Results 24,101-24,120 of 28,255 for speaker:Éamon Ó Cuív

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (6 Oct 2009)

Éamon Ó Cuív: One civil servant in my Department was dismissed earlier this year due to the person's failure to fulfil the terms of their probationary contract. There were no cases of the nature referred to by the Deputy during the period 2005-08.

Written Answers — Dormant Accounts Fund: Dormant Accounts Fund (6 Oct 2009)

Éamon Ó Cuív: The Dormant Accounts Fund Acts provides for an annual transfer by credit institutions and insurance undertakings of monies in accounts determined to be dormant into the Dormant Accounts Fund (DAF). Section 12 of the Dormant Accounts Act 2001 provides that financial institutions transfer the moneys in account determined as dormant before the 30th April each year. In generally, all transfers...

Written Answers — Community Development: Community Development (6 Oct 2009)

Éamon Ó Cuív: The RAPID Programme aims to ensure that priority attention is given to tackling the spatial concentration of poverty and social exclusion within 51 designated RAPID areas nationally. As I have indicated to the House on a number of occasions, it is a matter for individual Departments to report on the provision of funding, the progress on delivery with respect to projects under their...

Written Answers — Community Development: Community Development (6 Oct 2009)

Éamon Ó Cuív: The CLÁR Programme continues to provide valuable support for infrastructural investment in disadvantaged rural areas. Under the Programme, expenditure of €15.86m has been provided for in 2009 and as a result, a high number of projects will continue to be implemented throughout the country. CLÁR is demand driven and is operated as a single national Programme for areas that have...

Departmental Expenditure. (6 Oct 2009)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I am glad the Deputy is singing from the same hymn sheet as me and I give credit to my colleagues in the Opposition for all the support and assistance they gave in the difficult task of trying to rationalise the structures, between the Leader companies and the partnerships. They are aware from working of the huge resistance and delays put up against that process. In recent weeks, I had to...

Departmental Expenditure. (6 Oct 2009)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I understand the papers the Department gave to the committee were published on the website of the Department of Finance. Therefore, the documents the Deputy requested are available. On the issue of the Gaeltacht, when in the Gaeltacht in the past two weeks, the Taoiseach reiterated the Government's commitment to the Irish language. We are nearing completion-----

Departmental Expenditure. (6 Oct 2009)

Éamon Ó Cuív: And actions. We have done a significant amount for the Irish language in the past ten years, and will continue to do it. The recommendations of the McCarthy report are just recommendations. Therefore, unless and until the Government accepts them, there is no point in criticising it for something that has not yet happened. The proposals in the McCarthy report and the 20-year strategy for...

Departmental Expenditure. (6 Oct 2009)

Éamon Ó Cuív: There was no recommendation in the McCarthy report to discontinue the scheme next year, even if the McCarthy recommendations are applied. The Deputy can take it therefore that the coláistí Gaeilge will go ahead next year. Even a full implementation of the McCarthy report indicates this. Scéim na bhfoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge has been one of the most effective schemes agus go bhfuil sé tar...

Irish Language Newspaper. (6 Oct 2009)

Éamon Ó Cuív: As the Deputy is aware, funding for the publication of a weekly Irish language newspaper is provided by Foras na Gaeilge. I understand from Foras na Gaeilge that a new competition was advertised lately and that several applications were received by the deadline of 4 September 2009. Those applications are being assessed and I am advised that it is proposed to interview applicants on the...

Irish Language Newspaper. (6 Oct 2009)

Éamon Ó Cuív: As the Deputy knows, I believe we should have an Irish language newspaper. I regret the events that led to the closure of Foinse, but the person offered the contract decided not to continue with it. In such a situation, there is no choice but to tender again. However, I have no intention of involving myself in an independent procurement process. The Deputy would be the first to complain...

Irish Language Newspaper. (6 Oct 2009)

Éamon Ó Cuív: Never. I have no doubt that Foras na Gaeilge will carry out this procurement process efficiently and effectively. However, it must follow the correct process. I would hope it will reach its deadline of bringing this before its board meeting in November, and that we will get notification afterwards. For very good reasons relating to tender processes, I always take the clear and unequivocal...

Irish Language Newspaper. (6 Oct 2009)

Éamon Ó Cuív: Mar is eol don Teachta do bhí páipear seachtaine Gaeilge, Foinse, ag fáil deontas, agus gnóth an chomhlacht chéanna, Móinéar Teoranta an chomórtas le pháipéar a chur ar fáil do na blianta seo. Ansin, le cúiseanna ar bith go maith dó féin, tharraing siad siar as agus ní raibh éinne eile fágtha ar pháirc na himire. Ní raibh aon rogha ag an bhForas ach dul amach agus...

Irish Language Newspaper. (6 Oct 2009)

Éamon Ó Cuív: Tá an cheart ag an Teachta O'Shea. I understand that several applications were received. Obviously I do not know their identity. I know nothing about them and neither am I aware of their quality. However, I understand there are several applications and that they should be able to come to a decision in November. That is the intention at the moment and they are reasonably confident they...

Departmental Expenditure (6 Oct 2009)

Éamon Ó Cuív: The achievement of value for money for each of the schemes and programmes it delivers and funds from its Vote is a priority for my Department. Similarly, ensuring systems are in place to secure value for money across the bodies that are funded from my Department is also a key priority. Against this background, my Department has put in place a range of financial monitoring, performance...

Departmental Expenditure (6 Oct 2009)

Éamon Ó Cuív: Information on staffing at Údarás na Gaeltachta is readily available to my Department, which monitors the organisation on an ongoing basis. Údarás has a good record in job creation; for example, 1,269 new jobs were created in Údarás-assisted companies in 2008, while full-time employment in Údarás-supported enterprises was 8,193. One of the issues that arises is that of the cost per...

Departmental Expenditure (6 Oct 2009)

Éamon Ó Cuív: As the Deputy knows, I always look out for value for money. The Deputy mentioned schemes I was particularly associated with setting up, of which I will take three examples. The rural social scheme, which costs €7,000 more per year than keeping the same person on unemployment benefit or farm assist, is incredibly good value for money in terms of the amount of work done. The report I...

Departmental Expenditure (6 Oct 2009)

Éamon Ó Cuív: The issue of the configuration of Departments is, as I have said time and again, solely one for the Taoiseach. I heard what he said on TG4 and I leave that utterly to his discretion.

Departmental Programmes. (6 Oct 2009)

Éamon Ó Cuív: It is an absolute joke.

Irish Summer Colleges. (6 Oct 2009)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I confirm that representations have been made to me on this matter by CONCOS, the Irish summer colleges' representative body, and by householders in the Gaeltacht who accommodate Irish students while attending such colleges. On 2 September 2009 I addressed a meeting of college representatives and householders from around the Gaeltacht on the subject. As I indicated, the recommendations in...

Irish Summer Colleges. (6 Oct 2009)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I am delighted to hear the Deputy supports this scheme.