Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

Tá súil agam go mbeidh, agus táim ag cur brú an t-am ar fad ar Chomhairle Chontae Thír Chonaill dul ar aghaidh agus an cheannach éigeantach a dhéanamh.

Ba mhaith liom a lua freisin nach mbainfidh an dleacht €2 a fógraíodh do thurais eitleán leis na seirbhísí aeir go dtí na h-oileáin, mar ar ndóigh, is riachtanais iad na seirbhísí sin, seachas sóláistí. Sílim go bhfuil sin cothrom.

Maidir le hÚdarás na Gaeltachta agus an Ghaeilge sa Ghaeltacht, beidh laghdú substaintiúl i mbuiséad riaracháin an údaráis. Creidim go mbeidh an údarás in ann sin a sheasamh. Beidh cinnití agus sábháiltí le déanamh acu, ach má chuireann siad chuige, beidh siad in ann iad a sheasamh. Beidh mé ag casadh le príomh fheidhmeannach agus cathaoirleach an údaráis len é sin a phlé amárach. Maidir leis an gclár caipitil, séard atá gheallta don údarás thar an dá bhliain, ná €45 milliún. Tá sé i gceist anois €2 mhilliún breise a chur le hairgead na bliana seo agus tá laghdú €1.5 milliún don bhliain seo chugainn. Ciallaíonn sin go mbeidh €0.5 milliún níos mó á fháil ag an údarás thar an dá bhliain le haghaidh caiteachas reatha.

Baineann gné shubstaintiúil d'obair mo Roinne le cúrsaí Thuaidh-Theas. Tá áthas orm a fhógairt anseo tráthnóna, ó thaobh An Foras Teanga agus Uiscebhealaí Éireann, go mbeidh an méid céanna airgid á chur ar fáil an bhliain seo chugainn agus a bhí ar fáil i mbliana. Nuair a tháinig mise isteach sa Roinn sa bhliain 2003, an chéad bhliain iomlán don Roinn Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta, más buan mo chuimhne thart ar €230 milliún nó €240 milliún a bhí ag an Roinn. Séard a bhéas ann an bhliain seo chugainn ná €520 milliún. Fiú ag tógáil boilscithe san áireamh, taispeánann sin an méid ollmhór atá tagtha ar chaiteachas na Roinne.

It is amazing how people forget the way it was in the past. When I came into the Department in 1997, the total capital allocation for the islands was €1 million. This year, despite a slight decrease, it is €25 million. In 2003, the budget of the Department was less than half of what it is today. There will not be as much money available next year and there will be a small reduction. However, when it is put in the context of how far we have gone so fast, I believe with careful management of the money we can achieve great benefits next year.

The rural development programme to be announced in the coming weeks will be the largest rural development programme ever and will involve an investment of €425 million. It will be almost three times the size of the programme which ran from 2000 to 2006. The programme will be rolled out between 2009 and 2013. Within this programme are major opportunities for people to develop rural areas and overcome some of the challenges they face at present.

As Minister, I will continue to focus on urban deprivation in which we face major challenges, some financial and some social. I will continue to make a major commitment in time and effort to the RAPID programme which is slowly but surely acquiring the confidence of the people in the communities affected. We will continue to roll out the programme as vigorously as ever.

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