89. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht if he shares concerns regarding the unprecedented rate of rural pub closures across Ireland; if he accepts the role rural pubs play as important community hubs in combating isolation and sustaining rural economies; and the engagement he has had with the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment on measures to support the long-term viability of rural pubs. [38291/26]

Sentiment score: 0.29

More than 2,200 pubs have closed across the State since 2005, with closures now accelerating to around 128 per year. In rural areas, the pub is often far more than a business. It is a meeting place, a social hub and a venue for music, sport and local culture. It is sometimes the last remaining indoor public gathering space in a village or rural community. Does the Minister share my concern at the scale of rural pub closures? What engagement has he had with the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment on protecting their long-term viability?

Sentiment score: 0.13

The Minister is correct that the supports are matters primarily for the Ministers with responsibility for enterprise, finance and taxation and that they fall under enterprise, taxation, tourism and hospitality policy. However, as he acknowledged, rural pubs also sit squarely under rural development. When a rural pub closes, the impact is not just limited to the licence holder or business. It is not just the loss of enterprise, economic activity and employment. The community loses its social anchor in many respects. In rural areas, older people, single men, farmers, musicians, local sports clubs, tourists and community groups all lose a space. This is particularly serious given that Ireland has been identified as having the highest prevalence of loneliness in a recent European survey. Rural isolation is already one of the great hidden social crises in this State. We cannot say that we are serious about tackling loneliness while allowing rural social infrastructure to disappear. I am not asking the Minister or the Government to take responsibility for every tax or cost-cutting measure affecting pubs or for everything that is happening, but the Minister's Department and the Government must recognise rural pubs as part of the social and community fabric of rural Ireland.

Sentiment score: -0.04

I am glad to hear the Minister mention rural transport because that is often a key factor in accessing pubs in rural Ireland. It speaks to the need to see this not just as a matter of taxation, licensing or enterprise support but, rather, as a matter of safeguarding and maintaining rural community infrastructure. Has the Minister raised this directly with the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Deputy Burke? Has he had a specific conversation about this issue? Will he seek targeted measures or a package for rural pub viability in next year's budget? Has the Minister and his Department, or the Cabinet, given any consideration to rural development schemes that could be tailored or used to support local pubs, be they under current ownership and management or under the management or control of a social enterprise or community organisation?

Sentiment score: 0.23

90. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Conor D. McGuinness den Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht an bhfuil comhaontú bainte amach aige féin agus an tAire Tithíochta, Rialtais Áitiúil agus Oidhreachta maidir leis an tráth a chríochnófar agus a fhoilseofar moltaí an Rialtais maidir le tithíocht i gceantair Ghaeltachta, chomh maith leis an ráiteas pleanála Gaeltachta; agus cén obair atá déanta go dtí seo ag a Roinn maidir leis na moltaí sin. [38292/26]

Sentiment score: -0.19

Cuirfidh mé ceist ar an Aire faoi mholtaí an Rialtais maidir le tithíocht sa Ghaeltacht agus faoin ráiteas nó straitéis pleanála Gaeltachta atá geallta le fada. Tá géarchéim thithíochta ag brú daoine óga agus teaghlaigh óga amach ó mo cheantar féin. Gan tithíocht, ní bheidh pobal inmharthana againn. Gan pobal inmharthana, ní bheidh todhchaí ag an nGaeilge mar theanga bheo phobail. Cathain go díreach a fhoilseofar na moltaí agus an ráiteas pleanála?

Sentiment score: 0.00

Tá sé ráite ag an Aire go bhfuil obair idir-rannach ar siúl agus is léir go bhfuil. Tá cúrsaí pleanála, údaráis áitiúla agus an Roinn tithíochta luaite aige. I dtaobh na fianaise ar an talamh, tá pobal na Gaeltachta tar éis fanacht rófhada cheana féin. Cé go raibh sé geallta arís ag deireadh na bliana seo caite sa phlean tithíochta, níl tásc ná tuairisc ar an straitéis nó ráiteas sin. Níl sé feicthe againn. Tugaim faoi deara nár thug an tAire aon dáta daingean dúinn faoina mbeidh sé foilsithe. Glacaim leis go mbaineann sé seo leis an Aire tithíochta chomh maith ach tá freagracht ar an Aire agus ar a Roinn as an gceist seo freisin. I dtaobh cúrsaí pleanála agus cead pleanála a fháil, tá an ceart ag an Aire i slí amháin. Ní hé an fhadhb nach bhfuil na húdaráis áitiúla ag tabhairt cead d'iarratais phleanála. Ní féidir le daoine áitiúla sna ceantair seo suímh a fháil ar phraghas inacmhainne. Is ceann de na fadhbanna é sin chomh maith. Caithfimid dul i ngleic leis an gceist iomlán seo, ag tabhairt san áireamh tithíocht shóisialta, na húdaráis áitiúla, an t-infreastruchtúr nó bonneagar, agus an córas pleanála.

Sentiment score: -0.09

Is cúis le frustrachas sna pobail Ghaeltachta seo an mhoill ar an straitéis nó an ráiteas, mar a dtugtar air anois. Ba cheart go mbeidh roinnt mhaith oibre déanta idir an dá Roinn le blianta anuas mar bhí sé seo geallta blianta ó shin. Athghealladh é anuraidh. Tá an tAire ag rá nach bhfuil sé éasca agus tuigim é sin ach cad iad na pointí easaontaithe? Muna bhfuil sé aontaithe idir an Aire agus an Aire tithíochta, cad iad na pointí nach raibh siad in ann aontú orthu go fóill? Cad iad na coimhlintí atá ann idir an dá Roinn? Cad atá ag cur bac nó srian ar an straitéis a bheith foilsithe? Tá dhá Ranna Rialtais anseo. Tá na blianta caite air seo. Glacaim leis nach bhfuil rudaí den saghas seo éasca ach it is not beyond the realms of human endeavour é seo a chur i gcrích leis na hacmhainní atá ag an dá Roinn agus na hacmhainní ama atá caite air seo go fóillín. Cad iad na pointí easaontais idir an Aire agus an Aire tithíochta?

Sentiment score: -0.05