Dáil debates
Thursday, 28 September 2023
Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate
Scéimeanna Rannach
4:10 pm
Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Tuigim go mbeidh an tAire Stáit ag úsáid an chórais aistriúcháin chomhuainigh agus go mbeidh sé ag freagairt i mBéarla. Tá sé sin sásúil domsa. Ní thuigim riamh an fhadhb atá againn leis an gcóras seo sa tír seo. Úsáideann chuile dhuine é nuair a théann muid go dtí an Bhruiséil agus oibríonn sé thar cionn.
Tá scéim na bhfoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge thar a bheith tábhachtach do leathnú na Gaeilge i measc daoine óga ar fud na tíre. Tagann scoláirí ó chuile chearn den tír go dtí an Ghaeltacht sa samhradh chun an Ghaeilge a fhoghlaim agus tuiscint ar shaol na Gaeltachta a fháil. Ar ndóigh, leis an mborradh eacnamaíochta, tá laghdú ag teacht ar líon na dtithe atá ag coinneáil Gaeilgeoirí agus ar líon na mban tí. Tá sé sin intuigthe. Mar sin, tá sé níos tábhachtaí ná riamh go meallfar daoine chun na Gaeilgeoirí a choinneáil. Ní jab éasca ar chor ar bith é a bheith ag coinneáil Gaeilgeoirí agus tá sé ag éirí níos deacra mar tá go leor dualgas breise ar mhná tí le hais mar a bhíodh fadó. Ní mór iad a chúiteamh dá réir.
Mar bharr ar chuile dhonas i mbliana, tá moill aisteach ar íoc na teaghlaigh a choinnigh na Gaeilgeoirí. Go minic, nuair atá íocaíochtaí mar sin i gceist ag Ranna Stáit, ní bhíonn an deifir agus an dlús leo gur chóir a bheith leo. Mar shampla, mura bhfaigheadh an fhoireann íocaíocht ag deireadh na seachtaine, bheadh uafás orm. Ar an gcuma chéanna, tá na teaghlaigh seo - mná is mó atá i gceist - a chuireann an-dua orthu féin chun na scoláirí a choinneáil, i dteideal íocaíocht freisin.
Chuir mé ceist Dála scríofa le gairid maidir leis an gceist seo. Bhí iontas orm a fháil amach nach raibh measúnú déanta ach ar 60% de na héilimh. Bhí 40% de na héilimh nach rabhadar fiú tar éis breathnú orthu. As an 60% sin, bhí 30% nach raibh íoctha fós. Ciallaíonn sé sin nach raibh 42% íoctha. Bhí na scoláirí Gaeilge ann i mí an Mheithimh, mí Iúil agus mí Lúnasa den chuid is mó. Go deimhin féin, críochnaíonn bunáit na gcúrsaí i lár mhí Lúnasa mar bíonn scoláirí ag dul ar ais ag scoil roimh dheireadh na míosa. Shílfeá nach mbeadh fadhb ollmhór ag an Roinn na híocaíochtaí a cheadú nuair a fhaigheann sí na héilimh ó na coláistí, go mór mór leis na ríomhairí atá ar fáil sa lá atá inniu ann. Tá íocaíocht in aghaidh na hoíche i gceist. Tá an córas simplí. Comhaireann tú suas an méid oícheanta a raibh gasúr i dteach agus méadaíonn tú é sin le líon na ngasúr sa teach. Is é sin an freagra agus íocann tú iad. Ní thuigim cén fáth go bhfuil an córas chomh casta. Ní bhíodh sé mar sin nuair a bhí daoine ag déanamh chuile shórt le peann agus ag íoc seiceanna amach.
Mar a deirim, shílfeá nuair a bheadh sé ceadaithe ag an Roinn Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán go dtiocfadh sé go dtí an Roinn Airgeadais agus go mbeadh an íocaíocht déanta an lá dár gcionn. B'fhéidir go bhfuil dea-scéal ag an Aire Stáit dúinn - má tá réabhlóid tosaithe sa Roinn le seachtain anuas - agus go bhfuil na híocaíochtaí ar fáil. Más fíor é sin, beidh mé thar a bheith sásta.
4:20 pm
Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach Gníomhach. I thank Deputy Ó Cuív for raising this matter. I apologise for the response being as Béarla. I apologise on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donovan, who could not be here to take this matter here this evening.
The Irish-language learners scheme unit in the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media has assessed 76% of the payment claims the Department has received from recognised Irish colleges in relation to summer courses for 2023 and these have been forwarded to the Department's finance unit for payment. The unit is working on processing the remaining 15% of the payment claims that have been received in the Department. As it stands, the Department is awaiting completed paperwork from 9% of Irish colleges yet to submit a claim for courses held during the summer of 2023. In order to avoid delays, extra staff have been made available to the unit to assist with this process. It is expected that the remainder of the claims will be processed without delay.
The Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media provides significant assistance on an ongoing basis under the Irish-language learners scheme to support the Irish colleges sector. Under the scheme, assistance worth €12 per day is paid to recognised households towards each student coming to the Gaeltacht to learn Irish. Consequently, this grant indirectly reduces the fee charged by colleges to attendees. Almost 500 Gaeltacht families benefited from the grant last year and over 25,000 students and 40 Irish colleges benefited indirectly.
The following changes have been implemented by the Department over the past year to provide support for families who provide accommodation for those attending Irish colleges and for new families coming into the system: the start-up grant for new families or families who have left the system and want to return has been increased from €2,000 to €6,000, which is an increase of 300%; the grant paid in respect of students staying with recognised households under the Department's scheme for Irish-language learners has been increased by 20%; the maximum number of students allowed in recognised households has been increased from 12 to 16; the fund available under the DEIS Gaeltacht initiative has been significantly increased to provide additional opportunities by way of scholarships for DEIS post-primary school attendees from all over Ireland to attend an Irish-language course in the Gaeltacht, and these scholarships cover up to €850 for a three-week Gaeltacht summer college course.
To date this year, approximately 40 new families or households have been identified and registered under the scheme. As the Department is accepting applications on a continuous basis, it is expected that more applications will be received by the end of the year. Some 34 families registered under the scheme in 2019 and 39 did so in 2022, which indicates that the number of new families interested in registering under the scheme is increasing.
In addition to the aforementioned assistance provided for the benefit of the colleges and the sector as a whole, capital assistance is provided under the Department's language and community support programme. Many Irish-language colleges have benefited from this over the years, including colleges that are in private ownership. This assistance is provided to help colleges to upgrade their facilities and equipment. It goes without saying that the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media will continue to look at additional ways to further assist the sector in the future. The Department will also continue to engage with stakeholders on issues that may arise and will remain open to feedback and engagement with stakeholders on further supporting and developing the sector.
Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit as an bhfreagra sin. Ar an gcéad dul síos, b'fhéidir go bhféadfadh sé soiléiriú a thabhairt dom. Deir sé go bhfuil an Roinn tar éis próiseáil a dhéanamh ar 76% de na héilimh. Ansin, tá tagairt faoi dhó déanta aige go bhfuil 15% de na héilimh atá faighte ag an Roinn á bpróiseáil nó go bhfuil súil aici go mbeidh siad á bpróiseáil go luath. Nuair a bhaintear 76% ó 100%, is é sin 24%. B'fhéidir go mbeadh an tAire Stáit in ann a shoiléiriú dom cé as a dtagann an figiúr 15%. Nó b'fhéidir, mar a bhí ann sa fhreagra don cheist Dála, gurb iad na daoine sin atá ann ná iad ina bhfuil 76% de na héilimh próiseáilte ach go bhfuil 15% den chuid sin atá próiseáilte fós le híoc amach. An bhféadfadh an tAire Stáit é sin a shoiléiriú?
Cén iarracht atá déanta ag an Roinn maidir leis an 9% de na coláistí - tá sé sin an-ard - ina bhfuil na héilimh fós le cur isteach? Tá dualgas ar na coláistí freisin a chinntiú go bhfuil na mná tí ag fáil íocaíochta.
Bhíodh mo bhean ag coinneáil scoláirí sa teach seo againne agus tá a fhios agam go dtosódh sí luath san earrach ag caitheamh airgid, ag ceannach go leor bia tirim a bheadh ag teastáil, agus an teach a fheistiú agus a réiteach do na Gaeilgeoirí. Tá an costas ar fad sin titithe ar na mná tí i bhfad sular tháinig na scoláirí. Ansin tá an costas díreach ann freisin nuair atá siad ann; ag ceannach beatha agus mar sin de. Tá na mná tí as póca maidir leis an méid sin ar fad agus tá siad fós ag fanacht ar airgead na Roinne. B'fhéidir go mbeadh an tAire Stáit in ann a rá liom cén uair a bheidh 100% de na héilimh próiseáilte agus 100% de na hiarratais atá ar lámh íoctha?
Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta arís. I will ensure that the points that he has raised are highlighted directly with the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donovan. As I said at the outset, 76% of the payment claims the Department has received for 2023 have now been processed and the Department is working on processing the remaining 15% of the payments.
Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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What I said in Irish was that 76% had applied. By my calculation from the old mathematics I learned at school, that leaves 24% which are still to be processed, but twice the statement states to the contrary. I have a suspicion in this regard because I tabled a written question on the matter. Basically, I am seeking confirmation that 76% of applications have been processed but that 15% of those that have been processed have not yet been paid out.
Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy. I ask the Minister of State to reply now, please.
Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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There are still some outstanding-----
Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Can I have clarification on that point?
Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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I will inform the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donovan, of the Deputy's query. I will ask him to ensure that he or his officials respond directly to the Deputy on this point to clarify it for him. There are still some applications outstanding. As I was saying, 15% of the payment claims have been received and the Department is also awaiting completed paperwork from 9% of the Irish-language colleges. Upon receipt of that paperwork, these will be processed properly. Part of the challenge is that in 9% of the claims, paperwork is still awaiting submission from the Irish-language colleges. That 9% and the 15% mentioned is equal to the 24% queried by the Deputy, which ultimately gives the 100% figure.