Written answers

Tuesday, 8 July 2014

Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

Departmental Bodies Expenditure

Photo of Dominic HanniganDominic Hannigan (Meath East, Labour)
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435. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will ensure that there is a capital of €12 million for Údarás na Gaeltachta for the year 2015; if he will further ensure that there is no cut to the budget of Foras na Gaeilge in 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29418/14]

Photo of Dinny McGinleyDinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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I wish to refer the Deputy to my replies to recent Parliamentary Questions in relation to these matters. With regard to the capital budget for Údarás na Gaeltachta, I wish to reiterate that, as Minister of State with responsibility for the Gaeltacht, I very much appreciate the importance of job creation in helping to retain sustainable communities in Gaeltacht areas. In that context, I wish to again acknowledge the very important enterprise and employment function of Údarás na Gaeltachta as the regional economic agency for the Gaeltacht.

Údarás na Gaeltachta's end of year statement for 2013 indicated that the rate of job losses in its client companies had reached a record low. This was very welcome news indeed. However, while the level of job losses has stabilised, I am very cognisant of the ongoing difficult challenge in creating a sufficient number of new jobs to maintain, and indeed increase, employment levels in the Gaeltacht.

I met recently with Údarás na Gaeltachta and discussed its strategic proposal to increase its capital budget over time from the present level of €5.687m to €12m per annum. I am very aware and supportive of the case advanced by the organisation that such an increase in funding would enable it to create an additional 300 jobs per annum.

As the Deputy is aware, it was announced as part of Budget 2014 that comprehensive reviews of both current and capital expenditure would be undertaken by all Government Departments in this jurisdiction during 2014. These reviews underpin the Government's multi-annual budgetary framework and are conducted periodically to re-set Departmental expenditure ceilings in line with emerging Government priorities. These reviews are currently ongoing and will be considered by Government later this year with a view to underpinning expenditure ceilings for 2015 and beyond, as well as clarifying policy options and informing prioritisation decisions arising from the expenditure ceilings. Clearly, the capital allocation for Údarás na Gaeltachta for 2015 will be informed by the outcome of those reviews and within the framework of the Budgetary and Estimates processes later in the year.

In relation to Foras na Gaeilge, the Deputy will also be aware that Foras na Gaeilge is one of the agencies of An Foras Teanga, the North South Language Body, and its budget must accordingly be approved by the North South Ministerial Council. Foras na Gaeilge is co-financed on the basis of 75% from my Department and 25% from the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure in Northern Ireland. In addition, my Department provides certain additional ringfenced funding for Foras na Gaeilge in relation to Clár na Leabhar Gaeilge and Colmcille.

While my Department will continue to provide funding for An Foras Teanga, subject to the normal budgetary processes, I should point out that the Public Expenditure/Finance Departments in both jurisdictions have already agreed that minimum efficiency savings of 4% must be achieved by all North South Implementation Bodies in 2015.

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