Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail)

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta, an Teachta Éamon Ó Cuív, go dtí an Teach. Ba mhaith liom buíochas ó chroí a thabhairt don Aire as ucht an obair go léir atá déanta aige chun ár dteanga dúchais a thabhairt chun cinn, ní amháin sna Gaeltachtaí ach ar fud na tíre freisin. Tá mé ag iarraidh an stádas reatha a fháil maidir leis an cinneadh Rialtais a rinne an iar-Aire Airgeadais i gcáinaisnéis 2004. Dúirt sé go ndéanfaí dílárnú ar Fhoras na Ghaeilge go Gaoth Dobhair. Tá an cinneadh sin déanta ag an Rialtas. Tuigim go raibh beannacht na hAirí ó Thuaidh de dhíth fosta. Tuigim gur phléigh an Aire, an Teachta Ó Cuív, é seo leis na hAirí eile go minic ag cruinnithe den Chomhairle Aireachta Thuaidh-Theas.

Tá ról tábhachtach ag Foras na Gaeilge maidir le chur chun cinn na Gaeilge ar an oileán. Tá stádas Fhoras na Gaeilge tábhachtach dúinn uilig, go mórmhór mar a bhaineann sé leis an áit ina bhfuil an fhoras lonnaithe. Tá an fhoras ag obair i mBaile Átha Cliath agus Béal Feirste faoi láthair. Cuirim fáilte sonrach faoi leith roimh an cinneadh atá déanta ag an Rialtas go ndéanfaí dílárnú ar Fhoras na Ghaeilge go paróiste Ghaoth Dobhair. Cuideoidh sé sin le ról an fhoras agus le Gaeltacht Gaoth Dobhair, cé go bhfuil eagraíochtaí Gaelach agus Gaeltachta lonnaithe ann faoi láthair. Beidh an fhoras in ann a chuid oibre a láidriú de bharr go mbeidh cuid den chomhlacht — 30 post agus oifig — lonnaithe i nGaoth Dobhair.

Ba mhaith liom ceist a chur ar an Aire. An féidir leis an stádas reatha a mheas? Cá bhfuil sé seo faoi láthair? Cathain a mbeidh na postanna lonnaithe i nGaoth Dobhair? Ní bheidh aon fhadhb ann muna bhfuil cuid d'fhoireann an fhoras sásta bogadh go Gaoth Dobhair, cé go bhfuil go leor daoine oilte againn sa taobh sin tíre. Beidh na daoine úd lán-sásta na postanna sin a líonadh.

In the context of the 2004 budget, it was announced by the Government that 30 positions within the North-South language body, Foras na Gaeilge, would be relocated to Gaoth Dobhair, County Donegal.

Foras na Gaeilge is responsible for the promotion of the Irish language, including support of voluntary and other initiatives and projects, developing dictionaries and terminology and supporting Irish-medium education and the teaching of Irish. I understand that the North-South Ministerial Council decision of March 2006 was to proceed with the decentralisation as proposed by the Minister for Finance in the 2004 budget.

I am delighted the Minister, Deputy Ó Cuív, is present. I seek an update on the current position regarding the relocation of 30 Foras na Gaeilge posts to Gaoth Dobhair. The area represents a wonderful location for Foras na Gaeilge. It already contains a combination of Irish language organisations and businesses, including Radio na Gaeltachta, Údarás na Gaeltachta, an Roinn Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta, an Chrannóg and the Acadamh of Ollscoil na hÉireann, Gaillimh. The nucleus of Irish language organisations is well established in Gaoth Dobhair. All of those organisations and the local population extend a céad míle fáilte to Foras na Gaeilge.

My question is how soon we can expect the first positions of employment to be filled in Gaoth Dobhair. Is it expected that the jobs being created in the area by the decentralisation programme will involve the movement of staff from Foras na Gaeilge or other Civil Service positions to Donegal, or will new positions be created locally that will give opportunities to local people who would have high standards in the Irish language to do an excellent job on behalf of Foras na Gaeilge?

I thank the Minister for attending and I look forward to hearing the updated position from him. Go raibh maith agat.