Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 193: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the progress made in regard to the commitment given in the Programme for Government to change the law to enable Údarás na Gaeltachta to provide development services on a contract basis to non-gaeltacht islands thus ensuring parity between all islands. [18777/08]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Legislative proposals in regard to the powers and functions of Údarás na Gaeltachta are being considered in the general context of recommendations contained in the Report of the Linguistic Study of the Use of Irish in the Gaeltacht, which was published recently.

As the Deputy is aware, a Cabinet Committee has been established to examine the study's recommendations with a view to agreeing an integrated action plan.

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 195: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the progress made in regard to the commitment given in the Programme for Government to invest through the community employment scheme, the job initiative scheme, the rural social scheme and the community services programme in providing top class community services on islands. [18780/08]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

In line with commitments in the Programme for Government, my Department has made considerable progress in relation to the development of community services on our islands through the Community Services Programme and the Rural Social Scheme.

The Community Services Programme (CSP), currently supports six community enterprises located on five islands in Donegal, Galway and Mayo. The islands are Árainn Mhór, Inis Oírr, Inis Mór, Inishbofin and Achill. The support provided is in the form of a contribution towards the wages of five managers and twenty-four full time equivalent workers. An allocation is also provided for non-wage expenses. The community enterprises, supported under the CSP, in turn provide support for various services, including support for tourism initiatives, transportation, recycling, literacy, social care, and youth support services, and also maintenance of community halls and facilities.

The Department continues to roll out the Rural Social Scheme (RSS), including on our islands. Comhdháil Oileáin na hÉireann implements the RSS on the islands on behalf the Department and has a quota of twenty participant places. In 2007, eleven projects were undertaken under the RSS.

In relation to the Deputy's query regarding the Community Employment Scheme and the Job Initiative Scheme, these do not fall within the remit of my Department and are matters for my colleague, Mary Coughlan T.D. Tánaiste & Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment.