These are measures that can enhance and support rural post offices. The group is examining every aspect of the operations of rural post offices. That will not be an easy task, but we will divide them into three or four categories, including bigger post offices, those in cities and towns and those in rural areas. We will examine the possibility of providing for reskilling and retraining those who have worked in post offices for many years. We will also try to get the communities involved in poviding community hubs, including the local shop, the post office or other services provided in the local community. We are examining these issues and committed to having some recommendations, particularly for the Government, in the near future. As the group has committed to finishing its work by October, we will have plans and announce what we intend to do.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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The question was the reason for the reduction in the number of post offices in 2013, 2014 and 2015.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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There were eight post office closures in 2011; four in 2012; five in 2013; seven in 2014 and five in 2015. There were 54 closures in 2004; 46 in 2005; 47 in 2006 and 76 in 2007. There has, therefore, been a reduction in the number of post offices closing.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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In other words, the rate has reduced.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Yes.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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The Western Development Commission has had capital funds for the development of a strategic development office agreed but they are being withheld.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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No, I would not say they are being withheld.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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They have not been delivered.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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They will be. The Chairman must appreciate that this is a new Department and that a great deal of work is coming across our desks. I will meet them next week. I have proposals from them that I will deal with very shortly.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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Go raibh maith agat. I call Deputy Danny Healy-Rae.

Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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I will start where I finished earlier regarding the greenways or "blackways", as Deputy Ó Cuív, called them. Why is a compulsory acquisition order required in respect of the areas involved in Kerry when that was not the way it was dealt with for the other greenways?

I am concerned about the amount of funding the Minister said is available for the Leader programme. We have missed almost three years funding since 2013. Am I right on that?

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I will take Deputy's question on the greenways and the Minister will take his question on the Leader programme.

Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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I am very concerned about that issue. I am also concerned that it will be mainly administered by the local community development committees, LCDCs, rather than Leader partnership companies. That is a big cutback for rural areas compared to the bottom-up approach we had with the partnerships. The populated areas, with which I have nothing against, will probably benefit more than the rural areas under the LCDCs. That is the legacy the former Minister, Phil Hogan, left us and we cannot blame him entirely because he was supported by the Government at the time. That is what has happened. We have been asked by the partnership companies to inquire if they could get a separate fund - it would not be the Leader fund - whether some of it would come from Europe or wherever. Rural communities will be left behind as we move forward. That is the way I see it and I have to represent the people who are concerned about it in rural areas of south Kerry such as Sliabh Luachra, Annagh and Duhallow who have given great value for the money they received over the years. They represented east Kerry, Gneevgullia, Rathmore, Ballydesmond and Knocknagree and they really helped rural areas that were struggling. The partnership companies will now find it difficult to even survive.

I would like to hear what the Minister of State, Deputy Ring, will say about the CLÁR programme. CLÁR funding was especially valuable for class 3 roads, as we call them, in respect of which there was no hope of ever getting funding. They are public roads in the charge of the local authorities but they are not getting adequate funding to maintain those roads. Those roads are now in a desperate state. I received a request from a postman as late as yesterday inquiring if a digger could level the middle of the road because his van is getting stuck on his way to deliver letters to the locals. That is a sad reflection of how far backwards matters have gone in rural areas. CLÁR funding would be really appreciated if the Minister of State could progress it and I depend on him to do that.

I do not know under which Minister's remit this comes, but discretionary funding used to be provided for local roads. The practice of providing such funding ceased in the past four years.

This committee is discussing ways and means of helping rural Ireland. Not all of the class three roads were designated for the CLÁR programme, but these roads are getting no funding now unless there is a community involvement scheme where residents contribute 15%, 20% or, in some cases, 25% of the funding. That does not suit for a link road because it means that people from outside are using the road and the locals do not see how it is right that they must contribute for a road which others are using. When the allocation of discretionary funding came to Kerry County Council it gave each councillor a chance to nominate two roads that were in a desperate state. The people concerned are paying their motor tax, insurance, property tax and, most likely, they are paying for their water, be it from pumps or in a group scheme.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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Deputy, the Minister will only have four minutes to answer your question because you are six minutes into your time.

Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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I am aware that the Minister is interested in this because this is what is involved when discussing rural Ireland. We must address this issue, return the funding and make discretionary funding available to the local councillors whereby they can nominate two or three roads each year which are not getting attention through any other means.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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We talked about greenways earlier. I hope that people such as the Deputy and community groups would work with the local farmers to try to encourage them to make their land available. I do not like the compulsory purchase option but in some cases it might be necessary.

The Deputy is quite correct about the CLÁR programme. In the past, the class two and three roads and even the local improvement scheme, LIS, roads were subsidised by the CLÁR programme. With regard to the LIS roads and the local contribution that was being provided, Kerry County Council must not have been treating the Deputy right because we re-introduced that scheme approximately three years ago when I was a Minister of State in the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport. The council was allowed to use up to 15% of discretionary money from the overall budget it received to give to councillors for LIS roads. It happened in some counties. Some of the county managers or chief executive officers of local authorities did not wish to do it, but the discretionary grant is still there. One can take a percentage of that money and use it for discretionary or LIS roads.

I will conclude on this note. The local authorities have discretionary money. Some of them were very good and used that discretionary money on roads. Some of them used it for travelling all over the world or for other schemes they had when they could have put it into roads. That is something the Deputy might discuss with his colleagues in the county council. The discretionary scheme is in place for the LIS roads so the Deputy should check how much of its discretionary money Kerry County Council put towards the roads.

Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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I cannot believe the Minister. It is like the loaves and the fishes in that one must have the power to multiply. That would mean funding for our county roads and local roads would have been reduced, and the massive volume of traffic is from local areas into towns. I did not talk about the local improvement scheme. We are told, and I must believe our county manager, that there is only funding for five local improvement schemes each year notwithstanding the fact that 168 are sanctioned and there are 500 on a list waiting to be assessed. Clearly, the funding has been cut back-----

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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It has been cut. There is no question about that.

Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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It has been cut back to practically nil. One year, when my father was a Member of the Dáil, we received enough funding to do 111 roads.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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That was before the election. I remember it well.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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We have reached the time allotted. I ask Deputies to focus on the Estimates we are dealing with today in so far as they can.

Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent)
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A number of issues have been raised. I referred to the post offices and, in fairness, the Minister clarified it quite well. I have a worry, however. The Minister spoke about bringing in communities to run post offices. That would be a serious move. Running shops is one thing, but running post offices would be quite a serious move.

The judging of the funding of post offices is on their activity. There is no comparison between a post office in Dublin and a post office in Schull in west Cork. Something must be done to bridge that gap for rural communities. The Minister is trying and working on it, and I appreciate that.

I have seen the benefit of the rural social scheme, RSS, to the local farmer and fisherman. It is under the Department of Social Protection and I urge the Minister to consider seriously trying to bring that scheme under her brief. Deputy Humphreys is the Minister for rural affairs and it is most important that the RSS comes back in under Deputy Humphreys' brief. It is built for rural communities. It is not a community services programme, CSP, community employment, CE, scheme or Tús. It is a supplementary income for low-income farmers and fishermen and it must come under the Minister's brief in the future, if she could work towards that.

The town and village enhancement scheme is a great idea. No doubt it is a fabulous idea. Anything that helps local towns and villages is a fabulous idea. We have seen how rural areas especially have been decimated. The idea of living over the shop must be looked at. We are talking about building houses here and there, and nobody looks at the local town and village. In my local town, there might be facilities to house 250 or 300 people, but there are only 15 people living there. Something needs to be addressed there. It might not always suit people to move from wherever but if one is living in a crammed up hotel, an attractive option might be a town or village that provides a huge school, a community centre etc. That should be looked at.

My only concern is that sometimes the local authorities tend to look at the bigger towns and villages and the smaller ones without strong active community groups tend to fall between two stools. That needs to be looked at in order that every rural community is looked after. I attended a meeting in Macroom some months ago. I was on the radio the next day talking about the meeting where I stated that I met only one car on my one hour and 20 minutes journey from Macroom to the parish of Goleen. It tells me that rural communities are dead. They need a bit of life and maybe this town and village enhancement scheme is the way forward. If it is, let us all work together to see whether we can make that happen.

I have two questions on Leader funds. How much of this €40 million will be used in administration and are there still payments to be made which will come from this €40 million?

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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On rural post offices, there is a compensation scheme in place in other jurisdictions. It is something we have under consideration, but if we were to apply it, we would have to introduce very serious safeguards. It is something we are looking at.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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There is a total allocation of €250 million for the Leader programme and €40 million is in the budget for this year. I want to get this moving. That is the main thing. I want to see the funding out in the communities because that is where it needs to be. I am attending an event in Virginia in County Cavan on Friday and I will be signing the contracts there for at least 18 of the agreements with the local action groups, LAGs.

Leader is governed by EU regulations. It provides for the development and implementation of publicly funded local government strategies by partnerships of key public and private actors, the local action groups. There are different local action groups throughout the country and the first 18 agreements will be signed on Friday. That funding is in place and I want to see the LAGs facilitating the applications and getting the money out. There are many projects because people have been waiting for this. There are many people with different ideas and who want to set up businesses and do different things. I want to see that rolled out as quickly as possible.

To be clear, the €40 million is for this year. There are some administration costs of between €6 million and €8 million in total for this year.

That is for closing off the old Leader programme and also starting the new programme which will begin shortly. The Leader programme is huge in rural Ireland. It has been great up to now and many powerful projects have been funded.

I want to see how we can incentivise people to live in towns again. There is nothing more evident than that when we are out canvassing. When we knock on doors, there is nobody there because nobody is living in town centres. They have all moved out. I would like to see some change in this regard. I have spoken to the Minister for Finance about this to see how we can incentivise young people and owner-occupiers to come back into towns. A number of years ago, the trend was for publicans and shopkeepers to build fine houses in the suburbs and they moved out, so there was nothing happening in the middle of towns. I want to see how we can get people back in, however, because people bring business and that is it at the end of the day. That is something that I certainly want to work on. The town and village renewal scheme will be targeted at populations of less than 5,000.

I think I have covered most of the issues.

Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent)
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The rural social scheme.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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That scheme belongs to the Department of Social Protection. However, there is a special Cabinet sub-committee and I will raise the issue of the rural social scheme there. That sub-committee holds to account every Department that relates to rural Ireland. They will be asked the relevant questions concerning what they are doing for rural Ireland. The Taoiseach chairs that sub-committee, which is a very good one.

A sub-committee was established for the 1916 commemorations, which worked well and made things happen. Even though some things might appear to be under my Department's aegis, I attend that sub-committee with the Ministers of State, Deputy Ring and Deputy Kyne. We want to know what these Departments are doing for rural Ireland and how the rural social scheme is working.

The other day, we handled the issue of rural post offices, which was raised. We got a commitment that staff of the Department of Social Protection will explain what is happening in that respect. Every time they get a form for a payment, they will ask the applicant if they want to collect the payment in their local post office. Those are the kinds of things that can happen at the sub-committee. I take the Deputy's point about the rural social scheme and I will raise it at the relevant sub-committee.

Roads come under the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport. However, that Department's officials attend the Cabinet sub-committee and we will raise those issues with them there.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent)
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Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I will start with the Minister of State, Deputy Ring, and ask a question about An Post. At the outset, he said there is a big task in hand in bringing post offices back in order that they are at the forefront of our communities and towns. It is a simple no-brainer. They have been allowed to fall behind because they have not been given an opportunity to function or provide services. If they were given that opportunity, people would avail of those services which are so important for the social fabric of rural areas.

We spoke about broadband and, at the risk of repeating myself, I do not know how rural post offices will function unless they all have broadband. It is a basic requirement and it should be a simple job to provide it if the commitment is there.

The Minister of State also said that some local authorities were not using their discretionary funds for local improvement schemes, LIS. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae referred to this matter too. As a former Fianna Fáil councillor on Cavan County Council, I voted against it for the simple reason that our roads have been, and still are, atrocious. It would have been inconceivable to consider taking money out of our main roads budget to put it into local improvement schemes. My grand-uncle, the late Paddy Smith, introduced the LIS in the first place. It was always a stand-alone scheme, but I would like to see it being brought back. I am making the point, however, that it is not that simple for local authorities. If main public roads were in disrepair, one could not possibly justify taking money out of those road schemes to do lanes.

I spoke to the Minister yesterday - we had a very good meeting in Monaghan - about the rural economic development zone, REDZ, scheme. As a new Deputy, it was new to me and I had not heard of it before. In her address yesterday, she mentioned that Castleblayney is one town that availed of the scheme. Will she give an overview of it for Cavan-Monaghan, if I can be parochial? Are there other towns that can avail of it or what opportunities have there been for such towns? I must have missed the boat there as it sounds really interesting. In my time on the council, I was extremely passionate about main street rejuvenation and it sounded really brilliant. I did not hear of it happening anywhere in Cavan but perhaps it was just a pilot scheme for Castleblayney. Will the Minister speak a little about it?

With regard to the town teams, Cavan County Council held its first town team meeting some weeks ago in Virginia. It is probably not the fault of the council or business people but as somebody who is extremely passionate about rejuvenating our main streets and bringing integrity to them, I was extremely disappointed with the process. The people at the coalface of main street rejuvenation were not present. I brought that up with council officials afterwards, who said the individuals in question had been invited and knew about the event. It was a lost opportunity in Virginia specifically. There were people there involved with the Tidy Towns scheme and various other community groups, which is great, but business people must be there. They pay the rates and have road works outside their doors, so they cannot get customers in during the day. These are the people who we need to engage with local authorities. Unless there is a real emphasis on getting business people around the table, there will be a real question mark over whether the town teams can achieve anything. The one in Cavan town had more business people attending. If the Department is going to push the town teams, I would like more business people to attend these meetings. Perhaps they should happen during the day. The people who matter were not present but they must engage with their local authorities. What types of projects are envisaged in the context of a town and village rejuvenation scheme? I will say no more and give the Minister all that time to answer.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I will take the smaller issues relating to my portfolio. The local improvement scheme was suspended by people who did not have an understanding of rural Ireland and at least I fought to get it reopened. I was delighted to that it was reopened by the Department. I know we could not put in the amount of money that was required, but at least the scheme was reopened and local authorities now have an opportunity to access it.

The Deputy is correct about post offices. There are 1,130 rural post offices and 51 are owned by An Post. The rest are privately owned. One of the issues considered was other services being used. Almost 50% of these were co-located post offices, which means there were shops or other businesses in them. Mr. Bobby Kerr and his committee are also considering including in new recommendations issues such as broadband, meaning the post office will be able to sell broadband. As the Minister said, we had discussions with the Department of Social Protection. It sent out its letter but that is being changed as there was really no mention of the post office. That is now happening.

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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That did some damage.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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There were post offices closed in my area and many people were very concerned about that. The pity was that the locals were not using them. Perhaps this committee and the Department should examine, in the new year, ways of putting a campaign together to encourage people to use local post offices. If we do not use them, we lose them. We certainly need people to be able to use them.

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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If they get the services and functions to provide, people will come to them.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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There is no doubt that they have the best network and are in every corner of the country. We are examining services - for example, in respect of motor tax - that could be included. They should be doing that as well. We have a crisis with passports and I will ask the Department to examine the matter. It might not be simple because of the legalities involved. It is crazy that somebody from Mayo or Monaghan has to go to Dublin. Kerry people are not so badly off as they can go to Cork. In Mayo, a person must come to Dublin if there is a problem with his or her passport. If somebody is going on holidays tomorrow, he or she must come to Dublin to get a passport sorted out.

That might be a way to look at the post office. One might not be able to get-----

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The post offices would be very busy again if they had passport functions.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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That is true. They would be very popular very quickly.

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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There would be queues out the door.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The aim of the REDZ scheme is to support and develop the town centre and local retail economy, ameliorating the pressures businesses were experiencing following the recession, and to develop the concept of community leadership following the abolition of town councils. We want to work with local authorities and chambers of commerce as that is very important. We must work with business people. I have said before that a good chamber in a town makes a huge difference. We have asked them to set their priorities. They choose what they think will be of most benefit to their towns and submit their applications. Last year, we allocated €2 million and offered up to 50% of funding for submissions. It was broken down into a number of different categories. There were three flagship projects and a number of other projects nationally. The one in Castleblayney was very successful. It involved the improvement of signage into the town and the improvement of shop fronts. It was not a great deal of money for each shop owner but it certainly improved the appearance of the town. The project also got people together to look at broadband for a business park to see how that could be developed and brought along. Two weeks ago I launched another projected funded by REDZ in Tubbercurry. A company had vacated an old building, which the project then acquired. The local chamber played a huge role along with the local authority and Leader company. They came together and acquired the building which is now full of offices for start-up businesses. There are hot-desking facilities and high-speed broadband. Those are the types of projects which have been carried out and I would like to see us roll out something from that base as quickly as possible by inviting local authorities to go to the community to identify priorities and apply for funding.

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Does a town need a chamber to avail of that?

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Absolutely not. It is not necessary to have anything. If there is a good community group, it is fine.

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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A lot of towns do not have chambers.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy is right that some do not. I am just providing examples of where people came together and saw what they needed to do. In fairness, I have yet to see a good project refused funding. Ideas were put together, applications were made and we were able to support them. I want to see more of that. Again, it is about working on a collaborative basis. I have great faith in local authorities because they know what is happening on the ground and can work with local communities, identify the priorities and submit the applications to central Government.

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Was Castleblayney the only town in the Minister's constituency of Cavan-Monaghan that availed of the funding?

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Castleblayney got it and Lough Egish Food Park. It was to facilitate businesses to look at how they could make an application for broadband.

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Was there any project in Cavan?

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I am not aware of any. There will be the next time. No application came in.

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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I am sorry that I had to step out there for a while. I did not realise the meeting would go on this long and I had another meeting planned. We are hearing a lot about Cavan-Monaghan here so I am going to be little parochial and mention Kildare. I have a point rather than a question as to the basis on which money is assigned to Leader programmes and the deprivation element. In Kildare, we received one of the lowest allocations in the last tranche of Leader funding. There are areas of Kildare which have plenty of deprivation. At times, we struggle because we are perceived to be the horsey county in which everyone has a horse and people think we are grand because we are right beside Dublin. The Minister of State, Deputy Kyne, will always tell us about the bad land in poor Connemara but there are plenty of areas in Kildare which have difficulties. Athy was a RAPID town and there is rising youth unemployment there. I have concerns about the whole mechanism by which funding is decided and I am determined to see an increase of Leader funding for Kildare.

Despite its population of 210,000, the county received less money than County Leitrim. Fair play to Leitrim but Kildare has a much larger population and has plenty of good projects that could be funded.

As I stated, I had to leave the meeting briefly. I apologise, therefore, if I repeat questions asked by other Deputies. What role will local authorities play in the roll-out of rural broadband? This area offers significant potential for local authority involvement and I am aware the Minister plans to engage with local authorities in this area. I ask her to elaborate a little on that.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Decisions on Leader allocations were based on the rural deprivation index and other statistics on rural areas. County Kildare was allocated €5.26 million, while County Leitrim received €5.9 million. An assessment was made and-----

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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I made the point about funding to assist in future analysis. Given the size of County Kildare, €5 million is a very small amount.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Decisions on Leader allocations are based on rural deprivation.

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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I dispute the criteria used for assessing rural deprivation. South County Kildare pays a price for having Intel and Hewlett Packard located in the north of the county. I am not arguing with the Minister but pointing out that County Kildare was definitely the poor relation in terms of Leader funding.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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Intel is a price many counties would like to pay.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The programme for partnership Government includes a commitment to increase funding for the Leader programme and to make available more competitive capital funding to allow Leader groups to bid for additional resources for projects that best support rural economic development. I will work on this matter in the budgetary process.

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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I will fully support the Minister's endeavours to increase funding for the Leader programme and perhaps she will look after County Kildare in the process.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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On broadband, a procurement process is under way for the national broadband plan. In the meantime, I want to ensure that once the plan has been agreed and signed off, every county will be broadband ready. I will work with local authorities on this matter. I will meet representatives of the County and City Managers Association, CCMA, shortly when I will ask that every county produce a broadband plan. This will mean counties will know precisely what they need to do regarding way leave rights and development levies. A number of issues need to be addressed in this regard.

We must also educate people on the benefits of broadband because many people do not realise how important and useful it is. Every county will be asked to report to a regional action group on what it is doing. This is being done to ensure counties do not have obstacles in place that would prevent the roll-out of the national broadband plan. We will also ask commercial suppliers to improve the services they are providing. One possibility is to have business clusters. I am aware of cases where two businesses located within one mile of each other are each paying large sums to different broadband providers. Perhaps businesses could come together to form a critical mass which would allow them to negotiate better with commercial providers. We can do some work on this.

We also intend to pursue community hubs to enable communities to secure high-speed broadband. I will be pleased to listen to any suggestions Deputies may have on this issue.

The Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Denis Naughten, and I will co-chair a mobile coverage and broadband task force which will identify solutions to improve mobile reception.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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Rachaimid ar aghaidh go dtí an ceann deireanach - programme F - appropriations-in-aid.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I do not have anything to say about it.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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Níl aon rud le rá. We will proceed with questions.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Yes, if there is any.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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I have a question about it. There is a figure of €8 million for Leader receipts on the capital side. What is the source of those receipts?

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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It is the funding received from the European Union after the money has been spent.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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Ba mhaith liom míle buíochas a ghabháil leis an Aire agus leis na hAirí Stáit as teacht isteach anseo agus as cabhrú linne chun tuiscint níos fearr a fháil mar gheall ar na Estimates. We will have an opportunity to engage with the Minister early in the autumn on the mid-year review of the 2016 Estimate. The clerk will be in touch with officials in the Department on the key outputs, including the 2016 Estimate. We have completed our consideration of the Revised Estimate for Vote 33. Ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghabháil le gach comhalta den choiste seo agus leis na hAirí agus leis an bhfoireann arís.