Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

Os rud é nach bhfuil ach cúig nóiméad fágtha sa díospóireacht seo, ní bheidh deis agam déileáil le gach rud atá ardaithe ag na Teachtaí. Déanfaidh mé iarracht labhairt mar gheall ar cuid acu.

I thank Deputies O'Shea and McGinley for their contributions and I will briefly deal with some of the issues they raised. There are post-primary schools on Tory, Arranmore, Inis Mór, Inis Meáin and Inis Oírr but there is none on Inishbofin, Inishturk, Clare Island or Cape Clear in Cork. To my knowledge, they are not considered desirable by the communities on those islands because of the projected future numbers. However, if it is not possible for there to be a school on an island we want to make sure children return home every weekend, which was not the case in olden days and was most unsatisfactory.

There are two other islands, Sherkin and Bear island, where children attend school every day and return home every day and that is a very satisfactory arrangement. I agree with Deputy McGinley that the provision of the airstrip on Tory Island has been awaited for a considerable time and we have asked Donegal County Council to take out a compulsory purchase order in that regard. The Bill will facilitate progress in this matter because it will mean we do not have to transfer the airstrip to the Minister prior to commencement of construction. I hope, therefore, the Bill will help to progress the project because it is very dear to my heart. More than all the islands in Ireland Tory still suffers from isolation, despite the improved ferry services. We all agree that Oileán Thoraigh — an ceann is faide amach — is ea an oileáin is mó go bhfuil fadhb acu. Tá ceisteanna mar gheall na gardaí ar na hoileáin tógtha agam cúpla uair. Tá gardaí ar Inis Mór, ar ndóigh, ach taobh amuigh de sin tá fadhb ann. Tá mé i i gcónaí ag brú go gcuirfear an dlí i bhfeidhm go hiomlán ar na hoileáin. The islanders themselves are always looking for that and I concur with what the Deputy said on the subject of the islands.

In answer to another issue raised by Deputy McGinley, I understand that, if the Bill is passed today, it goes straight to Áras an Úachtaráin because it has already been taken in the Seanad and there are no amendments. I am no expert on these matters but that is what I am advised.

Deputy O'Shea raised a number of issues. We are proceeding with the cohesion process and hope to have it finalised in the coming month or two. It will provide full coverage throughout the State for partnership and, in rural areas, will mean there is one company delivering the various programmes, whether they be the rural social scheme, the local development social inclusion programme, the LDSIP, or the Leader programme. It will lead to a much better operation.

The Deputy also asked about the role of the Irish language. The Department used to co-ordinate policy relating to the language in an informal way. For example, it co-ordinated ráiteas na Gaeilge, even though elements of it related to education, communication etc. This Bill formalises its role and makes it absolutely clear the Department has the co-ordinating role in regard to Irish language policy. We always said it would take two years to develop a detailed strategy for the Irish language, based on the ráiteas, agus tá sé i gceist dul ar aghaidh le sin. Creidim go bhfuil sé fíor-tábhachtach go mbeidh straitéis láidir ann. Tá thuas agus thíos i gceist ó thaobh cursaí Ghaeilge sa tír i gcoitinne. Creidim nach féidir linn dul chun cinn a dhéanamh gan straitéis cuimsitheach.

On the subject of the schemes, there is always a debate in this House in which Members ask why a Minister does or does not have certain powers. In the exercise of the powers vested in me as Minister I have always tried to make sure good procedures are followed. Accordingly, we have tightened up many schemes. For example, the Ciste na Gaeilge is much more systemised now and it is clearer how it operates, as is the case with scéim bóithre áise and all the other schemes in the Department.

I have two firm objectives in mind. One is ease of application and the other that people feel they get a fair decision and that everybody is treated equally. We can create systems on paper that are very fair but so complicated to access that only those who have a degree in form-filling can get through them. On the other hand one must have a system where the process is clear and the decisions fair. A measure I look at very carefully is the number of written parliamentary questions on the subject of the schemes as they are an indicator of people's satisfaction. Another is the number of people in any year who visit the Ombudsman with a complaint about administration in the Department. It is a credit to the officials in my Department how few complaints are so referred. I hope the schemes are as transparent, fair and equitable as possible.

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