Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 9: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the amount, extent and value of budgetary cutbacks in his Department in 2010; the degree to which it has affected the various services provided by his Department directly or through subsidiary agencies; the number of persons affected as a result thereof in terms of loss of personnel through cessation of schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8377/10]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 32: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the extent to which decisions announced in budget 2010 will impact on the operation of his Department or agencies under his remit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8391/10]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 41: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he will make a statement on the Estimate for his Department for 2010. [8390/10]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 42: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the extent to which operation of the CLÁR and RAPID schemes have been affected by the current economic climate; if consideration has been given to the substantial increases in such schemes to compensate for the downturn in the economy and the needs arising therefrom; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8376/10]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 9, 32, 41 and 42 together.

As the Deputy is aware, as part of its strategy to manage its way through the current severe economic crisis and to return the country to prosperity, the Government decided, in budget 2010, to reduce spending on public services by almost €1 billion in 2010 compared to the pre-budget Estimates. To the greatest extent possible, savings have been sought through efficiencies rather than through reductions in services. The individual breakdown of these reductions for my Department at a subhead level is provided in the Revised Estimates Volume for 2010, which, I understand, was published in the past hour or so.

While the allocations in most expenditure programmes are reduced for 2010, my primary concern is to make every effort to ensure that the daily front line services provided with funding from my Department, particularly those focused on the needs of the most socially deprived communities, are protected. Every saving that can be made from reducing overheads is being pursued in order that the entire range of urban, rural, Gaeltacht and island communities we serve will retain, to the greatest extent possible, the services that have been developed in partnership with them over the years.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Deputy Durkan indicated to me that he would be present to deal with this question. As he is not here, I will pose some supplementaries in respect of it. What are the cutbacks affecting the Minister's Department that have been announced in the past hour? Is the Minister in a position to guarantee that he will do everything to protect the positions of staff who provide front line services.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Absolutely. The Deputy will be glad to hear that there have been no further cutbacks. In fact, the Revised Estimate published in the past hour contains a number of small adjustments that are positive in nature.

We have been examining every programme in the interests of cutting administrative costs, reducing duplication, etc. The tying up of the local and community development programme, LCDP, is a perfect example of what we are trying to achieve in the context of bringing programmes together and ensuring that two people in the same area are not replicating each other's work. I am engaged in a similar streamlining exercise in respect of organisations in the Gaeltacht. The aim of this exercise is to ensure that each Gaeltacht area will have an organisation operating within it but that there will be no area in which two such organisations are operating.

In reply to the previous question, I outlined the approach we took in respect of the CSP, namely, we removed the non-wage grant but we will assist those experiencing particular difficulties. In the past two years, the approach in respect of the rural social scheme has been to reduce funding and ask communities to do a little extra.

In the context of the Department's Vote, our approach has been to try to obtain more for less. The Deputy is probably aware that I made an announcement in the Seanad last night in respect of the payment for mná tí na Gaeltachta. The cut in respect of this payment, which currently stands at €10.50, will be 5%. That is a far cry from what Professor Colm McCarthy suggested, namely, the abolition of the scheme over two years. Deputy Ring will be aware that the Government is 150% committed to this key scheme. I accept that, in the context of the drop in the consumer price index, it will not be easy for the mná tí to cope with the cut. However, we are retaining the scheme and the tax exemption for the mná tí will also be maintained. I am of the view that these are welcome developments.

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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In reviewing the position with regard to cutbacks in the Department's Vote, is it possible that a positive approach might be taken? As we examine this can we identify areas where we can develop aspects of the project or funding that may make a difference? The negativity of cutbacks in itself is divisive. It shows a lack of enthusiasm for what is being done. Opportunities to review each project and funding head do not come very often. Are there positive aspects? Have places been identified where the Minister feels further funding will create more employment? I gave out to the Minister because he did not fight the McCarthy report initially but waited to respond to it. With this review the Minister has an opportunity to come up with the positive aspects of what is involved in communities in rural Ireland. I am asking with what positive aspects has he come up.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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With regard to the McCarthy report, if one considers the Department's Estimate now and the Government's clear statement that it is committed to a 20 year strategy for the Irish language, one will accept that the Government did not accept the McCarthy report's recommendations on the Department and has solidified the importance of the Department in the decisions taken. I was always aware that the Government's view of the Department did not mirror the slashing proposed in the McCarthy report but we must allow these processes to go forward. Without boasting, if one examines the Department's Estimate it is in line with what happened in every other Department.

I agree with Deputy Wall's point on positivity. Last year, I created extra positions in the CSP scheme against the head and maintained them this year. I will meet the Leader companies tomorrow and I will beg them to get the money approved. I kept the administration money very tight; I cut it because I want to put the money into projects. Every euro I save in administration will go into a project. I want large projects and I want the Leader programme rolled out fast. I do not want €1,000 or €2,000 projects; I want €100,000 and €200,000 projects and community projects of €300,000, €400,000 or €500,000 so that in five or ten years people will state that something was done under the Leader programme between 2007 and 2013. Wherever we can be positive we are.

I am also working on the matter of rural recreation. I met a senior executive of Fáilte Ireland during the week to see how we can invest the wealth of resources in rural Ireland into rural recreation. The RAPID programme is extremely important and we are examining new ways of improving matters under this programme on a low cost basis. Recently, I visited DIT Kevin Street which had brought in local children. This was organised by private industry, a voluntary organisation and the third level institute at a low cost.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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I do not want to disrupt the Minister but I wish to allow more supplementary questions.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I am only anxious to help.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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The Minister is very helpful to the House.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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This House should debate where we are going and where we have been with rural development. Has the Minister introduced Gaeltacht house grants for windows, doors and roofs again this year? Is there any hope for their introduction?

I am disappointed the Minister had to cut back on the scheme where children stay in houses in the Gaeltacht. I compliment the Minister on that scheme and I supported him very strongly on it. It is big business in Gaeltacht areas and creates employment. The Minister should not worry about the McCarthy report. McCarthy is another one who wants to live in Dublin 4, Dublin 5 or Dublin 6; he does not want a rural Ireland. He wants to keep only the cities going and have us for coming down to at weekends to shoot snipe.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I have been working on where we go from here with rural development and where the opportunities exist. I am more than willing to debate it at any time in the House. It is important that we have a clear vision of what rural development is about, what type of urban and rural societies we want, and how we see those societies developing.

Approximately €6 million in approved Gaeltacht housing grants has not yet been paid and a number of applications have not been fully assessed for various reasons; sometimes an applicant does not provide required information. I am committed to it and all of the funding available this year will be used. I heard what Deputy Ring stated on the importance of the scheme.

With regard to the mná tí it is fair to state that there is unanimity in the House on the importance of Scéim na bhFoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge. It has had huge success in inculcating in young people a love of the language in a natural setting outside of the classroom. Last year, the numbers that attended were as high as ever and it is very important. In recent years I managed to substantially increase the grants to the mná tí. Furthermore, I require the colleges to pay €1.20 for every €1 grant paid by us to the bean an tí. Previously we increased the money and the college decreased the money. I stopped that for a number of years. I was reluctant to make any cut but given the circumstances of the time the 5% cut is reasonable.

The Government is looking to the future and today's Estimates contain an extra provision in the Department's Vote for Stráitéis Fiche Bliain don Ghaeilge. We see this as something new and positive that we must drive. We must await the approval of the Government and so on before spending that money but we are committed to the strategy.

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Will the Minister continue his proposals on rural recreation? The waterways in Ireland are under the control of Waterways Ireland but it is an area we have not developed to its true potential. They, along with the walkways along the banks of the canals, can be a huge tourist attraction. Will the Minister make a commitment to be in contact with Waterways Ireland to ensure that progress is made on this?

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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When one travels throughout the country one can see the fantastic work done on the Shannon and Erne waterways. We have a huge length of waterway. I fully agree with Deputy Wall on the need to continue to develop these resources, not only the boating resources but also the banks. Recently, I brought in all of the State agencies that have major land holdings, including Coillte Teoranta, which has done a huge amount of work on rural recreation, Waterways Ireland, the inland fisheries agency, Bord na Mona, the National Parks and Wildlife Service, Fáilte Ireland and Iarnród Éireann. We discussed how the State can use the fantastic resources it has through all of these agencies not only for their primary purpose but also in a co-ordinated way for rural recreation. Abandoned railway lines would be super for cycleways and walkways. Waterways Ireland has dry canals that would be very good for walkways. We also have the waterways themselves. Cutaway bog could be used for children from cities and towns to do things they would not be allowed to do anywhere else because we do not have ecological problems there and Bord na Móna was very enthusiastic about this.

Coillte has been particularly good at providing scrambler and mountain bike areas and it has developed several great walking routes. Building on that model, we are seeking to bring together all the State agencies which own significant amounts of land to take a more coherent approach. I look forward to Members' support in that effort.