Dara Calleary
Mayo · Fianna Fáil · Ireland
“Agriculture is the backbone. We have all been in the Mansion House today, or everyone has said they were anyway. Energy security is key and crucial. Everybody wants energy security but nobody wants wind energy. We have to strike a balance and get a real discussion, but food security is most important.”
“While we have gaps there, we are addressing them. The Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, has announced the minor injury units, which will take the pressure off major hospitals and ensure services are available.”
“Recent figures from the CSO show that there is a 5.8% increase in the number of people living in rural areas between 2016 and 2022. In areas classified as highly rural and remote, the increase was 6.4%.”
“Enterprise Ireland is investing in Irish-owned, Irish-founded companies. Similarly, 59% of IDA investments were located outside the Dublin region. We will continue to work, looking at the progress we can make through the IDA, Enterprise Ireland and, as Senator O'Loughlin said, through supporting our local enterprise offices.”
“That is something we do daily and they are used where is necessary. The plan will be supported by ambitious, clear, practical and measurable actions. I have spoken to some of the funding programmes available within my Department.”
“Táim tar éis cuairt a thabhairt ar gach ceantar Gaeltachta chun plé fairsing a dhéanamh leis na pobail sin chun a fháil amach uathu féin cén cineál tacaíochta ar féidir a chur ar fáil dóibh chun cabhrú leo. Táim chun leanúint ar aghaidh leis an obair sin sa bhuiséad le teacht agus na buiséid eile.”
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“Equally, however, we have to look at the overall allocation to my Department in terms of the Government's commitment to rural development and to schemes that are making a difference right across rural communities on a daily basis, which are making a difference capital-wise. We do not get as much attention for these schemes but we also have to look at the current expenditure that is under way, led by the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, to companies such as Galway Rural Development in terms of community support workers, community development workers and people who are enhancing and strengthening communities in their day-to-day activities.”
“The former Minister, Healther Humphreys, did not slash any budget. Within the 2023 to 2027 programme, 38 projects have been funded across all the LAGs in Galway, the vast majority of which - 24 - are actually in Galway East. I have spoken about the work that is under way with the Minister, Deputy Heydon, as Minister for agriculture, but also with the Minister of State, Deputy Thomas Byrne, and I have met with both Ministers to ensure LEADER will be part of the MFF going forward. It will fall to us during our Presidency to move on a lot of these but I have ensured from our Department that LEADER will be a core ask in the context of a new EU budget. That cofunding is absolutely vital.”
“There is quite a formula for it to try to ensure targeted investment in communities. It is also cofunded through the European Union, so we are very focused on ensuring that cofunding will continue beyond the current MFF. We are very focused on LEADER and want to see it deliver. I want all companies to deliver in the way that GRD is doing. I commend the work that it is doing. There are also other sources of funding so we were delighted to be able to fund the provision of a new building in Gort last year under RRDF. There are other sources funding within the Department for initiatives in Galway East.”
“Under the current LEADER programme, Galway has an allocation of €9 million. Approximately €5.5 million of that is allocated to Galway East for both projects and administration costs. A number of factors are considered when deciding on the funding allocations. These include providing a minimum allocation of €3 million to each sub-regional area. The remaining funding is distributed based on population density and the level of deprivation in the area. The minimum allocation of €3 million at sub-regional level accounted for €84 million of the overall allocation. Of the remaining €96 million, €48 million is distributed based on population density of the county compared to the national average. The remaining €48 million is distributed based on the deprivation index.”
“We are also working hard with the Minister for agriculture, Deputy Heydon, and the Minister of State, Deputy Byrne, to ensure that there will be LEADER funding in the next multi-annual financial framework, MFF, and that we will have access to co-funding from the EU. I join Deputy O'Hara in paying tribute to Galway Rural Development which is a fantastic exemplar of a local development company, not just in LEADER but in all of the work it does. I had the pleasure of meeting members of the organisation on a number of occasions in relation to Tús, RSS and the CE programme and of joining them in Mountbellew when they hosted an international event, Shearfest, in June.”
“Since 2021, County Galway received a LEADER allocation of €12.6 million, comprising €3.6 million for the 2021 and 2022 transition period and €9 million for the current programming period of 2023 to 2027. Projects continue to be approved under Galway's €9 million allocation, with projects to the value of €1.66 million being approved to date. There are no plans to increase the allocation under the current programme but I look forward to seeing the outcomes of the current programme emerge in the coming months and years. I anticipate that we will see a big increase in expenditure over 2026 but especially in 2027 and 2028.”
“As the Deputy knows, my Department is responsible for the existing LEADER programme which is part of Ireland’s CAP strategic plan covering 2023 to 2027. It is co-funded by the EU and the Exchequer. The LEADER programme is administered by local action groups on behalf of my Department and has been at the heart of rural development in Ireland for over 30 years. It plays a vital role in supporting local projects to bring renewed life, jobs and services to our rural communities, including those in County Galway. As Deputy O'Hara is aware, €180 million of funding has been committed to the 2023 to 2027 LEADER programme. LEADER funding is allocated to local action groups at the beginning of each LEADER programme to provide them with greater flexibility in selecting and approving projects which will have a meaningful impact.”
“In Cork under town centre first we have invested over €259,000 and right across the country there are 70 towns with town centre teams that are working with their local authorities to identify spaces such as those Deputy McCarthy has just identified. Then, through community centre investments, CLÁR or other programmes, my Department can fund specific adaptations of existing buildings for community spaces.”
“My Department has funded 26 town centre first plans which are focused on existing facilities and buildings within town centres. They are concerned with what we call the public realm and aim to enhance the town centre experience. I make the point regularly, and did so again when I spoke at a national conference in Leitrim on Monday, that we have to come up with new reasons for people to visit towns. As people move away from the traditional retail space and go online, we need to re-equip and refurbish our towns to make them even more attractive for leisure and recreation, as well as for commercial and retail purposes. If we improve leisure and recreation opportunities, that will support existing retail businesses.”
“I mentioned earlier that I was in Athy on Friday visiting the Shackleton Experience which involved the refurbishment of a 300 year old historic building in the middle of the town. It is now a state-of-the-art, 21st century visitor experience that is driving development in Athy. A food hub is also being developed in Athy through the RRDF to support the promotion of local enterprise. Athy is a really good example of what is possible and I would encourage any community around the country to visit Athy to see the RRDF in action.”
“As the Deputy knows, last week we announced €20 million in rural regeneration and development funding for 30 projects across Ireland, including in his home town. I thank Deputy McCarthy for his work in lobbying for that. Fermoy will see the €772,000 development of a derelict site. This is something that the Deputy and the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, worked closely with me on. That is the kind of project we need. It will allow Avondhu to promote and get ready for a major application. That is what our RRDF announcement last week was about. It will allow the preparatory work to be done for the submission of a major funding application, some in two years and others before then. The RRDF is beginning to have a major impact right around the country.”
“I am fully committed to the success of the town centre first policy and to working with our town teams across the country, with colleagues in the Oireachtas and with the local authorities. I would also encourage the local authorities to make greater use of the powers they have available to them to address dereliction in town and village centres and to address every building that can be addressed through existing powers. Any building that is taken out of dereliction rejuvenates a town and there needs to be a lot more proactivity on the part of local authorities in doing that.”
“The rural regeneration and development scheme is a major capital investment programme supporting large-scale, ambitious projects delivering sustainable economic and social development in rural areas. The town and village renewal scheme, introduced by my Department in 2016, is designed to rejuvenate rural towns and villages throughout Ireland. A range of other support funding has also been put in place by Government. Town centre first was developed in conjunction with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage. Bringing Back Homes details over 20 incentives, funded measures and grants that seek to address vacancy and dereliction. Supports include the vacant property refurbishment grant under the croí cónaithe initiative, the repair and leasing scheme, the buy and renew scheme, and the living city initiative.”
“I thank the Deputy for his question and his ongoing interest in this area. We launched the town centre first policy in 2022. It a major cross-Government policy to tackle vacancy and combat dereliction, and in doing so to breathe new life into town centres. Town centre first complements other policies, including Our Rural Future and Housing for All as well as the national planning framework, which also aims to tackle vacancy and dereliction. Town centre first also seeks to achieve balanced regional development and support local communities. We have aligned major funding streams with town centre first, including the rural regeneration and development fund, the town and village renewal scheme, the urban regeneration and development fund and the THRIVE scheme.”
“Ó thaobh cúrsaí pleanála, tá airgead breise tugtha do na hoifigigh pleanála teanga áitiúla le haghaidh cúrsaí gnó chun go mbeidh daoine in ann an Ghaeilge a úsáid ina saol gach lá agus spreagtha chun é sin a dhéanamh i siopaí agus gnólachtaí beaga.”
“Cuirim fáilte roimh na daltaí sin. Tá súil agam go mbeidh lá iontach acu. I hope they have a great day and enjoy it. Sular tháinig an Teachta Tóibín isteach, bhí plé agam leis an Teachta Conor McGuinness maidir le cúrsaí pleanála agus tithíochta sa Ghaeltacht. Táimid ag déileáil leis sin in éineacht leis an Roinn tithíochta. Maidir le cúrsaí oideachais, táimid ag tabhairt airgid do Ghael Linn i leith na scéime Gaelbhratach le haghaidh scoileanna atá ag úsáid na Gaeilge agus ag tabhairt cumhachta do na daltaí sa mheánscoil agus sa bhunscoil an Ghaeilge a úsáid sa bhaile. Tá an scéim teanga tí á soláthar ar Glór na nGael; tá Fondúireacht Sheosaimh Mhic Dhonncha á reáchtáil ag Cumann Lúthchleas Gael; agus tá an gradam Gnó le Gaeilge ar fáil do ghnólachtaí, gnólachtaí beaga san áireamh, a úsáideann an Ghaeilge lena gcustaiméirí.”
“Mar a dúirt mé, táimid ag tabhairt airgid do Thuismitheoirí na Gaeltachta chun plean do pháistí beaga réamhscoile a ullmhú chun go mbeidh siad in ann tús a chur le cúrsaí oideachais sa pre-school. Tá sé sin an-tábhachtach freisin.”
“Tá athrú ag tarlú ar na figiúirí sin. Sa bhuiséad do 2026, tá ardú 22% ar mhaoiniú do chúrsaí Gaeilge agus Gaeltachta. Is féidir é sin a chur i gcomparáid le hardú 7% nó 8% ar chaiteachas Stáit go ginearálta. Is ceann de na harduithe is mó le haghaidh aon rud sa Rialtas in 2026 é sin. Tá an Roinn oideachais díreach chun plean nua le haghaidh oideachais taobh istigh agus taobh amuigh den Ghaeltacht a fhoilsiú. Tá an Roinn ag díriú isteach ar an bplean sin. Tá m'oifigigh i Roinn na Gaeltachta ag obair le hoifigigh sa Roinn oideachais chun díriú isteach ar na dúshláin a leag an Teachta amach. Tá dúshláin ann ó thaobh scoileanna nua a thógáil mar gheall ar chostais, ach tá airgead breise tugtha don Roinn oideachais chun scoileanna nua a thógáil sa phlean forbartha náisiúnta.”
“Tá an-suim agam sa chóras réamhscoile le haghaidh páistí atá ag dul go pre-school. Táimid ag obair ar chlár le haghaidh na bpáistí sin chun go mbeidh siad in ann tús a chur lena dturas oideachais sa Ghaeilge ag an aois óg sin.”
“6 Sráid Fhearchair, foirgneamh a bhfuil stair iontach aige maidir le cúrsaí Gaeilge agus Gaeltachta agus atá i lár an fhuinnimh atá sa Ghaeilge at the moment. Beidh obair mhór déanta ar an bhfoirgneamh sin. Mar a bhí molta le haghaidh cúrsaí oideachais i gConamara, beidh áras nua le haghaidh daoine óga i gConamara. Táimid ag dul le tender le haghaidh an togra sin ag Coláiste Lurgan. Tá Cé Inis Oírr thar a bheith tábhachtach. Is é sin an togra is mó i stair an Roinn nua seo. Cosnóidh sé beagán níos mó ná €30 milliún. Tá sé sin tábhachtach freisin. Tá spriocanna agus fuinneamh ann agus tá muidne i Roinn na Gaeltachta ag obair i dtreo na spriocanna sin. Táimid ag obair leis an Roinn oideachais freisin chun go mbeidh plean láidir againn ó thaobh oideachas sa Ghaeilge lasmuigh den Ghaeltacht.”
“Aontaím go bhfuil fuinneamh iontach i gcúrsaí Gaeltachta agus Gaeilge ag an bpointe seo. Tá sé sin iontach le feiceáil. Táimid díreach tar éis an méadú is mó le blianta a thabhairt don bhuiséad don Ghaeltacht agus do chúrsaí Gaeilge le haghaidh an chéad bhliain eile, 2026. Bhí comhrá agus plé agam leis an Teachta Ó Snodaigh maidir le sonraí an mhéadaithe sin ag tús an tseisiúin cheisteanna seo. Táimid ag cur béime ar chúrsaí pleanála teanga agus ag obair leis an struchtúr atá ann. Tá airgead breise ag dul chuige sin le haghaidh na ndaoine atá ag obair air, na hoifigigh pleanála teanga. Tá airgead breise ag dul chuig an údarás le haghaidh cúrsaí caipitil. Tá airgead breise ag dul go trí thogra thar a bheith tábhachtach do mhuintir na Gaeltachta agus don Ghaeltacht. Ina measc sin, tá áras Gaeilge anseo i gcathair Bhaile Átha Cliath ag Uimh.”
“In relation to the towns, next year we will be looking at a new style of RAPID focused on direct urban investment in towns. There will be an emphasis on the kinds of projects I have spoken about with the Deputy.”
“I can assure the Deputy that there is a range of supports within the Department to fund community infrastructure, in particular, physical infrastructure, such as centres and hubs. Through SICAP, under the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, community supports are also available. We will continue to make those available as they are very important. Regarding the project referenced by the Deputy, the local enhancement programme might be the avenue to fund ongoing costs, including less heavy infrastructural costs. My Department funds the programme in partnership with the local authorities, including Louth County Council. There will be avenues within the Department throughout 2026, due to our increased budget, for communities to get improved infrastructure and to improve physical infrastructure in more rural areas, as we have just discussed.”
“That will be the emphasis of our funding going forward. Some of the initiatives funded under the CRF may not have a permanent legacy or permanent use, but the emphasis going forward is on community infrastructure to support community activity.”
“The budget for the CRF for 2026 is €10 million. We want the local authorities to draw down and complete projects, and that is going to be the focus for 2026. We also have other projects, such as community centre investment. As we have just discussed with Deputy Brendan Smith, there is also the CLÁR programme. The Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, worked hard to secure funding for SICAP, particularly the positions in SICAP that are working with new communities across the country to put boots on the ground and identify the kind of facilities that are needed and can be funded. I am sure the Deputy will agree that these facilities need to have a long-lasting impact or legacy impact. My preference for any kind of investment is that it is permanent, infrastructure-based and makes a difference to the facilities available in a community.”
“For any of the groups to which the Deputy referred, there are other supports available to them. I had the chance to meet with the Deputy in the summer, when we saw some of the projects in action. I commend the officials of Louth County Council, not just in relation to the CRF, but across all of the schemes they are implementing efficiently and ambitiously in the county.”
“The funding was subsequently doubled in 2024, with a further €50 million allocated to the local authorities. Under the 2024 round of funding, 569 projects were approved, bringing the total number of projects that have been awarded under the fund to over 1,450 in just over two years. My current emphasis under the CRF is to ensure that all these projects are delivered in the coming months, so we can ensure communities get the benefit of the facilities. We have changed the emphasis within the Department to prioritise other schemes. For example, the budget for the community centre investment fund will increase by €3 million to €20 million in 2026. I am focused on growing this suite of schemes that support community infrastructure and amenities across the country.”
“The community recognition fund was introduced to recognise the contribution being made by communities all over the country in welcoming new arrivals into our cities, towns and villages. It was originally introduced as a €50 million fund in 2023 to develop community infrastructure in areas that were hosting beneficiaries of temporary protection and-or international protection applicants. This fund differs from other schemes operated by my Department in that each local authority was provided with a set funding allocation based on the number of new arrivals located in its area. Some 900 projects were approved funding of €50 million in 2023. Following that, over 800 projects are now complete and fully drawn down, with approximately 100 still to be completed.”
“In a previous iteration, CLÁR also used to provide funding towards group water schemes, where local contributions were hard to match. That is certainly something I would like to look at getting back to. It also invested in putting in power infrastructure for small businesses when, back in the day, three-phase electricity was a big issue. Where there are infrastructure deficits, we will try to provide support.”
“CLÁR has been an exemplary programme. It is focused, and we want to keep that focus. We have a programme for Government commitment to look at the expansion of CLÁR areas, and we are finalising that at the moment. Maynooth University has prepared a report for us, which we are looking at. I join with the Deputy in welcoming this morning's announcement for Cavan, as will the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, who has responsibility for PEACEPLUS. It is a fantastic project. It is linked to the town and is an enormous game-changer for that town. I thank the Deputy for his work and advocacy on it. I know all three organisations, along with the Special EU Programmes Body, will ensure it is delivered and makes an impact. I look forward to visiting it in the near future, perhaps for a game. CLÁR is focused on providing those services.”
“I agree with the Deputy. We have made changes to CLÁR since I took office. I increased the maximum payable grant for a successful measure one project from €50,000 to €65,000. For two measure 1 applications, local authorities can apply for an increased level of funding of €100,000. I have provided for an extra application by local authorities that have Gaeltacht areas in their counties, so those areas can be supported. As the Deputy stated, the emphasis of CLÁR is on supporting infrastructure to assist communities in being resilient and the development of communities. The recent announcements on transport included €41,000 for Cavan local development and for meals on wheels. In all, 62 CLÁR projects have been approved in Cavan since 2020 to the value of €2.72 million. There have been 71 in Monaghan to the value of €2.78 million.”
“The Minister of State and I will review the measures to be included under CLÁR 2026, and the associated levels of funding. We will launch the programme for 2026 in quarter 1 of next year.”
“Measure 3 aims to support communities on our offshore islands in line with the Department’s policy for the development of our inhabited offshore islands, Our Living Islands. Last month I announced funding of €1.7 million under measure two for the provision of 32 vehicles to support first responders, meals on wheels and mobility transport providers. We are concluding the assessment of applications received under measures one and three, and I look forward to announcing successful projects across these measures before the end of 2025. We are pleased to have secured an additional €1m as part of the budget for CLÁR 2026. This will bring the 2026 allocation to €12 million, which is a doubling of the CLÁR budget over the past five years.”
“The CLÁR programme is an important funding stream for many of our most rural areas. In recent years, it has funded a vast array of community amenities, including community centres, sporting facilities, playgrounds, sensory gardens and walking trails. It has also provided funding for vehicles used to transport people with disabilities to access vital cancer services among others. Since 2020, over €53 million has been approved for almost 1,300 projects nationwide under the programme. I launched the 2025 programme in April inviting applications under three measures. Measure 1 of the programme supports the development of community facilities and amenities. Measure 2 provides support for the provision of vehicles to transport people with mobility issues or for cancer treatment, for community first responders and for meals on wheels.”
“I agree. The Minister of State and I are very focused on making sure this is effective and community led. The Minister of State works on a daily basis with the teams in SICAP and community development organisations and we want to make sure they have an input into this. We want to keep what was good about the previous RAPID programme and keep the direction, focus and delivery. It may have been diluted over the years, spread too thinly and lost effectiveness. We want to get back to the effective results-driven programme with boots on the ground who live in, participate in and have businesses in an area. People who have a stake in the area should lead this programme. The Minister of State and I are very focused on delivering that kind of programme.”
“As part of that, we saw the fantastic Shackleton Experience, which is funded through our Department's RRDF programme and Kildare County Council. With the recess approaching, I would encourage any Member to visit it. It is an example of how an historic 300-year-old building can be refurbished, repurposed and used as a driver of economic development. This, along with the food campus in Athy, will drive the transformation of that town.”
“I agree regarding the impact it has had. There were 25 designated disadvantaged urban areas, which included areas in Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Waterford, Drogheda and Dundalk. More provincial towns were added. At the end of the programme, the number of designated RAPID areas was 51. We may not be able to reach this figure but we want to get started in 2026. The Minister of State and I have been struck by the passion of communities in these areas. While there are a range of supports for communities in rural areas, we need to focus now on communities in urban areas. As the Deputy referred to Athy, I want to thank everybody involved. I was in Athy in Friday and we launched the new rural regeneration and development fund, RRDF.”
“The Minister of State and I are working with departmental officials on the potential formulation of a new scheme similar to the RAPID scheme. Considerations will include the changed demographic and socioeconomic landscape since the previous programme, potential geographical areas to be considered for targeted support and the levels of funding already available through other schemes in my Department. We have both been engaging with communities around the country in towns and cities in recent months to get an understanding of what communities want from such a programme.”
“These are community participation and local ownership, which were crucial, promotion of strategic planning, co-ordination of provision of State services, building on existing structures, complementing existing initiatives, flexibility, and targeting of additional services, investment and facilities. RAPID leverage schemes were previously introduced to support small-scale projects identified locally. These schemes were co-funded by other Departments and agencies and funded projects that focused on estate enhancement, graffiti removal, traffic calming, community closed-circuit television, health and sports facilities and the provision of recreational facilities. The schemes were also extended to co-fund the provision of facilities in schools located in RAPID areas.”
“The Minister of State and I were delighted to have secured funding of €5 million in budget 2026 for the introduction of a new programme for urban areas in line with the programme for Government commitment. RAPID stands for revitalising areas by planning, investment and development. Established in 2001, it was an area-based approach to disadvantage representing a focused initiative to target the 25 most concentrated areas of disadvantage in the country. The original RAPID programme closed to new applications in 2011, although it should be noted that my Department has continued to honour legacy commitments. These included my Department’s contractual commitments under previous RAPID projects, predominantly under the sports capital scheme. A number of guiding principles underpinned the old RAPID programme and its activity.”
“Tá samplaí agus scéalta agam faoi dhaoine atá ag iarraidh tithe a thógáil i sráidbhaile Gaeltachta nach bhfuil séarachas ann. Táimid ag díriú ar fhadhbanna cosúil leis sin agus na treoirlínte pleanála.”
“Táim ag iarraidh obair leis an Teachta. Tá an t-airgead ann. Tá na figiúirí ann ón CSO a léiríonn go bhfuil ardú mór sna ceadúnais tithíochta, tithe aonair go háirithe. Táimid ag obair leis na húdaráis áitiúla. Bhí cruinniú agam freisin le príomhfheidhmeannaigh na n-údarás áitiúil a bhfuil Gaeltacht ann chun plé leis an dream sin faoi na rudaí is tábhachtaí. Leag siad béim ar an tábhacht a bhaineann le cúrsaí infreastruchtúir. Sin an fáth gur chuireamar béim sa phlean forbartha náisiúnta go mbeidh Uisce Éireann in ann obair ní hamháin ar chathracha agus ar bhailte móra ach ar cheantair tuaithe agus Gaeltachta freisin. Beidh mé ag cur brú. Tá a fhios agam ón phlé a bhí agam leis an Aire go dtuigeann sé cé chomh tábhachtach is atá an t-infreastruchtúr sin.”
“Planning permissions have been granted for almost 6,000 one-off homes, on average, each year since 2020 and 90% of those are in rural settings. We will continue to work with the Minister, Deputy Browne, particularly on the necessary infrastructure for house building, such as water and sewerage. Is iad cursaí uisce agus cúrsaí séarachais go háirithe sna ceantair Gaeltachta na dúshláin gur gá duinn a réiteach le haghaidh infreastruchtúir. We will work closely with the Minister on that, the planning guidelines and the other issues I have discussed.”
“I would encourage the Deputy to put his cynicism to one side and look at budget 2026. It contains a record allocation of over €9 billion for housing capital investment. This has been a major issue that has come back to us in the consultation on Our Rural Future. The vacant property refurbishment grant provided by the Department of housing is really important in rural areas. A sum of €165 million has been allocated for the vacant property refurbishment grant for 2026. Generally, in terms of our work on Our Rural Future, there was a 7% increase in the population of highly rural, remote areas between 2011 and 2022. There are serious disparities within that and I am trying to get in under that bonnet to ensure we assist those areas.”
“We are also ensuring that the Department of housing is central in both the plan and the actions of the new Our Rural Future policy. We continue to work with the Department in its work on storm response. We have a number of proposals to bring forward in that space. I will have further meetings with the Minister and he has also joined me, since the Deputy and I last discussed this, in meetings with BÁNÚ agus Tintéan last June. We had a very good engagement. Bhí crinniú an-láidir againn, idir mé féin, an tAire, an Teachta Browne agus BÁNÚ agus Tintéan faoi chursaí pleanála sa Gaeltacht.”
“A particular focus and priority for me is the planning and provision of housing for Irish speakers in Gaeltacht areas and to ensure that there will be provision for this in the forthcoming housing plan. We have been discussing how we engage on that. We have discussed the development of our new rural development policy, which there will be questions about later. We will be moving into the final stage of consultation on this in the coming weeks and I will engage with the House on that. We have also had engagement on emergency storm responses, the Údaras na Gaeltachta (Amendment) Bill 2024 and the role of that body. Official in both Departments continue to engage on the Gaeltacht planning guidelines. The Minister and I have asked for this work to be accelerated. I want the guidelines to be published as soon as possible.”
“I agree with the Deputy about the importance of housing. My Department works closely with colleagues in the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage across a range of areas. Officials in both Departments are in regular contact about a number of areas that cut into housing, including town centre first, local economic and community planning, planning for and the provision of housing for Irish speakers in Gaeltacht areas, input to the successor to the Our Rural Future policy, the local democracy task force, Dormant Account Fund measures and emergency response work, particularly around storms. I have had three formal meetings with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy James Browne, since my appointment, the most recent of which was yesterday. We have been discussing a number of key issues.”
“I ngach cás, tá sé deacair ag an bpointe seo a bheith cinnte cén saghas caiteachas a bheidh i gceist in 2026 ach beidh na sonraí sin agam i mí Eanáir nó mí Feabhra 2026 agus fillfidh mé ar an Teachta ansin.”
“Tá méadú difriúil le haghaidh Údarás na Gaeltachta. Tá €2.5 milliún i gceist, lena n-áirítear méadú €1 milliún ar leithdháileadh caipitil le haghaidh an údaráis leis féin. Tá obair eile le déanamh le airgead caipitil sa Ghaeltacht freisin. Tá tograí nach bhfuil chomh mór leis na tograí atá sa phlean forbartha náisiúnta. Tá an ghnáthobair a dhéanaimid gach bliain maidir le cúrsaí Gaeltachta agus na cumainn spóirt ag teacht as sin. Tá mé sásta a rá go bhfanfaidh mé i dteagmháil leis an Teachta agus leis an gcomhchoiste mar gheall ar sonraí an trí togra sin. Tá siad thar a bheith tábhachtach agus beimid ag cóiméad súil ghéar orthu chun go mbeidh siad ag fanacht faoi bhun an bhuiséid atá acu.”
“Tá sé deacair ag an bpointe seo sonraí don breakdown sin a thabhairt don Teachta. Beimid in ann sonraí faoi Ché Inis Oírr a thabhairt dó ach táimid fós ag obair leis an OPW ar Shráid Fhearchair. Tá an OPW in éineacht linn. Táimid ag lorg tender le haghaidh cúrsaí in Indreabhán. Beidh na sonraí agam tar éis an phróisis sin. Tá dúshlán mór ann d’aon tógálaí faoi láthair mar gheall ar chostais. Bhí sé sin soiléir san obair a rinneamar ar Ché Inis Oírr. Tugadh airgead caipitil breise don údarás agus le haghaidh gnáthchúrsaí. Tá mé ag cur béim ar chúrsaí digiteacha le haghaidh an údaráis freisin le go mbeidh sé in ann deiseanna digiteacha a bhaint amach do chomhlachtaí sa Ghaeltacht agus do mhuintir na Gaeltachta agus go mbeidh siad réidh le haghaidh na dúshláin atá ann sa bhealach atá cúrsaí digiteacha ag dul.”