Dáil debates

Wednesday, 16 July 2014

10:10 am

Photo of Peadar TóibínPeadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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6. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht cad iad na seirbhísí stáit atá gearrtha siar de bharr ísliú buiséid le cúig bliana anuas; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [31195/14]

Photo of Peadar TóibínPeadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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Tá gearradh siar uafásach déanta ar mhaoiniú d'eagraíochtaí Gaeilge thar timpeall na tíre le linn blianta. Má fhéachann muid ar Údarás na Gaeltachta, tá an tóin tite amach as an mbuiséad sin le cúig bliana anuas. Tá 75% den bhuiséad sin imithe anois. Ní hionann na ciorruithe sin le ciorrú ar aon eagraíocht fiontair eile, ar nós an IDA nó Enterprise Ireland.

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Is oth liom nach bhfuil ar mo chumas an cheist seo a fhreagairt as Gaeilge, ach cuirfidh mé leagan dhátheangach den fhreagra ar fáil don Teachta. As the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht was established on 2 June 2011, my response to the Deputy's question deals with the period since that date. My Department administers a wide range of programmes and measures. Its financial allocations since its establishment reflect the outcome of the comprehensive review of expenditure and the review of capital expenditure carried out in 2011. While my Department's gross funding has reduced between 2011 and 2014 as part of its contribution to the overall fiscal consolidation, to the greatest extent possible savings have been sought through efficiencies rather than reductions in services. For example, the allocation for spending on administration costs in my Department has fallen by 11% since 2011, from almost €38 million to less than €34 million this year.

While the funding adjustments in recent years have posed challenges, I am satisfied that the overall level of resources available to my Department have allowed it to continue to support arts and culture, maintain our built and natural heritage, develop our language and Gaeltacht areas and support island communities and the North-South implementation bodies under its aegis. In doing so, my Department has sought to do the maximum possible to support employment, achieve compliance with EU directives and support the ongoing implementation of the Good Friday and St. Andrews Agreements.

My Department's total capital provision has increased by just over €5 million, or 9%, since 2011. In Budget 2014, my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, announced additional funding for a number of new measures in my Department's area, including €10 million for the Cork events centre, €6 million for the Limerick National City of Culture 2014, €5 million for the traditional skills and buildings at risk jobs leverage scheme 2014 which is directed at renovation projects for buildings which are protected and €3.7 million to fund a number of 1916 commemoration projects.

I intend to continue with this approach of protecting services to the greatest extent possible, while contributing to economic recovery by supporting new developments in the sectors for which I am responsible.

Photo of Peadar TóibínPeadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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Thar timpeall na tíre, tá daoine ag cur ceisteanna trí Ghaeilge isteach go dtí an HSE, go Revenue agus go dtí gach eagraíocht Stáit, ach tá na heagraíochtaí ag cur na freagraí ar ais chucu i mBéarla. Tá sé seo in aghaidh an dlí. Anois, sa Dáil tá an rud céanna ar siúl ag an Aire féin.

Dúirt an iar-Choimisinéir Teanga go raibh na heagraíochtaí ag briseadh an dlí de bharr nach raibh siad in ann freagra a chur ar ais chuig daoine i nGaeilge. Conas is féidir linn é sin a athrú muna bhfuil muid in ann é a athrú istigh anseo? Maidir le mo cheist, baineann sí le hÚdarás na Gaeltachta agus an t-ísliú bhuiséid atá tar éis tarlú. Tá an t-údarás ag cruthú post sna Gaeltachtaí, ach tá ciorrú uafásach déanta ar an maoiniú dó i gcomparáid leis an gciorrú a rinneadh ar an IDA nó Enterprise Ireland.

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Tá brón orm; níl a lán Gaeilge agam, but I will try to answer the question as best I can. On the issue of replies to questions in Irish, if the Deputy wishes to have his replies in Irish I will ensure they are so provided into the future. On the budgets, the Government wants to maintain services to the public and has done so in so far as possible. The Deputy will be aware that we are in difficult economic times. As I said, services to the public have been maintained in so far as possible. There may be less funding for particular services and events but every effort has been made to maintain front line services.

Photo of Peadar TóibínPeadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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An fhadhb atá agam ná nuair a théim i dteagmháil le Revenue, deireann siad liom go bhfuil uimhir faoi leith ann don Ghaeilge agus má chuirim glaoch ar an uimhir sin go bhfaighidh mé an tseirbhís trí Ghaeilge. Ach nuair a cuirim glaoch ar an uimhir sin, ní bhíonn éinne ann le Gaeilge ach bíonn daoine ann le Béarla agus deireann siad liom glaoch a chur orthu arís an chéad uair eile agus go mbeidh duine le Gaeilge ar an líne ag an am sin. Deirimse liom féin ansin nach bhfuil mé chun am a chur amú agus go bhfuil mé chun glaoch ar an líne Béarla as seo amach. Tá an rud céanna ag tarlú san Oireachtas inniu.

Táim ag caint faoin gciorrú ar airgead don nuachtán Gaelscéal agus dúnadh an nuachtáin sin bliain ó shin. Tá an tóin tite amach as an maoiniú do TG4 agus d'Fhoras na Gaeilge i bhforálacha na cáinaisnéise. Tá an tAire sa Tuaisceart ag iarraidh níos mó airgid a chur isteach i bhForas na Gaeilge, ach ní féidir léi mar nach bhfuil an Roinn anseo sásta an t-airgead céanna a chur isteach. Tá an Rialtas ag cur teorainn ar mhaoiniú do na heagraíochtaí Gaeilge ar fad. An fhadhb atá ann anois ná nach bhfuil an t-eolas ag an Aire agus an Aire Stáit maidir leis seo agus níl aon tuiscint acu maidir leis an bpráinn atá i gceist.

10:20 am

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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With regard to the budget figures, I will be happy to speak to the Minister for Finance, Deputy Noonan. TG4 comes under the remit of the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government. I take on board the Deputy's point.

Photo of Seán BarrettSeán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Question No. 7 is in the name of Deputy Mulherin who is not present. Question No. 8 is in the name of Deputy Humphreys who is not present.

Questions Nos. 7 and 8 replied to with Written Answers.