John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)

I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Ó Cuív. As the Senator knows and as the Minister has said many times before, the Government will decide on the various recommendations that have been submitted to it, and which are mentioned in this question, in due course. The Minister understands that Gaeltacht communities view the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs as being very important, particularly the activity and support schemes of both the Department and Údarás na Gaeltachta in the Gaeltacht. Some of these schemes, such as the Irish language learners' scheme, have been in existence for many years.

The summer colleges not only support the Irish language in the Gaeltacht and nationally, but also boost the Gaeltacht economy. Without those colleges, the Gaeltacht would be a far poorer place. The Irish colleges also foster mutual support and goodwill towards the language on a national basis. It is vital that the accommodation of summer college students in their homes be advantageous to Gaeltacht families. The language-centred Irish college industry greatly enhances the tourist industry in the Gaeltacht and provides significant earnings to the Gaeltacht communities whose household and community language is Irish. The Irish colleges also have a positive effect on young people in the Gaeltacht with regard to how they use the language themselves. Many of them work in Irish colleges during the summer, which illustrates to them the advantages of the language, in turn preserving the language among them. The youth of the Gaeltacht see that their peers from other parts of the country are inspired to learn the language and are more inclined to speak it among themselves. Responsibility for the question of education in the Gaeltacht rests with the Minister for Education and Science and there is full co-operation between my Department and the Department of Education and Science in that regard.

Having said that, the Department administers certain schemes that support the language in the Gaeltacht through the education system. These schemes are reviewed regularly. Support is also provided to Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge in NUI Galway which has a central role in community development and in preserving the Irish language in the Gaeltacht. The Minister understands very well, therefore, the importance of education in preserving the Irish language in the Gaeltacht.

The Senator will be aware also that a Government committee, chaired by the Taoiseach, is currently preparing a 20-year strategy for the Irish language and the Gaeltacht. The Minister, Deputy Ó Cuív, understands the support needed by the Gaeltacht communities to sustain and develop their own language. The policy statement published by the Government in 2006 contained the Government's vision for the language. The 20-year strategy will aim to develop that vision and designate a strategy to implement it.

With regard to sustaining Údarás na Gaeltachta's enterprise responsibilities, the Minister would like to remind the Senator that the Department carried out a comprehensive review of the powers and functions of Údarás na Gaeltachta in 2006 to amend, as appropriate, the legislation under which the Údarás operates. The Minister invited the public to submit proposals to the Department as part of that review process. A total of 67 submissions were received from the public in that regard. The public submissions were independently analysed and the public's opinion will be taken into account if changes are to be made to the structures under which Údarás na Gaeltachta operates. The current situation regarding this matter is that the issue is being considered in the context of the discussions of the Government committee relating to the 20-year strategy to which I referred.

I do not believe anyone could question the Government's commitment with regard to the investment made in the Gaeltacht and on the islands in recent years and the improvements that have taken place in those areas as a result of that. Ten years ago there was a huge lack of capital infrastructure on the islands, especially with regard to piers, roads, recreational centres and coastal protection.

The State has spent more than €100 million on the development of infrastructure on the islands from 1998 to date. A total of €11 million has been spent in Donegal, €20 million in Mayo, €7 million in Cork and €62 million in Galway, where most of the populated islands are. This does not include the extra funding provided as joint funding from the county councils or specific expenditure from Údarás na Gaeltachta or other State Departments and organisations. The result of this expenditure is evident throughout the country from Donegal to Cork.

The Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs has invested continually in the development of the physical and social infrastructure of the Gaeltacht for many years. Evidence of this can be seen in the many facilities available such as community halls, Irish colleges and playing pitches. Under the strategic roads scheme significant development has taken place on the network of main roads in the Gaeltacht. The Minister is proud of the progress made with regard to these developments in the Gaeltacht and on the islands.

Undoubtedly, we face many challenges in our current economic climate and with the world economy as it stands. The Senator will understand that it cannot be stated in the current climate that no cutbacks will take place in the various sectors that fall within the remit of responsibility of the Minister, Deputy Ó Cuív, but it can be said that the Government's commitment to the Gaeltacht, the Irish language and the islands is evident and it will continue to strive to improve the quality of life of those communities and to reinforce the Irish language as a household and community language for the generations to come.