Michael Harty (Clare, Independent)
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117. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her views on increasing funding for co-operatives and development companies from the current budget; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43073/17]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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I am assuming that the Deputy is referring to Gaeltacht co-operatives and development companies in his question.

Údarás na Gaeltachta provides funding to Gaeltacht cooperatives to implement their respective development programmes. This assistance is used mainly to cover management costs and is provided from the annual funding provided to Údarás na Gaeltachta under subhead C7 of my Department's Vote. As Údarás na Gaeltachta is a statutorily independent organisation, the Deputy will understand that An tÚdarás itself determines how best to distribute the annual funding provided to them in the context of the responsibilities assigned to them, including those relating to community development.

I am pleased to inform the Deputy that as part of yesterday’s Budget announcement, additional funding of €100,000 has been allocated for expenditure by an tÚdarás on linguistic, cultural and community development in the Gaeltacht in 2018.  This brings to €350,000 the additional funding allocated for this purpose over two Budgets. This additional sum will assist in funding Gaeltacht community organisations, and in particular Gaeltacht cooperatives, in 2018.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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118. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if the minimum level of maintenance will be increased to be higher than CDP programmes (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43075/17]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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I am assuming that the Deputy is referring to Gaeltacht co-operatives and non-Gaeltacht development companies on the islands in his question.

Údarás na Gaeltachta provides funding to Gaeltacht cooperatives to implement their respective development programmes. This assistance is used mainly to cover management costs and is provided from the annual funding provided to Údarás na Gaeltachta under subhead C7 of my Department's Vote. As Údarás na Gaeltachta is a statutorily independent organisation, the Deputy will understand that An tÚdarás itself determines how best to distribute the annual funding provided to them in the context of the responsibilities assigned to them, including those relating to community development.

I am pleased to inform the Deputy that as part of yesterday’s Budget announcement, additional funding of €100,000 has been allocated for expenditure by an tÚdarás on linguistic, cultural and community development in the Gaeltacht in 2018.  This brings to €350,000 the additional funding allocated for this purpose over two Budgets. This additional sum will assist in funding Gaeltacht community organisations, and in particular Gaeltacht cooperatives, in 2018.

In relation to the issue of language, it is worth clarifying that my Department provides specific funding through Údarás na Gaeltachta for all organisations involved in the preparation of language plans in respect of Gaeltacht islands. Once these plans have been completed and approved by me, specific funding will be allocated to assist each of the organisations with the implementation of those plans.  Island cooperatives also have additional sources of income from other commercial projects overseen by them.

In relation to islands outside the Gaeltacht, my Department currently provides annual funding of circa €0.5m to organisations for administrative structures that cover nine islands in counties Mayo, Galway and Cork.  The role of these bodies differs significantly from that of Gaeltacht island cooperatives.