Foreign Conflicts
1. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the situation in Sudan, and on the Government's position on same. [38023/25]
I wish to highlight that there is a defence committee meeting this morning, so I will take the Priority Questions and then I will have to depart to attend that.
On my first question, the Tánaiste and I had a brief exchange last week in the committee regarding an area of huge human suffering and human rights infringements. Many people are facing hunger and displacement in Sudan, an area that probably does not get the attention it ought to. I invite the Tánaiste's comment with regard to the Government's position on that situation.
I thank Deputy Ó Laoghaire for again raising this issue which, as he said, he rightly raised at the Oireachtas committee in recent weeks.
The Government remains deeply concerned by the conflict and the real humanitarian crisis in Sudan. Since April 2023, the situation has continued to deteriorate and the consequences are now clearly devastating. It is estimated that over 14 million people have fled their homes and almost 25 million people are in acute food insecurity, with some facing famine. The two main parties to the conflict, the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, are fighting on multiple fronts. Both are now responsible for large-scale attacks on civilians described by the United Nations as amounting to war crimes and crimes against humanity. Recent attacks on Port Sudan and the UN convoy in North Darfur marked a significant escalation in hostilities. The RSF has now gained control of large parts of north Sudan along the Egyptian and Libyan borders. External actors are also providing military support to the parties and peace negotiations have, for all intents and purposes, effectively halted.
Ireland has supported very strong EU messaging on Sudan and we have initiated discussions on sanctions in 2023, which led to the establishment of the EU sanctions regime. Ireland initiated EU Council conclusions on Sudan in 2024, which condemned both the indiscriminate and direct targeting of civilians, called on parties to oblige by their obligations under international law and called for an immediate ceasefire and sustainable resolution of the conflict through dialogue.
We continue to respond to the crisis in close co-ordination with our EU and international partners. At the April Foreign Affairs Council, Ireland raised the urgent need for increased and flexible humanitarian funding and for sustained pressure in support of a cessation of hostilities and a return to negotiations. We have provided €14 million in humanitarian assistance for Sudan and neighbouring countries in 2024. So far this year, we have already provided €7.7 million to the Sudan humanitarian fund and direct funding to NGOs operating in Sudan. We will continue to engage through all diplomatic channels to keep Sudan on the international agenda and to support mediation efforts aimed at ending the conflict in the near future.
Sudan is a very significant country in the region with a large population of about 50 million. It is in that context that the scale of what is being faced is to be recognised. Different reports suggest that the number of people displaced is between 9 and 12 million, with some 24.6 million facing acute hunger. That is almost half the population. There are significant ramifications for the surrounding countries. I know many refugees have fled Sudan for Egypt, among other countries, and the conflict seems to be escalating. I welcome the commitment to aid. I might ask if the recent cutbacks in USAID have had any impact on projects in Sudan and support for them. I welcome the positions taken by the Government internationally. Has any discussion taken place on an arms embargo with regard to the conflict?
The first thing to say is that we will at least match the level of humanitarian aid to Sudan this year that we provided last year. We have already provided €7.7 million this year. We provided €14 million last year and we will at least match the €14 million this year. That is an additional commitment from the Government to do more with regard to help for the most appalling humanitarian situation.
We have also, through my own Department, provided financial support to Irish journalists to travel to Chad and report on the desperate situation in the refugee camps. A view we would all share is that there has not been visibility with regard to this humanitarian crisis in the same way as there rightly has been with regard to others. It is important that we continue to keep visibility on this situation too. The Taoiseach will continue to raise this at the European Council. I will continue to raise it at the Foreign Affairs Council and the Minister of State, Deputy Byrne, at the GAC.
On USAID, I do not have a specific note with regard to Sudan but there is no doubt in my mind that the USAID cuts are going to have desperate effects everywhere. I do not believe Sudan will be spared the impact.
That point of awareness is very important here and at European level. We had discussions post-European Council recently. At a European level it does not seem to me that this is getting the attention it ought to either. I might ask that at future European discussions, Ireland makes sure this will appear on the agenda. I appreciate that lots of conflicts are being discussed there, including within Europe, but is important that it reaches that level.
I note, and the Tánaiste mentioned it, that a significant part of this conflict seems to be sustained by external actors both through funding and supplying arms. A particular piece in the New York Times recently referred to the support being received by the Rapid Support Forces. Can the Tánaiste comment on that and whether the Irish Government has raised its concerns with the governments potentially providing such support?
I am not certain whether we have raised them directly, or not with those individual countries, but we have certainly raised them through the European Union. I would point out that we now have an EU special representative for the area, Dr. Annette Weber, who is doing very excellent work. We raised Sudan at the most recent meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council. The Minister of State, Deputy Byrne, will represent Ireland at the next meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council where we will seek to raise this again. We are part of a core group of like-minded EU member states. The most recent meeting of that like-minded EU member state group took place on 23 June to discuss how the EU can take a more collective approach to Sudan, so perhaps this is something we can return to after the next series of engagements we have.
The reality is that there are many countries and entities, including the European Union, ready to play a part in mediation and in trying to find a way forward but at the moment, being quite frank, interest in that seems to have halted. We have to look at what we can do to maximise the pressure to get both parties back to a negotiating table.
Rural Schemes
79. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht if he has considered the establishment of a community wealth-building fund within his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33194/25]
This question is fairly straightforward and simple, as I would like to think all my questions are. Has the Minister of State given consideration to establishing a community wealth building fund within his Department? He will know it is very long-standing Sinn Féin policy to support the development of community wealth building. We were in here the other night debating a Bill on ethical procurement and a representative of the Government stated that the Government is not hostile to the idea. This question is generally in that vein.
I thank the Deputy for her question. Community wealth building is, indeed, a long-standing commitment of the Deputy and her party. As she knows well, the concept refers to a range of approaches to local economic development. While the Department under the Minister, Deputy Calleary, and me does not have a dedicated community wealth building fund as such, our wide range of policies and funding programmes provide support for local economic development and community-led local development in line with many of the principles of community wealth building.
The creation of an environment in which social enterprises can thrive is a key element of community wealth building. Our Department leads on the implementation of the Government's social enterprise policy and a new policy, Trading for Impact, was launched last year. In addition, the community services programme currently supports 427 community-based organisations to provide local services through a social enterprise model. The national rural development policy, Our Rural Future, has, over its lifespan, provided significant investment and supports, strengthened local economies and improved the lives of many people in rural communities across Ireland.
The LEADER programme, which supports economic development and job creation in rural areas, is a prime example of community-led local development. In addition, the rural regeneration and development fund and the building acquisition measure of the town and village renewal scheme invest in the regeneration of rural towns and villages, including measures for the acquisition of buildings for community use, which aligns with the concept of community wealth building.
As the Deputy knows, Deputy Conor D. McGuinness, the Minister and I have visited many areas in conjunction with the social inclusion and community activation programme, SICAP. This initiative supports integrated approaches across communities throughout the country, enhances and leads community development, addresses disadvantage at local level and supports community-led initiatives in urban and rural areas. I thank the Deputy for the question and would be happy to explore the matter further with her.
I really welcome that. As I said, this is long-standing Sinn Féin policy but it also makes a lot of sense. I appreciate that the Minister of State outlined what has been done, but the difference between what he has said and community wealth building revolves around key performance indicators, KPIs, to use that jargon. A community wealth building fund is shown to have been successful where there are deliverables and it is measurable, meaning we can look at reductions in poverty and inequality in a given local area. The purpose of it is to take the money being spent and use it to drive not just the local economy but also the local community.
The State is a big player as regards spending power at local, national and international level. We must take that and channel it towards deliverables such as reduction in poverty, well-paying jobs for local people and additional local businesses, including those owned by co-operatives. It is not only what the Government is doing but adding an extra layer on top of that and measuring it. If we look at places such as Preston and Ayrshire, we can see genuine transformation happening at local level.
I thank the Deputy. If we look at the example and model we have here in SICAP, which is our country’s primary social inclusion intervention, it supports communities. I am well aware of Cleveland and Preston. I am not aware of the Ayrshire model and would be happy to discuss that further. I have looked at Cleveland’s model in particular.
To give the House an example, €48.9 million in funding was invested in SICAP this year. I remind Members of the House that the place-based leadership programme under SICAP leads to improved building capacity. To be helpful, and I make this point in a non-confrontational manner, the issue of work co-operatives does not come under our Department but a different remit. Both the Minister and I, along with our Department and under the programme for Government, are committed to improving many aspects of the lives of people through community involvement and community-led initiatives. Last week, I was in Clare, while the Minister was in different parts of the country. I met Deputy McGuinness in Waterford with different people. These are wonderful people lifting each other up and raising the standard of living and the standard of public buildings. I opened a number of buildings last week in Cork, including the eHub, which is different. It is about working locally and nationally to ensure disused buildings are used.
I do not wish to be argumentative but there is a small difference between what I am saying and what the Minister of State is saying. As much as the community wealth building model is driven by those deliverables, we are looking at measuring improvement in regard to the number of children living in poverty and increasing the percentage of the working-age population in employment, and not only in employment but in employment in decent work. It is about measuring as well as local development and investment and channelling money in a focused way. I encourage the Minister of State to look at Ayrshire and Preston in particular. Preston has been completely transformed by this and the drivers measured the impact on wages, poverty and job satisfaction, etc., for the local community. On this day last week we were here with the Minister of State's colleague the Minister of State, Deputy Higgins, and we discussed how the State can be a really important driver. This adds an additional measurement in order that it will be very focused and ensure there is delivery at local level.
As the Deputy knows, the Department is progressing a number of initiatives and policies that provide both urban and rural regeneration through an integrated strategic way of delivering supports, programme schemes and co-ordinating measures to address social disadvantage and imbalance in our communities or, in some cases, a lack of opportunity. I gave the example of the national policy on social enterprise, the strategy to support the community and voluntary sector in Ireland. We are working to develop new policies, synergies and partnerships, such as through Our Rural Future, and there is significant investment. Some people are still not where they should be and I fully accept that, but we are working to identify and respond in a variety of ways. Our Department is very much committed to a people-first approach in any funding we spend to deliver for people at a local level.
Library Services
80. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht to provide the amount of funding allocated to local libraries, in each county, for the past four years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38310/25]
I thank the Deputy for his continuing support for our national library programme. When we served together in the Seanad, he was a strong advocate for library services. The Minister, Deputy Calleary, and I, as Minister of State with responsibility for libraries, are investing in our library services. They are a key priority for both of us and for the Department and that is reflected in the public library strategy. It is an ambitious, forward-looking strategy and one of its key commitments is the delivery of a libraries capital programme. To that end, it is important for Members to bear in mind that the provision of library services is a matter for local authorities primarily.
Within that capacity, under the Local Government Act, we are funding a capital programme this year over a four-year window from 2023 to 2027 that amounts to €22.6 million. Eleven state-of-the-art library projects across the country are being commenced and a further €2.6 million is being invested in 12 next generation mobile library services, including in two new libraries in the Deputy's county of Kildare, in Clane and Newbridge. In addition to this, investment of over €28 million was approved in May of this year under the rural regeneration and development fund for three projects including the provision of new library facilities. Our Department also provides funding annually of over €740,000 as a contribution to support local authorities in leasing buildings for the provision of public library services. In addition, €1.3 million was approved by our Department in November 2023 for the provision of new ICT equipment in public libraries.
Over the past four years, a sum of €40 million has been allocated by the libraries unit in our Department for public libraries across three funding streams, namely, capital projects, current expenditure and the Dormant Accounts Fund. The €2.25 million allocated from the Dormant Accounts Fund has provided, for example, sensory equipment and equipment to support physically impaired library users for libraries in every county. I will provide the Deputy with information detailing the expenditure county by county in tabular form. In the county of Kildare, which Deputy Wall represents so well, a sum of €5.5 million has been allocated during that four-year window.
I thank the Minister of State for his detailed reply. I welcome the fact that €40 million has been spent on libraries. We all agree in this House that every euro spent on libraries is a euro well spent. I start by commending everybody in my hometown of Athy where over the past number of years a former Dominican church was converted into a library. Anyone who has visited that location will see it shows the benefit of converting older buildings into a community library. If they are ever in the town, both the Minister and the Minister of State are welcome to visit that library because it is a model that could be replicated. The Minister of State mentioned converting buildings into libraries, etc., and that community library in Athy is a model that could be replicated in so many places.
My question relates to Newbridge library for which funding of €3 million was recently announced. That will be a county library for the county of Kildare with archive storage, etc., which is very important for any county. I ask again for continued support from the Minister of State's Department for that library in Newbridge, which will be a state-of-the-art library for the whole county of Kildare.
I look forward to visiting the library with Deputy Wall. Just to assure him, the project has received funding of €3 million under the capital programme to support what is a very ambitious and exciting plan for the county library in Newbridge, including archives and a cultural centre. The project will be superb in terms of its size and scale. It will be 2,378 sq. m. It will be four times larger than the existing library in Newbridge and will provide an opportunity to showcase the library service in the county.
As the Deputy knows, it has received stage 2 approval in the Department's four-stage capital management process. I look forward to working with Kildare County Council, the Deputy and other Members of the House in ensuring the libraries capital programme delivers for the people of Kildare. To be fair to Kildare County Council, it has been very progressive and ambitious around the library service and I commend it on the work it is doing. I look forward to working with all Members and Deputy Wall, in particular, on the project for Kildare.
The latest information I have is that it is hoped the project will proceed in quarter 1 of 2026, which would be very welcome. I mentioned in this House before that Newbridge now has a population of almost 26,000 people, so it is very important we have a functioning library for that size of population. The fact the new building will be four times larger than the existing building, which has run its course but has done the people of Newbridge proud over a long period, is very welcome. I look forward to the opening of that library and the continued support of the Government. The library will have the support of every public representative in the county of Kildare, because it is so important not only to the town of Newbridge but also to the county of Kildare. We have a tradition and history there and a great history department within Kildare County Council. It has a lot of archive material that needs to be shown and displayed. The Curragh history museum is also very important to the county and we can share that history as well through the Newbridge county library. I thank the Minister of State for his reply and I look forward to that project for the people of Newbridge and of County Kildare.
Since 2020, our Department has allocated Kildare County Council €11.1 million for the public library service, be it the library service to Clane or the mobile library service. It is a testament to the vision of Kildare County Council in terms of its recognition of the importance of our library service.
This is maybe tongue in cheek, but perhaps the Tailteann Cup can be showcased in the new library as well. I wish Kildare every success over the weekend.
It is important we in the Department work with the county council to ensure our libraries capital programme is delivered. I have travelled to a number of libraries across the country. I visited Ennis last weekend and it is fantastic to see what is happening in our libraries and in particular in the My Open Library service as well. As Minister of State with responsibility for libraries, I look forward to working with all Members of the House to ensure the library service's capital programme, the book fund, the mobile library service and ICT is enhanced during the term of our office in the Department.
Voluntary Sector
81. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht if he shares the concerns of community development workers regarding resourcing of this critically important discipline. [38528/25]
Baineann mo cheist le hoibrithe forbairt pobail agus na buarthaí atá orthu i dtaobh acmhainní. My question relates to the critical and important role of community development workers and their concerns around resourcing, both pay and conditions, and also resourcing within organisations. The Minister of State will appreciate from his engagement with community development bodies that there are serious concerns now about both pay and conditions and the ability of these organisations to recruit and retain workers in this very important discipline.
I thank the Deputy for raising this very important matter and he is right that it is a recurring theme when we speak to people who are very committed to the work they do. The Government's five-year strategy to support the community and voluntary sector, Sustainable, Inclusive and Empowered Communities, was published six years ago. It is a whole-of-government strategy, led by our Department and it has been implemented collaboratively over the last five years in partnership with the sector.
Last week, I announced the commencement of a public consultation process to prepare for the development of a successor strategy, which I expect will reaffirm the Government’s commitment to supporting the community development sector.
I am very much aware of the important role community workers play in the delivery of programmes that are funded through our Department, many of which are based in very disadvantaged areas and provide vital services to communities. I thank the staff and workers for the work they do. They make the lives of all of us better and enhance our local communities every day and week they go out and do their work.
In line with the current strategy, our Department has supported initiatives to strengthen the profession of community development worker. In 2022, funding was provided to establish a two-year bursary fund to support people employed in community organisations to pursue professional community work qualifications. In addition, further funding was approved for the establishment of a one-year pre-professional bursary. Both funds are administered by the all-Ireland endorsement body. The funding will have the effect of expanding the professionally qualified workforce in the community workspace, strengthening the capacity of the workers and their respective organisations to respond to the complex challenges the communities they work in are experiencing.
I look forward to continuing to engage, as does the Minister, Deputy Calleary, with the community development sector in the consultation process for the new strategy and to hearing their views on this important issue.
Cuirim fáilte roimh an gcomhairliúchán sin. It is good that consultation, with a view to arriving at a new strategy, is taking place. However, this comes down to a question of resources and to the level of Government funding. There is a huge amount of training and accreditation going on and the bursaries are very welcome. However, it is about creating a situation and environment where community development workers - people who put time, effort and thought into becoming professionals - enter into that discipline. They are passionate about the communities, understand that process is as important as the task at hand and get the holistic nature of community development work in the result being more than the sum of its part. These people by economic necessity cannot enter that sector or stay in it because the salaries and job security are not there. This really comes down to resourcing, certainty about resourcing and additional money. As we move towards the budgetary process, I ask that this be front and centre of the Minister of State's engagement with the Departments of public expenditure and finance.
I am committed to continuing to provide supports to the community and voluntary sector. I am not absolving us from any role here but our Department does not set terms and conditions of pay. We are very much of the view that it is about supporting the community and voluntary sector. My priority is to create an environment where the sector can thrive, that is enabling and empowering, and that is building capacity and strengthening the sector. I am very much aware of the needs and concerns expressed and the reality some people find themselves in regarding the retention and recruitment of staff.
It is about ensuring we can build resilience, skill-development and capacity among the community and voluntary groups. It is about having a comprehensive training needs assessment specific to the needs of our small community and voluntary organisations, in particular. It is also about ensuring we can put in place multi-annual funding through SICAP, CSP, SSNO and LEADER to help us to create an atmosphere and an opportunity to retain high quality staff. We have high quality staff in the sector and we must acknowledge that and do all we can to ensure that knowledge base is not lost. I would be happy to hear any suggestions the Deputy has and I would be happy to work with him on them.
Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit. I think we all acknowledge the skill and the resilience of those working in the sector. Indeed, it is their resilience that got them through and kept them in their jobs when austerity was tearing the very heart out of the sector. Many of our communities are grateful they stayed the course. However, as I said, it is becoming more and more difficult for community organisations to recruit and retrain staff into these. What we need is an extension of the community development programme. We need more money going into these community groups so that community workers can be out on the ground doing the jobs they need to. The model is that Government does not set pay and conditions. However, the Government has to be very conscious of those pay and conditions and the impact lower pay and conditions has on the sector and its ability to do work that benefits society and the State in the long run. That means Government has to step up now and fund and support improvements in terms, pay and conditions for workers in the sector.
To be fair, we are aware of and are very cognisant of the challenges in the sector. I reiterate that it would be inappropriate for our Department to be involved in the setting of pay and conditions, while recognising the importance of the sector and the brilliant work being done. What we are committed to doing and what we will do is to look into an estimated time to boost the budget for the Department but also recognising that the conditions of employment, the whole issue of training and upskilling is part of what we do in looking to improve the outcomes for people in terms of staff and qualifications. As I said earlier, our Department has been heavily investing in professional bursaries and professional upskilling of the workforce through strengthening capacity of the workers and the different organisations. It is about ensuring the Department takes note of what the Deputy is saying and recognises the importance of the staff and the workers. I will further engage with the sector again on the matter, as he knows.
Question No. 82 taken with Written Answers.
Forbairt na Gaeilge
83. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil den Aire Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail, agus Gaeltachta cén dul chun cinn atá déanta maidir le haitheantas a bhronnadh ar bhailte a chuir isteach ar Líonraí Gaeltachta, cathain is féidir leis na gceantair sin a bheith ag súil go mbronnfar an stádas sin orthu; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [37816/25]
Cén dul chun cinn atá déanta maidir le haitheantas a bhronnadh ar bhailte a chur isteach ar stádas mar líonra Gaeltachta? Cathain gur féidir leis na ceantair sin a bheith ag súil go mbronnfar an stádas sin orthu?
Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta. Tabharfar aitheantas faoi Acht na Gaeltachta, 2012 do líonraí Gaeilge ach pleananna teanga a bheith aontaithe leis na pobail sna líonraí éagsúla i gcomhréir leis na critéir pleanála teanga fhorordaithe. Tá Foras na Gaeilge freagrach faoi Acht na Gaeltachta as tacaíocht a thabhairt d'eagraíochtaí maidir le hullmhú agus cur i bhfeidhm pleananna teanga sna líonraí Gaeilge. Tá trí líonra Gaeilge ceadaithe go dáta faoin bpróiseas faoi Acht na Gaeltachta. Is iad sin: Inis, Baile Locha Riach agus Cluain Dolcáin. Anuas air sin, ta dhá ceann sa Tuaisceart - Carn Tóchair agus iarthar Bhéal Feirste - ceadaithe faoi phróiseas neamhreachtúil atá á riar ag Foras na Gaeilge.
In 2020, rinne Foras na Gaeilge athbhreithniú ar scéim pobal Gaeilge de chuid na heagraíochta agus, mar chomharba uirthi sin, fógraíodh an scéim forbartha líonraí Gaeilge. I measc aidhmeanna na scéime seo, tá béim faoi leith ag deontaithe reatha na scéime oibriú i dtreo aitheantas mar líonra Gaeilge a bhaint amach. Tríd an scéim, tá grúpaí á gcumasú le teacht chun tosaigh agus a chur isteach ar an chéad bhabhta eile den phróiseas iarratas reachtúil. Trí Fhoras na Gaeilge, agus le beannacht mo Roinne, tabharfar cuireadh d'eagraíochtaí bheith ceaptha mar cheanneagraiochtaí lionraí Gaeilge in am trátha.
Toisc scéim forbartha líonraí Gaeilge a bheith ceangailte go dlúth le cuspóirí Acht na Gaeltachta, 2012, cheadaigh Bord Fhoras na Gaeilge síneadh ama le deontaithe reatha de chuid scéim forbartha líonraí Gaeilge go deireadh 2026. Déanfaidh mé cinneadh mar Aire ar cathain a chuirfear tús leis an gcéad timthriall eile d'ullmhú pleananna teanga i leith líonraí Gaeilge, ag tabhairt staid reatha an phróisis pleanála teanga, aiseolas ón bhForas agus na hacmhainní airgid a bheidh ar fáil do mo Roinn sna blianta amach romhainn san áireamh.
Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire. Mar atá ráite aige cheana féin, tá trí cinn de na líonraí seo in Éireann faoi láthair: Inis, Baile Locha Riach agus Cluain Dolcáin. Ó thuaidh, tá Carn Tóchair agus iarthar Bhéal Feirste chomh maith. Ó thaobh Cill Dara go háirithe, tá Cill Dara le Gaeilge ann. Is eagraíocht é seo atá ag déanamh iarracht líonra Gaeilge a bhunadh i gCill Dara. Tá an oiread sin Gaeilge á labhairt i gCill Dara. Breathnaím ar Mhaigh Nuad, mo bhaile féin, mar shampla. Tá dhá Ghaelscoil i Maigh Nuad agus tá Gaelcholáiste ann. Tá Ollscoil Mhá Nuad ann, ar ndóigh, agus Coláiste Phádraig Má Nuad chomh maith. Tá Gaeilge Nuada ag déanamh an-obair ansin, chomh maith le Gaeilge an Bhradáin i Léim an Bhradáin. Ní hamháin go bhfuil mé ag breathnú ar Cill Dara le Gaeilge agus Nás na Ríogh agus Sult na Sollán ach tá mé ag breathnú ar Mhaigh Nuad chomh maith ó thaobh líonra Gaeilge sa todhchaí. Ceist amháin atá agam ag teacht as sin ná cathain a mbeidh an chéad bhabhta maoinithe eile ar fáil do na heagraíochtaí sin?
Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta agus tréaslaím go mór leis an obair atá ar siúl i gCill Dara faoi láthair agus le blianta anuas. Tá mé buíoch dó, dá athair agus don ghrúpa atá ag obair leo, as an obair sin. Mar is eol dó, bunaíodh Cill Dara le Gaeilge i 2014 agus tá mo Roinn ag cur maoiniú ar fáil ó 2021 chun oifigeach fheidhmiúchán a fhostú agus chun na costais a bhaineann le plean oibre an duine sin a chlúdach. I measc na ndualgas atá ar an oifigeach sin, tá comhoibriú le gnólachtaí i gContae Chill Dara chun iad a spreagadh le breis a úsáid ina ngnólachtaí. Tá fostaí lánaimseartha eile ag an eagraíocht freisin atá á mhaoiniú ag Foras na Gaeilge. Ó mo Roinn, i 2025, tá níos mó ná €90,000 ceadaithe do Chill Dara le Gaeilge. Mar sin, táimid dáiríre faoin obair atá ar siúl i gCill Dara agus seasann an Roinn go mór leis an obair sin. Níl aon dáta don chéad bhabhta eile maoinithe. Braitheann sé sin ar chúrsaí cáinaisnéise. Ós rud é go bhfuil obair iontach ar siúl, áfach, táimid sásta seasamh leis sin agus airgead a chaitheamh ar an obair sin i gCill Dara.
Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire. Buíochas leis as an aitheantas sin chomh maith. Tá sé seo an-tábhachtach do na pobail Ghaeilge seo, go háirithe lasmuigh den Ghaeltacht. Ní airgead amháin atá ann. Tuigim go bhfuil airgead i gceist sa chás seo ó thaobh líonra Gaeilge a bhunú ach is rud fíorthábhachtach é an t-aitheantas mar líonra Gaeilge do phobal na Gaeilge lasmuigh den Ghaeltacht. Tá sé tábhachtach go háirithe i gCill Dara ach timpeall na tíre chomh maith in áiteanna cosúil le Maigh Eo agus Baile Átha Cliath. Tá sé feicthe againn cé chomh maith is atá an líonra ag dul i gCluain Dolcáin mar shampla, agus i mbailte eile. Tá na Gaeil Óga i mBaile Átha Cliath chomh maith agus tá a lán eagraíocht eile ar fud fad na tíre. An iarratas dheireanach atá agam ar an Aire ná go n-iarrfadh sé ar an Aire Airgeadais an t-airgead a chur ar leataobh don cháinaisnéis do na líonraí Gaeilge seo - go háirithe i gCill Dara, mar shampla. Go raibh míle maith ag an Aire as an méid oibre atá á dhéanamh aige go dtí seo.
Tá an t-uafás oibre ar siúl i ngach cuid den tír. Tá 36 grúpa bainteach leis an nGaeilge i ngach cuid den oileán ag an bpointe seo, ní hamháin i gCill Dara. Tá naoi grúpa ann in áit a bhfuil líonra Gaeilge ann. Táimid ag obair le gach ceann de na grúpaí sin faoi chúrsaí airgeadais agus faoi chomhoibriú freisin. Tuigeann an tAire caiteachas phoiblí cé chomh tábhachtach is atá an scéim seo agus cé chomh tábhachtach atá an obair atá ar siúl. Beimid ag plé na hoibre thábhachtach seo i gcomhthéacs an chéad cáinaisnéise eile agus sa phlean forbartha náisiúnta atá ag teacht. Tá an t-ádh linn go bhfuil Aire sa Roinn caiteachas phoiblí a thuigeann cé chomh tábhachtach is atá ár dteanga agus cé chomh tábhachtach is atá sé í a spreagadh. I gcomhthéacs an chéad cheithre bhliain eile, tá muinín agam go mbeimid in ann dul ar aghaidh leis na grúpaí sin.