Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to address the Chamber on the budget 2022 Estimates as they pertain to my areas of responsibility in the Department.

I ndiaidh dhúshláin na bliana anuraidh agus, go deimhin, na bliana seo, fáiltím roimh an maoiniú breise de os cionn €7 milliún a leithdháileadh don Ghaeilge agus don Ghaeltacht i gcáinaisnéis 2022. Leis seo, is fiú €85.6 milliún an méid airgid a bheith le caitheamh san earnáil seo i 2022. An bhliain seo chugainn, cuirfear maoiniú breise reatha de €1.5 milliún ar fáil d'Údarás na Gaeltachta. Cuirfidh sé seo ar chumas an údaráis tuilleadh airgid a chur i dtreo na gcomharchumann Gaeltachta agus na turasóireachta. Cuirfear maoiniú breise de €1 milliún ar fáil faoi chláir thacaíochtaí pobail agus teanga mo Roinne. Cuirfear maoiniú breise de €2.3 milliún ar fáil do mo Roinn le haghaidh na scéimeanna tacaíochta Gaeilge lasmuigh den Ghaeltacht. Cuirfear €800,000 sa bhreis ar fáil chun tacú leis an bpróiseas pleanála teanga. Cuirfear €700,000 ar fáil ón Rialtas don Fhoras Teanga, agus cuirfear maoiniú breise de €4.2 milliún ar fáil do TG4 mar léiriú ar thábhacht le cur i bhfeidhm Straitéis 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge. Is féidir liom a fhógairt go gcuirfear acmhainní breise ar fáil do mo Roinn agus d'Oifig an Choimisinéara Teanga araon i 2022 chun Bille teanga nua a chur i bhfeidhm agus an córas múinteoireachta ina leith a neartú.

Beidh €14.45 milliún in airgead caipitil ar fáil d'Údarás na Gaeltachta an bhliain seo chugainn, méadú 60% ar an allúntas a bhí ag an eagraíocht i 2019. Tugadh méadú suntasach breise don údarás i mbliana le dul i ngleic leis na fadhbanna a chruthaigh an phaindéim dá chuid chliantchomhlachtaí. Tá an t-allúntas méadaithe sin cionroinnte ag an údarás sa bhuiséad seo, rud a dhéanfaidh difríocht mhór don eagraíocht agus í ag pleanáil do na blianta amach romhainn. Léiríonn an tacaíocht seo tiomantas an Rialtais an Ghaeilge a threisiú mar chéad teanga oifigiúil an Stáit, mar chuid luachmhar d'oidhreacht an oileáin seo agus, níos tábhachtaí fós, mar theanga bheo sa Ghaeltacht, ach go háirithe.

I am delighted to announce the provision for 2022 of €181.2 million for sports and recreation services. This allocation represents an increase of 6% on the 2021 allocation and builds on the extensive supports provided to supporting organisations hit by Covid. This funding will allow Sport Ireland to continue to support our sporting bodies as we move through the pandemic. The 2022 allocation of €96.2 million will include measures such as additional funding for high-performance sport as Team Ireland prepares for Paris, equality in funding for women's and men's Gaelic games players grants, and continued support for the sports sector as it emerges from the Covid-19 restrictions. The 2022 funding for the sports capital equipment programme has also been increased, and funding for the large-scale sports infrastructure fund has been maintained. Through this, our sports infrastructure will grow and develop to meet the ever-increasing demand.

I am pleased to announce that funding for sport from the Dormant Accounts Fund has been increased by a further €2 million, bringing the total allocation to €12 million. This is more than double the level of a few years ago and will target hard-to-reach communities to build participation and sport for all in our society. The benefits associated with sports participation and engagement are well known, and a vibrant sports sector will be critical as we emerge from the cloud of Covid-19. The funding package secured for sport as part of budget 2022 will ensure a sports sector that is fit for purpose and resourced to deliver the viability and vibrancy of the sector.

Tá mé muiníneach a chur, faoi na bearta agus tionscnaimh a fógraíodh inné, ar chumas na n-earnálacha seo teacht ar ais chucu féin go sciobtha ó thionchar na paindéime agus go gcuirfear ar a gcumas fás agus forbairt a dhéanamh i 2022.

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