Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Estimates. No one could oppose them in the way they have been fashioned as to do so would starve many organisations and artists which have struggled for many years, and are still struggling, of the funding they have, meagre though it is. The Minister outlined some of the changes that have happened as a consequence of the Covid-19 pandemic. She also stated we are coming out of a recession. The Irish language organisations have never recovered from the cuts imposed by previous Governments since Fianna Fáil collapsed the economy.

I congratulate the Minister, Deputy Catherine Martin, and the Minister of State, Deputy Calleary, on their promotion to high office, and I hope we will be able to work well and positively together in this area. However, I have some criticisms of the Estimates and questions on what has been presented to us, as elements are often hidden in the detail. Is much of what the Minister outlined a repurposing of the budget that was announced last October? Is she moving some of the Department's funding to address the crisis caused by the pandemic given that the money provided in some of the budget lines will not be spent? If capital funding remains unspent at the end of the year because of the restrictions, or unspent moneys are identified prior to that, will the Minister request that this funding be repurposed and distributed among organisations that help artists, musicians and others involved in the arts who are struggling? Many of them were struggling before the pandemic. It is reckoned that 70% of artists and musicians live on income that is below the average industrial wage or even below the minimum wage.

I do not know which Minister will answer my questions on the Irish language section. Prior to last year's budget announcement, the allocation for Údarás na Gaeltachta was 68% below its funding in 2010, and the position with regard to Foras na Gaeilge was much the same. All of the organisations in that sector are still awaiting the restoration of previous levels of funding, not to speak of an increase, to allow them to carry out their duties.

The Minister mentioned regional museums and the national cultural institutions. I agree that these bodies have done immense work during the pandemic in trying to ensure that at least part of their vast collections are available online. Will the Minister commit to ensuring more money goes to the National Museum? The State moved part of the national collection to the museum in 1993, yet not all of the facilities in the complex have been developed to a stage where the public can visit. The same is true of many of the other institutions, although I accept the National Gallery is nearing full completion of its restoration programme. A capital spend is required which has not been fully realised.

I mentioned the shortfall in funding for Údarás na Gaeltachta, which for several years, including this year, has spoken of the need for additional funding to ensure it can create jobs, which it has lined up, in the Gaeltacht areas. There is a need to continuously look at its programmes to ensure that families are retained within Gaeltacht areas and they can sustain themselves. Údarás na Gaeltachta does not just have a remit for the fiontar, tá jab eile aige agus is é sin díriú isteach ar phleanáil teanga chomh maith céanna. Muna bhfuil an chumhacht agus an t-airgead aige chun é sin a dhéanamh, tarlóidh i bhfad Éireann níos mó ná mar atá ag tarlú i Ráth Chairn faoi láthair, áit atá an Ghaeltacht féin i mbaol toisc pleanáil tithíochta agus a leithéid agus an creimeadh timpeall teorainneacha na Gaeltachtaí. Tá sé sin ag tarlú i Ráth Chairn anois.

Luadh campaí samhraidh agus coláistí samhraidh. Tógfaidh mé an deis chun iarraidh ar an Aire agus ar an Aire Stáit an iarrfaidh siad ar an Aire Sláinte athbhreithniú a dhéanamh ar an gcinneadh a glacadh na campaí samhraidh a chur ar ceal, ach go háirithe toisc go bhfuil athrú suntasach tarlaithe maidir leis an treoir sláinte atá tugtha faoin méid daoine ar féidir teacht le chéile. Tá an grúpa Muintearas ag impí ar an Rialtas é sin a dhéanamh chun go mbeadh na campaí samhraidh seo ag na páistí, a lán acu go bhfuil ualaí breise orthu mar pháistí agus go bhfuil a leithéid de champaí samhraidh ag teastáil uathu.

Luadh infheistíocht sa Ghaeltacht chomh maith. Baineann mo cheist dheireanach leis na hoileáin. Tá a fhios agam go bhfuil freagracht as na hoileáin ag bogadh go Roinn nua ach tá sé fós faoin Estimate atá curtha faoinár mbráid faoi láthair. Cad é an scéal mar gheall ar sholáthar uisce d'Inis Oírr, áit nach raibh uisce ceart ann le míonna anuas? In ainneoin na paindéime, tá uisce á thabhairt isteach ar an mbád farantóireachta.

Ar deireadh, tá ceist agam faoi na vouchers i gcomhair trádáil ar líne a luadh. Tá sé sin go maith. Chonaic mé cad a tharla leo sa Roinn Cumarsáide, Gníomhaithe ar son na hAeráide agus Comhshaoil. Bhí a lán daoine á lorg. An bhfuil an t-airgead sin don údarás amháin nó an bhfuil sé roinnte leis an scéim Bhéarla? An bhfuil cuntasaíocht faoi dhó ag tarlú sa chás seo?

See this speech in context