Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the annual saving to the Exchequer of shared services between Gaeltacht programme organisations which receive core funding from his Department, Údarás na Gaeltachta or Foras na Gaeilge. [47264/12]

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the annual saving to the Exchequer of shared offices between Gaeltacht programme organisations which receive core funding from the Department, Údarás na Gaeltachta or Foras na Gaeilge. [47265/12]

Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 605 and 606 together.

The aim of my Department, given the fiscal constraints in operation at the moment, is to ensure value for money in the delivery of the various services provided by my Department, by Údarás na Gaeltachta and by Foras na Gaeilge. In the context of significantly reduced staff numbers and reduced budgets, there is a need for greater efficiency in the delivery of these services.

My officials are at present examining the respective roles of my Department and Údarás na Gaeltachta in the Gaeltacht. This is being undertaken as a result of the Gaeltacht Act 2012 which gives effect to a Government decision that Údarás na Gaeltachta will be responsible for the implementation of the 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030 in the Gaeltacht. It is my intention that this will drive greater efficiency in service delivery in the Gaeltacht.

In addition, Foras na Gaeilge is undertaking a review of its 19 core funded bodies. It is envisaged that this review will result in a reconfiguration of the Irish language sector. Since Foras na Gaeilge is an agency of the North South Language Body, which is co-funded by the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure in Northern Ireland, decisions with regard to this review are taken by the North South Ministerial Council.