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.”
The complete record
Every one of 2,162 lines we hold for Dara Calleary, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 29 of 44.
“My Department will provide financial assistance for those with a need. I thank the Senators and Deputies for their contribution to the debate. I will keep a very close eye on the implementation of this legislation. I will engage with both Senators and Deputies on the specific legislation and its impact. I will also engage with Senator Ruane and her office on the child poverty aspects she raised in her contribution. I thank the Acting Chair, the Seanad Office and, in particular, the officials in my Department who shepherded this legislation from the Supreme Court to this point. It is a matter of great pride that we will now send it to the President for signing.”
“I pay tribute to him, his three children and, in particular, his partner and their mum Michelle, without whom we would not be here and without whose courage we would not be here. I also pay tribute to Deputy Alan Kelly who joined with them and walked with them on that journey. There are times as public representatives we can feel frustrated at what we may feel is powerlessness around things, but Alan has shown us that we all have power if we use it. These provisions are being introduced as a consequence of that Supreme Court judgment. The focus being placed on the position of children was a very important, but not definitive, element for it. While there are genuine concerns around financial support for the children of separated people in the aftermath of the death of one parent, there are means to secure support.”
“With the Acting Chair's indulgence, I will make a few remarks. I thank the Senators for their consideration both at Second Stage and at the Stages this evening, including Senators Rabbitte, O'Donovan, McCormack and Ruane, whose contributions were really instructive. As we all know, this legislation will bring a very important change for hundreds of people who are directly affected by the death of a loved one. These are people we know in our own families and people we meet every day. They are our friends and colleagues. It will bring comfort to many thousands of families and couples, who may someday find themselves in that situation, which they may not have envisaged they would be. This has come about because of the determination of Johnny O'Meara.”
“However, on child poverty, I will engage with the Senator and we will engage with the social protection, rural and community development committee approximately a year after enactment to assess the impact and to ensure it has not had an overly negative impact.”
“The good thing about social welfare is that we have a very big Bill every year and if I think there are changes that needed to be made, I will bring forward changes in the Social Welfare Bill 2027. On Senator Ruane's general point, we are discussing child poverty and youth targets at the moment. I will ask my own team to engage with the Senator on all of those issues in the context of those targets and of that debate because she has given me some food for thought in a way that has not happened to date. I will ask some of my team to engage with the Senator during August on that. On the specific amendments, I cannot accept them, predominantly because I do not have the ability to accept them, I do not have that information and I really do not want to delay the payment of this pension.”
“On Senator Ruane's amendment and the specific case, the O'Meara case - I will come to the general point, which I am interested in - the function of the scheme before us and this pension is not to provide support in respect of the bereaved children where there is no partner who is entitled to the payment. It would not be possible for my Department to report on a group that will not come under the payment as their parents would not have been married, in a civil partnership or cohabiting. However, I made a commitment to Deputy O'Reilly in the Dáil that after a year of enactment, we will look at how it is working out. We will look at the impact it is having. It is not our intention to penalise people.”
“I absolutely understand that is not the intention. Some of the information being sought in amendment No. 1 is unavailable to my Department, or it is very likely not to be publicly available at all. My Department does not hold information on the degree of financial dependence that families with divorced or separated parents have on those parents. My Department has no basis to determine the financial arrangement that exists between divorced or separated parents, or the impact in the case of a death. It would be wrong for me to commit to something in legislation that cannot be produced. My main concern is that it would delay the payment of the pension.”
“Gabhaim buíochas leis an mbeirt Seanadóir as ucht an leasaithe seo. I do not propose to accept the amendments. As I said during the Dáil debate, it is not appropriate to include commitments to produce reports in primary legislation, particularly legislation that is as complex as the Social Welfare Consolidation Act and this Bill. With respect to the specific issues, as is clear from the Bill, the intention is for this to become operable on enactment, and it is important for those who have become eligible for the pension for the first time. As a result, it will be impossible to produce the report that is being sought by the Senator’s amendment No. 1 before the Act comes into operation. I know she does not want to delay payment, and I discussed this with Deputy O’Reilly during the Dáil debate.”
“Since 2021, 4,800 roads have been dealt with under LIS. I agree that we could do with extra funding. We are actively pursuing that and ensuring that people have proper access to their homes and farms.”
“I agree with the Deputies. In the interests of fairness, we have provided €170 million for a scheme that was not funded prior to 2017. We are working with local authorities. Neither Monaghan nor Tipperary are offenders in this regard, but quite a number of local authorities have a cost per road that is way above the national average. Believe it or not, there are also local authorities which have underspends in the LIS scheme. We are working with local authorities to address that issue and to get extra resources and to ensure that when those resources are provided they are spent well.”
“Earlier this year, my officials began the 2025 LIS works approval process. Priority lists were approved for eligible local authorities. Sanction has been given to all local authorities to begin the 2025 LIS roads programme. To date, local authorities have indicated that 378 non-public roads and laneways will be repaired in 2025. Each year, my Department seeks to ensure the approval process is completed early in the year so that repair works can be carried out as efficiently as possible. However, I am very aware that there are delays and lists around the country. I am actively seeking extra funding in the context of the national development plan review. I am aware of the need for the scheme to be supported. Since 2017, Monaghan has been allocated almost €6 million, with 153 roads completed.”
“I propose to take Questions Nos. 93, 95 and 105 together. The three letters most feared by my officials are LIS. We are actively reviewing the LIS, looking to make it more effective and to deliver more consistently. It is a is a key support to rural communities in improving non-public rural roads and laneways that are not typically maintained by local authorities. We reintroduced the scheme in my Department since 2017 following years of no funding, and since then we have provided almost €170 million to local authorities across the State. In April 2024, €40 million in funding was announced for LIS across eligible local authorities to cover the period 2024 to 2025. Under the 2024-25 allocation, Tipperary received €2.52 million, Monaghan received €938,000, while Cork County Council received €2.78 million.”
“This is very competitive - unfortunately, there are a lot of Ballyvolanes - but I hear Deputies Gould, O’Flynn, O’Sullivan and Burke and the Minister of State, who are all very loud in their support for this.”
“It is clear that Deputy O’Flynn has done a lot of work. The Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, tells me he taught in the area so he knows it very well. I cannot give Deputy Gould a guarantee. Local authorities have to prepare plans but judging by the scoping work, site identification work and community meetings, it sounds as though they are doing the necessary preparatory work. It sounds like an area that needs it. With the Minister of State’s experience in the area, the Deputies will be pushing an open door. Nevertheless, that does not take away from the need for Cork City Council, working with the Deputies as Oireachtas representatives and with the local community, to have an adequately prepared application outlining the benefits that would be brought from it.”
“As I said, I have approved €30 million already for new centres. We want to build new centres. We had a discussion earlier on the value of community centres and the Deputy’s colleague Deputy O’Reilly highlighted the need for co-location of services such as childcare. That is what we want to do.”
“I do not disagree with the Deputy. That is why we have invested in the community centre investment fund and why we have put money aside for new centres, new builds, in communities such as Ballyvolane. Twelve of those have been funded and Rylane in Cork is one, and that is why I hope to have another scheme next year for new builds. I am more than happy to work with the Deputies here and the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, on Ballyvolane but the application has to come in. I would put it back on the city council in this case to work with the Oireachtas Members and the local community, most importantly, to get that application together. I am more than happy to work with the Deputy and to keep him updated on the funding that may or may not be available for a scheme for either new builds or refurbishment.”
“As regards Ballyvolane specifically, I understand that here has not been an application under any iteration of the community centre investment fund for a community centre there. I am committed to delivering further iterations of the fund in line with the commitment in the programme for Government. We are currently negotiating that in the context of the national development plan. This will provide an opportunity for any proposed project in Ballyvolane. I am happy to work with all the Deputies and Senators from the area around this project, and to explore it further with the Deputy now.”
“The community centre investment fund, CCIF, is my Department's primary funding vehicle for new and existing community centres. It was first introduced in 2022 in recognition of the need for a dedicated funding stream to support investment in the hundreds of community facilities that are at the heart of both rural and urban communities. In Cork, my Department has provided more than €8.9 million for the enhancement and refurbishment of 158 existing community centres in both the city and county. In early 2024, funding of €30 million was approved under CCIF for the construction of 12 new facilities covering nine counties. I can confirm that a project in Cork was successful under this fund, with Rylane community centre being awarded over €1.5 million for the construction of a new facility.”
“We are working closely with the hospitality sector but, as I said, the development of things such as 300-odd hubs keep people working in local villages and towns who otherwise would not be able to do so and who can use those facilities for lunch, coffee, etc. That is an invaluable provision.”
“Absolutely, I agree. The cost base of every business is of concern to the Government. With regard to the small rural regionally based builders, we made it very clear that they need to be given support from the banking system to allow them to make the kinds of developments in rural areas the Deputy has spoken about and that we all want to see. The Minister, Deputy Browne, will be writing to every local authority in the coming weeks to ask them to reopen their development plans to designate more land specifically for housing. That, in turn, will create opportunities for smaller builders. There is a skills challenge, and the Ministers, Deputies Lawless and Browne, are working to address that skills challenge in terms of apprenticeships to ensure we have the skills to support those regionally based builders to build those houses we need.”
“I encourage every chief executive to ensure they have a well-resourced economic development unit and in particular that they have a well-resourced LEO. The local enterprise offices right across the country, which are based out of our local authorities, are superb at promoting rural enterprise, working with LEADER and other operations. A good LEO is invaluable to any local authority.”
“I cannot speak specifically to the Airbnb question. As I said, however, my Department has invested significantly in remote work and remote working facilities. We will be publishing a new national hub strategy, which will include measures to underpin ongoing sustainable development. As we discussed here previously, hubs in 2025 are different from what they were in 2020, and we need to make sure we keep up to date with them. In terms of the local authority issue, local authorities and the enterprise units are centrally involved in the regional enterprise plans. I know from my former Ministry that there are regional enterprise plans that work extremely well because of proactive local authority involvement. I encourage every local authority to be proactive.”
“Public and stakeholder consultations are already well under way in respect of the new policy. They will continue throughout the summer. I hope to bring a final draft to the committee before the end of this calendar year.”
“Such interventions at local level, along with those at Údarás na Gaeltachta for muintir na Gaeltachta, are key to ensuring continued economic growth. I look forward to the development of the new round of regional enterprise plans next year. Within my Department, the LEADER programme also focuses on supporting local economic development, helping to diversify the rural economy and create employment opportunities. Similarly, the delivery of the network of more than 380 connected hubs, supporting remote jobs in rural areas, and significant enhancements to our digital infrastructure, as the Deputy mentioned in his opening remarks, are helping to support rural enterprises and employment. The programme for Government includes a commitment to publish and implement a new Our Rural Future policy, which will take effect from 2026.”
“In the main, enterprise policy and related commitments contained in Our Rural Future are the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Deputy Burke, working together with the relevant agencies under his remit. Significant progress continues to be made in this regard. For example, 64% of the new jobs created by Enterprise Ireland client companies last year were located outside the Dublin region, while 59% of Industrial Development Authority , IDA, investment was in the regional locations. The role of the regional enterprise plans and local enterprise offices, LEOs, are crucial here also. In 2024, more than 7,000 new jobs were created by LEO supported companies, with 81% of these new jobs in businesses based outside of Dublin.”
“I thank Deputy Timmins for his question. Our Rural Future is the whole-of-government policy for sustainable rural development in Ireland. More than 170 measures are outlined to support sustainable economic and social development and environmental and cultural well-being across all our rural areas. The delivery of these measures is clearly based on a cross-governmental approach, with a range of Departments contributing to their own areas of responsibility. Supporting employment and careers in rural areas by creating an environment that supports entrepreneurship and enterprise growth in rural areas is a key objective of that policy.”
“Is é sin an fáth go bhfuil an Rialtas ag déanamh na hinfheistíochta sin ionas go mbeidh na scileanna ann chun an Ghaeilge a úsáid.”
“Is é sin an rud is tábhachtaí faoin gceist seo. Tá dúshláin ann chun iarrthóirí a fháil a bhfuil na scileanna acu chun obair ar chaighdeán teanga an Aontais Eorpaigh. Tá an caighdeán sin tábhachtach. Tá oifigigh i mo Roinn i gcónaí ag obair leis na hinstitiúidí tríú leibhéil ionas go mbeidh na daoine agus na graduates leis na scileanna ann chun na scileanna sin a úsáid. Tá níos mó ná €1 milliún á chaitheamh ar an advanced Irish-language skills initiative ionas go mbeidh daoine réitithe le poist a fháil san Aontas Eorpach, agus go mbeidh na caighdeáin teanga a éilíonn an AE acu agus iad ag fágáil na n-institiúidí tríú leibhéil ina bhfuil an Ghaeilge á múineadh. Is traenáil speisialta í, go háirithe i gcúrsaí dlí agus aistriúcháin mar tá an caighdeán dlí agus aistriúcháin an-ard san AE.”
“Agus Uachtaránacht na hÉireann ar an Aontas Eorpach ag teacht an bhliain seo chugainn, táimid ag cur béime go mbainfimid úsáid as an nGaeilge i gcomhthéacs na hUachtaránachta.”
“Aontaím go mór leis an Teachta go bhfuil sár-iarracht ar bun, go háirithe le haghaidh na nGaeilgeoirí sa Bhruiséil. Is iontach a fheiceáil, in gach cathair san Eoraip, agus níos faide i gcéin, go bhfuil muintir na Gaeilge beo agus ag úsáid Gaeilge. Go háirithe sa Bhruiséil, tá dream iontach inti atá ag baint a lán úsáide as an nGaeilge. Eagraíonn siad Seachtain na Gaeilge gach Márta sa Bhruiséil agus oibríonn siad leis an bParlaimint agus leis an gCoimisiún. Bhí mé i láthair an tseachtain sin cuid mhaith blianta ó shin nuair a bhí mé i m’Aire Stáit sa Roinn fiontair ag an am. Níl aon sonraí agam faoin saghas cuidithe. Gheobhaidh mé na sonraí don Teachta. Má táimid in ann oibriú agus cuidiú le haon duine a bhfuil spéis aige nó aici i gcúrsa Gaeilge, go háirithe chun a scileanna Gaeilge a úsáid san Aontas Eorpach, cuideoimid leo.”
“Chomh maith leis sin, oibríonn mo Roinn le páirtithe leasmhara chun eolas a scaipeadh faoi deiseanna fostaíochta laistigh d’institiúidí an Aontais Eorpaigh dóibh siúd atá líofa sa Ghaeilge. I gcomhairle leis an gCoimisiún Eorpach, reáchtáiltear seimineár agus ceardlann phraiticiúil gach bliain ina gcuirtear béim ar na deiseanna seo atá dírithe go príomha ar mhic léinn tríú-leibhéil agus céimithe. Tá an chéad seimineár eile le tarlú an Eanáir seo chugainn i mBaile Átha Cliath. Cuireann mo Roinn maoiniú ar fáil i gcomhair comhdhálacha bliantúla, arna eagrú ag Óstaí na Rí, ina gcuirtear deiseanna fostaíochta san Aontas Eorpach chun cinn do dhlítheangeolaithe, ateangairí agus gairmeacha gaolmhara. Tá an chéad chomhdháil eile le tarlú i mí an Mhárta 2026.”
“Sa scéim seo, tugtar an deis do dhaoine aonair triail a bhaint as saol oibre ar an Mór-Roinn, oiliúint a fháil, feabhas a chur ar a gcuid scileanna chun tabhairt faoi phróiseas earcaíochta iomaíochta agus páirt a ghlacadh sa phobal bríomhar Éireannach agus Gaeilge sa Bhruiséil agus i Lucsamburg. Glactar suas le 12 intéirneach ar feadh tréimhse naoi mí, a thosaíonn gach Deireadh Fómhair. Oibríonn na hintéirnigh seo in aonad Gaeilge mar aistritheoirí, profléitheoirí nó cúntóirí sna hinstitiúidí Eorpacha ábhartha. Ní annamh go n-ofráiltear conradh lánaimseartha do chuid de na hintéirnigh mar thoradh ar an oiliúint faoin scéim seo. Is ionann an maoiniú bliantúil don scéim intéirneachta seo agus €305,000.”
“Tacaíonn mo Roinn le raon tionscnamh chun an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn mar theanga oibre agus oifigiúil de chuid an Aontais Eorpaigh agus chun a chinntiú go mbeidh soláthar leanúnach de dhaoine leis na cáilíochtaí agus scileanna cuí ar fáil do na seirbhísí teanga lena dtacaítear le húsáid na teanga in institiúidí éagsúla an Aontais Eorpaigh. Airítear leis seo scéim intéirneachta a reáchtáil i gcomhpháirt leis an gCoimisiún Eorpach, Parlaimint na hEorpa, An Comhairle Eorpach, Coiste na Réigiún, Cúirt Iniúchóirí na hEorpa agus Oifig na bhFoilseachán.”
“Nuair a thiocfaidh Roinn na Gaeltachta go dtí an Roinn caiteachais phoiblí, is é sin an rud a bheidh muid ag déanamh. Is mian linn go mbeidh deiseanna breise ar fáil do mhuintir na Gaeltachta agus muintir na n-oileán. Tá sé tábhachtach go mbeidh na deiseanna breise sin ar fáil do mhuintir na Gaeltachta amháin agus go mbeidh siad in ann iad a úsáid. Is é an rud is tábhachtaí ná go n-oibríonn muid amach scéim chun tacú agus cuidiú le muintir na Gaeltachta le haghaidh na mbóithre áitiúla a úsáideann siad, mar a dúirt an Teachta, ag tús agus deireadh an lae. Is é an rud is tábhachtaí ná go mbeidh scéim againn le cuidiú leis na daoine sin go díreach agus go tapa, agus go mbeidh an t-airgead ann le haghaidh an bhealaigh sin. Tá mé ag obair ar bhealach tapa chun airgead breise a chur i dtreo mhuintir na Gaeltachta.”
“Tá obair bhunúsach déanta ag m’oifigigh sa Roinn. Tá muid ag scrúdú na meicníochta a bheidh muid in ann úsáid chun cuidiú leis na bóithre sin, go háirithe dóibh siúd a bhfuil cónaí orthu ar na bóithre sin nó a úsáideann iad le haghaidh obair feirmeoireachta. Mar a dúirt mé, tá an scéim feabhsaithe áitiúil ann agus tá mé ag cur béim ar an scéim sin chun airgead breise a fháil a thabharfaidh cuidiú breise do na húdaráis áitiúla ina bhfuil ceantar Gaeltachta. Tá muid fós beartaithe ar scéim na mbóithre áise a thabhairt ar ais mar tuigim cé chomh tábhachtach is atá sí ó scéal an Teachta. Tá sé ag cur brú orm. Tá Teachta Pat the Cope Gallagher ag crú brú orm freisin. Tuigim, agus tuigeann an tAire Stáit, an Teachta Buttimer, cé chomh tábhachtach is atá scéim na bóithre áise agus an scéim feabhsaithe áitiúil.”
“Tuigtear dom go gcaithfidh an bóthar i gceist a bheith ag dul chuig árais chónaithe, talamh feirme nó suíomheanna taitneamhacha ar nós locha, aibhneacha nó tránna. Tá breis eolais le fáil ar shuíomh na Roinne. Tá geallta sa chlár Rialtais nua go dtabharfar scéim na mbóithre áise ar ais. Níl aon mheicníocht chuige sin oibrithe amach go fóill, áfach. Beidh athbhunú na scéime ag brath, dar ndóigh, ar airgead a bheith curtha ar fáil chuige sin do na blianta amach romhainn trí phróiseas na Meastachán. Tuigfidh an Teachta nach bhfuil an idirbheartaíocht maidir le Meastachán 2026 tosaithe go fóill. Beidh plé ar bun idir na páirtithe leasmhara agus mo Roinn maidir leis an gcur chuige is fearr chun an scéim seo a athbhunú. Tuigim cé chomh tábhachtach do mhuintir na Gaeltachta is atá an scéim sin.”
“Tuigim go mór cé chomh tábhachtach is a bhí scéim na mbóithre áise le haghaidh mhuintir na Gaeltachta. Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta as ucht a cheiste fúithi. Mar a bhí luaite sa fhreagra i mí an Mhárta 2025, tá scéim na mbóithre áise curtha ar fionraí le roinnt blianta anuas. Faoin scéim sin, chuirtí airgead ar fáil do na húdaráis áitiúla ar mhaithe le hobair dheisiúcháin a dhéanamh ar bhóithre cáilithe faoi leith sa Ghaeltacht. Idir an dá linn, bhí agus tá maoiniú ar fáil faoin scéim feabhsaithe áitiúil, nó LIS, de chuid mo Roinne chun cabhrú le húdaráis áitiúla obair fheabhsúcháin a dhéanamh ar bhóthair neamhphoiblí agus ar bhóithre nach ndéantar cothabháil poiblí orthu sa ghnáthbhealach.”
“I am sure there are many community centres hosting summer camps as we speak, giving great relief to parents and guardians at this time of year. That is being done by volunteers in many cases. It shows the value of it all-year-round. In relation to Mullaghbuoy, as the Deputy mentioned, €24,000 was approved in 2022 to improve the kitchen facilities and €19,000 in 2024 for energy security upgrades. Much of the focus has been on upgrading community centres that were built at a certain time when energy costs were not a priority. They now are. We are now assisting community centres to reduce their energy costs.”
“I agree with the Deputy. Where we can colocate community facilities, it is much better for everybody. It is a more cohesive community. I know the Minister, Deputy Foley, who has responsibility under the building blocks scheme, has also expressed an interest in working with the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer and myself on this. To come back to Deputy McGreehan, as I said, over €80 million has been approved for the refurbishment and enhancement of existing community centres since 2022. Last year, we funded over €30 million for 12 new community centres. My priority, at the moment, is to get those 12 projects up and running to get that money drawn down. We have over 770 projects completed and they are already delivering very real benefits, not just during storms.”
“I am totally committed, as is the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, to delivering further iterations of the fund in the coming years in line with the commitment in the programme for Government. Since the programme for Government was agreed, we have seen first hand the value of these community centres in responding to Storm Éowyn, and the value of the people who volunteer to provide these community centres. We will be looking at future rounds of the CCIF to ensure community centres are at the forefront of any future climate responses.”
“Last year, funding of €30 million was approved for the construction of 12 new community centres covering nine counties. These projects are now beginning to move forward. The most recent fund focused again on the refurbishment of existing community facilities. In March of this year, I was delighted to announce over €26 million for 369 community centres under category 2, which provides funding of up to €100,000. This was in addition to 405 projects approved in November with a value of €7.8 million under category 1, which provides funding of up to €25,000. This brings the total amount approved under the 2024 iteration of the fund to over €33 million for in excess of 770 projects nationwide.”
“I thank the Deputy for her question. Community centres are the cornerstone of community life in towns and villages around the country. The Government recognises the very important role these centres play in bringing people together and facilitating community services and events. Since its establishment in 2022, the community centres investment fund, CCIF, has provided some €110 million for the enhancement and refurbishment of existing community centres and the construction of new centres in locations that were not adequately served. Over €45 million was approved for some 861 community centres nationwide under CCIF 2022. To date, over €43 million of this has been paid to these communities, with 760 of those projects now complete.”
“Bíonn slite eile ann i gcónaí. Táim ag coimeád súil ghéar ar an bhfadhb seo agus tá mo chuid oifigeach ag obair go dian leis na hoifigigh sa Tuaisceart. Comhoibríonn na hoifigigh sin an-mhaith le chéile. Beimid ag coimeád súile air sin. Caithfimid airgead breise a fháil. Táim chun é sin a phlé leis an Aire caiteachais phoiblí, go háirithe i gcomhthéacs an chéad cháinaisnéis eile. Ag an bpointe seo, i lár mhí Iúil, tá na cainteanna fós ar siúl. Leis na cainteanna seo, táimid ag réiteach don chéad dá bhliain eile le haghaidh Fhoras na Gaeilge. Tuigim an bhuairt atá ar na heagraíochtaí éagsúla. Bhíomar go léir ar an ócáid leis an gconradh an tseachtain seo caite. Tuigimid go léir na deiseanna atá ann don teanga má tá airgead breise le fáil.”
“Tá an t-airgead sin ag teacht ó Rialtas na hÉireann go dtí an foras le haghaidh na n-eagraíochtaí. Beidh mé ag obair chun airgead breise a fháil sa chéad cháinaisnéis eile toisc go bhfuil sé tábhachtach go gcuidíonn muid agus go seasann muid leis na heagraíochtaí Gaeilge atá ag déanamh sáriarracht i ngach cuid den oileán.”
“Gabhaim buíochas leis an mbeirt Teachta as sin. Tá sé an-tábhachtach dúinn teacht ar réiteach ach ní bheidh sé éasca. Nílim ag cur an mhilleáin ar aon duine go pearsanta. Tá na hoifigigh i mo Roinn ag obair go crua agus go dícheallach le hoifigigh na Roinne sa Tuaisceart. Tá siad fós ag déanamh na hoibre sin. Tá an obair sin ag leanúint ar aghaidh. Tá m'oifigigh ag rá go bhfuil siad ag leanúint ar aghaidh. Táimid ag pleanáil le haghaidh an fhorais don chéad dá bhliain eile. Nílimid ag plé cúrsaí airgeadais amháin ach cúrsaí cothroime freisin. Nílim féin in ann na ratios a athrú. Caithfimid a lán obair a dhéanamh air sin. Taobh amuigh den phróiseas sin, tá ardú mór tugtha d'Fhoras na Gaeilge ó thaobh cúrsaí airgeadais. In 2023, bhí €1.8 milliún ann. In 2025, tá €3.6 milliún ann.”
“Ina leith sin, tá athbhreithniú á dhéanamh faoi láthair ag an dá Roinn a thugann urraíocht le socruithe ó thaobh maoinithe a chur ar fáil don Fhoras Teanga. Mar sin féin, ní mór don dá Roinn a thugann urraíocht agus na Ranna airgeadais sna dlínsí teacht ar chomhaontú faoi rudaí áirithe agus a bheith soiléir an féidir é a chur faoi bhráid an CATT.”
“Bhuaileamar freisin le cathaoirligh agus príomhfheidhmeannaigh gach gníomhaireachta ag an gcruinniú sin, tar éis dom bualadh le Foras na Gaeilge níos luaithe i mbliana ar mhaithe le plé a dhéanamh ar na dúshláin mhaoinithe os comhair na heagraíochta. Áirítear sa mhaoiniú comhaontaithe do 2025 íocaíochtaí aonuaire de luach €630,000 ó Rialtas na hÉireann go Foras na Gaeilge maidir le costas pinsin stairiúla, rud a chuirfear ar chumas Fhoras na Gaeilge na ciorruithe a d'fhógair sé níos luaithe i mbliana a chur ar ceal. Cé gur chuir Rialtas na hÉireann méadú maoinithe ar fáil d'Fhoras na Gaeilge ina bhuiséad do 2025, ní mór cómhaoiniú a bheith ar fáil ón Roinn Pobal ó Thuaidh de réir chóimheas an chomhaontú maoinithe sular féidir borradh ar bith a chur faoi bhuiséad na ngníomhaireachtaí.”
“Is í mo Roinn féin, thar ceann Rialtas na hÉireann, agus an Roinn Pobal ó Thuaidh thar ceann Fheidhmeannas Thuaisceart Éireann a chómhaoiníonn an Foras Teanga Thuaidh-Theas, ina gcumasctar Foras na Gaeilge agus Gníomhaireacht na hUltaise. Cuireann Rialtas na hÉireann 75% den bhuiséad Fhoras na Gaeilge ar fáil go bliantúil agus tagann an 25% eile ó Fheidhmeannas Thuaisceart Éireann de réir an chaiteachais a comhaontaíodh nuair a bunaíodh an Foras Teanga Thuaidh-Theas. Déanann Comhairle Aireachta Thuaidh-Theas buiséad na n-institiúidí Thuaidh-Theas, lena n-áirítear an Foras Teanga, a fhaomhadh. Bhí mé i mo chathaoirleach ar chruinniú earnáil an fhoras teanga i mí Aibreáin, inar comhaontaíodh pleananna gnó agus buiséid 2025 d'Fhoras na Gaeilge agus do Ghníomhaireacht na hUltaise.”
“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.”
“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.”