Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 53: To ask the Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs if he has had discussions with his Northern Ireland counterpart regarding ongoing financial support for North and South agencies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39356/10]

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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My Department supports and co-funds two North/South Implementation Bodies under its remit - Waterways Ireland and An Foras Teanga (comprising Foras na Gaeilge and the Ulster-Scots Agency /Tha Boord o Ulstèr-Scotch). These Bodies were set up under the British-Irish Agreement Act 1999. My Department has ongoing discussions with its co-sponsor Department in Northern Ireland - the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure - on the funding of the Bodies and in relation to their work programmes.

I participated earlier today in meetings of the North/South Ministerial Council in both Inland Waterways and Language Sectoral formats with my Northern counterpart, Mr. Nelson McCausland, MLA, Minister for Culture, Arts and Leisure, and Minister Ruane, to discuss issues arising from our Departments' joint responsibilities in this area. Issues in relation to draft 2011 business plans and budgets for the two Bodies were discussed at the meetings. We also discussed the current economic and fiscal challenges facing both jurisdictions and how best we can support and promote co-operation in our joint areas of responsibility in these circumstances.