Pádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Question 233: To ask the Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs if he has accepted the recommendations of the Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Sport, Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs on the 20 year strategy for the Irish language; if he will elaborate on the recommendations for the Department of Finance regarding the Gaeltacht as laid out in the report on infrastructure and investment priorities 2010 to 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36910/10]

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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As indicated previously in reply to Questions in this House, the 20-year Strategy for Irish was published in draft form to facilitate a further round of public consultation on the proposals contained in it by the relevant Oireachtas Joint Committee. The Joint Committee held meetings with relevant interests, including one meeting in the Gaeltacht, and subsequently agreed a submission with a range of recommendations. I received the Committee's recommendations on 28 July 2010 and these have been under examination by my Department in consultation with other relevant Departments. I anticipate that these consultations will be completed shortly and that a final draft of the Strategy can be brought to the Cabinet Committee on Irish, and subsequently to Government, in the near future. Proposals in regard to investment programmes for the Gaeltacht, outlined in the Infrastructure and Investment Priorities 2010 to 2016 report that was published by the Department of Finance in July 2010, remain under consideration. As the Deputy will be aware, all of the figures are indicative at this time and the 2011 allocations will not be decided until the Estimates process is completed within the framework of the forthcoming Budget. In the context of the 20-year Strategy, these issues will be considered further by my Department having regard to the resources that will be available in 2011 and future years. As the Deputy will appreciate, in the present financial circumstances objectives will have to be pursued with less resources than previously. However, despite these constraints, my Department is committed to making significant progress and to achieving value for money in the implementation of the Strategy.