Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions – Dáil Éireann (34th Dáil) – Thursday, 21 May 2026

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions

Rural Schemes

Conor D McGuinness

Ceist:

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]

Deputy Conor D. McGuinness

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?

Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht (Deputy Dara Calleary)

I am aware of the recent figures from the Vintners Federation of Ireland, which highlight the challenges faced by rural pubs and their importance as hubs for social connection and cultural life. I agree with the Deputy's analysis in that regard. I also acknowledge that the VFI made a written submission to the consultation process which the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, and I opened last year to inform the development of the next iteration of Our Rural Future.

While specific supports for the sector would fall under the remit of my colleagues, the Minister for Finance and the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, the new Our Rural Future policy will take a whole-of-government approach to rural development, with actions to support the rural economy and rural communities, including addressing rural isolation.

The policy is underpinned by funding through my Department's rural investment and community development programmes, as well as an array of funding streams across government.

As Deputy McGuinness set out, rural pubs play an important social role in rural communities in particular. I am conscious of the challenge of rural isolation. With this in mind, the Department has a range of funding streams to help address the issue. These supports include the local enhancement programme, the community services programme, the social inclusion community activation programme and the seniors alert programme. There is no doubt that our significant investment in the community centre investment fund in recent years has helped to ensure our rural areas have high-quality facilities that serve as focal points for communities.

The development of the new Our Rural Future policy will continue to provide a framework for continued investment in our rural communities in the coming years. The policy and its associated action plan are nearing completion. I am continuing to engage with all of my ministerial colleagues to ensure that our ambition for rural Ireland is underpinned by a series of ambitious and practical actions. That ambition includes addressing the challenges faced by rural communities, rural isolation in particular.

Deputy Conor D. McGuinness

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.

Deputy Dara Calleary

I assure the Deputy that we are very committed to investing in rural social infrastructure. That is why we will be opening the community centre investment fund for investment of €25 million in the coming week. That will assist community centres right across the country.

When it comes to rural isolation, the Deputy is correct to identify rural men in particular. We have just invested up to €3,000 per shed for 369 men's sheds across the country. The rural pub is important. I welcome and thank VFI for its submission. While it highlighted excise duty and cost, it also highlighted the need for a rural transport plan, capital supports for rural pubs and support for pubs as community venues. In the context of the transport plan, we are having engagement with the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien. Pilot schemes are running in both Killarney and Achill with the TFI Anseo app, which is effectively providing a bus-on-demand service to a certain extent. We will look at that pilot and, ideally, we will expand it around the country, specifically to rural areas. That will assist the viability of rural hospitality venues.

Deputy Conor D. McGuinness

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?

Deputy Dara Calleary

We are very focused on rural transport. Deputy Buttimer is a Minister of State in the Department of Transport as well as being a Minister of State in my Department. The work being done by Local Link to expand its services and, more importantly, expand the flexibility of its services in recent years will continue. We will engage with the Minister, Deputy Burke, and the Department of enterprise and tourism in the context of Our Rural Future policy to determine what can be done to sustain rural enterprises and economies.

Obviously, as the Deputy knows, due to state aid rules, we have to be careful in how we intervene in private business. That is why we are investing in the social hub of communities, such as community centres, sports clubs and men's sheds. Through the local enhancement programme, we are supporting local community groups. I am certainly open to ideas and proposals, however. As I said, the Vintners Federation of Ireland has made a good and round submission to the consultation on Our Rural Future. I will engage with the Minister, Deputy Burke, on some of its proposals in the context of Our Rural Future.

Seirbhísí trí Ghaeilge

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Ceist:

87. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht cad é an dáta faoina ndéanfar na seirbhísí go léir a sholáthraíonn comhlachtaí poiblí sa Ghaeltacht a sholáthar trí mheán na Gaeilge. [38272/26]

Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Fiafraím den Aire faoin uair a bheidh na seirbhísí ar fad de chuid an Stáit, nó roinnt acu fiú, ar fáil go huile is go hiomlán trí Ghaeilge do phobal na Gaeltachta.

Deputy Dara Calleary

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta as an gceist seo a ardú. Baineann an cheist seo le halt 18E(b) d'Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla a cheanglaíonn ar an Aire, le hordú, an dáta nó na dátaí a shonrú faoina gcuirfear gach seirbhís a sholáthraíonn comhlacht poiblí i limistéar pleanála teanga Gaeltachta, nó don limistéar sin, ar fáil trí mheán na Gaeilge.

Mar atá luaite agam cheana maidir leis an gceist seo, is beart suntasach agus fairsing é, a bhfuil go leor le cur sa mheá faoi. Dá bhrí sin, tugadh faoi chomhairliúchán cuimsitheach agus fiúntach leis na comhlachtaí poiblí ábhartha chun na críche seo tríd an taighde don phlean náisiúnta um sheirbhísí poiblí Gaeilge, agus arís i ndiaidh fhoilsiú an phlean náisiúnta céanna. Bhí na próisis úd an-tábhachtach ar mhaithe leis an leibhéal is airde tuisceana agus feasachta maidir leis an bhforáil a chothú i measc na gcomhlachtaí poiblí, go háirithe dóibh siúd a bhfuil an leibhéal is airde idirghníomhaíochta acu leis an bpobal.

Is fiú a aithint freisin nach beart iomlán neamhspleách é seo atá le feidhmiú i bhfolús. Tá sé mar chuid den éiceachóras foriomlán a bhfuiltear ag iarraidh a fhorbairt faoin Acht. Chuige sin, beifear ag tacú lena cur i bhfeidhm tríd an obair atá ar bun faoin phlean náisiúnta agus, go deimhin, an plean gníomhaíochta trí bliana a foilsíodh níos luaithe i mbliana, mar aon leis na caighdeáin teanga agus forálacha eile an Achta i gcoitinne.

Táim muiníneach, mar thoradh ar an gcomhairliúchán breise seo agus ar an obair atá ar siúl ag mo Roinn idir an dá linn trí fhorbairt na struchtúr seo, go gcuirfear na tacaíochtaí cuí ar fáil do chomhlachtaí poiblí chun tabhairt faoi aon athruithe is gá sa spás seo. Bunaithe air seo, beidh mé ag leagan síos dáta nó dátaí réalaíocha agus insroichte a chothóidh muinín phobal na Gaeltachta in úsáid na seirbhísí poiblí sin trí Ghaeilge de réir a chéile, sa chás nach bhfuiltear á n-úsáid cheana féin.

Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Glacaim leis an ndúshlán atá ann anois toisc gur theip ar an Stát le breis is 100 bliain na seirbhísí i gceantair Ghaeltachta a sholáthar don phobal. Níorbh fhéidir roimhe seo agus ní féidir le gnáthshaoránach a bhfuil cónaí orthu sa Ghaeltacht a labhraíonn an Ghaeilge mar phríomhtheanga – b’fhéidir gurbh í an Ghaeilge an t-aon teanga a bhí acu roimhe seo - a gcuid gnó a dhéanamh trí Ghaeilge leis an Stát, lena n-airítear comhlachtaí poiblí, Ranna Stáit agus daoine a bhíonn ag obair thar ceann an Stáit. Tá 23 bliain imithe ó ritheadh Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla 2003 ar dtús. Tá muid anois cúig bliana ó ritheadh Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla (Leasú), 2021. Tá muid anois ag fanacht leis na caighdeáin. Is é sin atá an tAire tar éis a rá. Tá an plean gníomhaíochta ann, ach níl aon spriocanna ann. Cén uair go díreach a bheidh pobal na Gaeltachta in ann na seirbhísí sin a fháil trí Ghaeilge?

Deputy Dara Calleary

Tuigim an mífhoighne ach ní mór na dúshláin a thuiscint freisin. Tá muid ag obair ar na dúshláin sin le cinntiú go mbeidh daoine in ann na seirbhísí a sholáthar, ní hamháin do mhuintir na Gaeltachta ach dóibh siúd a labhraíonn Gaeilge freisin. Is gá go mbeidh taithí agus muinín ag na daoine a bhíonn ag obair sa Státseirbhís chun é sin a dhéanamh. Tá muid ag obair air sin.

Agus mo hata eile orm mar Aire Coimirce Sóisialaí, tá sé sin tábhachtach dúinn. Tá muid ag obair go mbeidh daoine sa Roinn sin in ann seirbhísí a sholáthar do mhuintir na Gaeltachta agus do dhaoine a bhfuil Gaeilge acu. Léiríonn mo thaithí sa Roinn sin na dúshláin atá sa Roinn chun an tseirbhís seo a thabhairt amach. Tá muid ag obair air agus tá muid dírithe air. Tá sé tábhachtach freisin - tuigim go dtuigeann an Teachta é seo - go mbeidh seirbhís le daoine i gceist agus go mbeidh muinín ag muintir na Gaeltachta agus muintir na Gaeilge as an tseirbhís atá le teacht. Tá muid ag iarraidh go mbeidh muinín ag muintir na Gaeltachta go mbeidh an tseirbhís ag feidhmiú ag an gcaighdeán is airde. Tá muid ag obair ar na caighdeáin sin.

Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Glacaim leis nach dtarlóidh sé seo thar oíche, ach níl athrú thar oíche i gceist againn. Mar a dúirt mé, bunaíodh an Stát breis is 100 bliain ó shín. Tógadh Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla isteach ar dtús 23 bliain ó shín. Leis an Acht sin, cuireadh scéimeanna ar bun i ngach uile chuid den Státchóras chun cuidiú linn na seirbhísí sin a chur ar fáil, ní hamháin do phobal na Gaeltachta ach don phobal i gcoitinne. Is é an dúshlán ná conas is féidir, ar a laghad, na seirbhísí a sholáthar dóibh siúd a bhfuil cónaí orthu i gceantair atá aitheanta gurb í an Ghaeilge príomhtheanga an cheantair sin, áit ar mian linn an Ghaeilge a chaomhnú. Ina dhiaidh sin, ba chóir na seirbhísí a leathnú amach lasmuigh den Ghaeltacht chomh maith céanna. Tháinig Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla (Leasú), 2021 isteach ina dhiaidh sin. Dúradh linn go mbeadh na caighdeáin ar fáil laistigh de mhíonna tar éis don reachtaíocht sin a bheith foilsithe. Níl siad sin le feiceáil go fóill. Tá plean gníomhaíochta ann ach níl aon spriocdhátaí ann. Tá fadhb bhunúsach ansin. Cén uair a fhoilseofar na caighdeáin? Ar a laghad, tabharfaidh sé sin treoir nó sprioc dúinn.

Deputy Dara Calleary

Tá muid ag obair ar na caighdeáin sin. Tá mé muiníneach go mbeidh muid in ann iad a fhoilsiú roimh i bhfad. Tá mé ag obair freisin leis na comhlachtaí poiblí chun go mbeidh tuiscint ag gach comhlacht ar na caighdeáin seo. Caithfidh siad iad a thuiscint agus a chinntiú go mbeidh na resources acu chun tabhairt faoi seo. Ní mór do na comhlachtaí sin freisin tuiscint a bheith acu ar cé chomh tábhachtach is atá sé seo do mhuintir na Gaeltachta agus don Rialtas araon. Mar Aire, tá sé thar a bheith tábhachtach go mbeidh na caighdeáin sin ard agus go dtuigeann na comhlachtaí poiblí agus eagrais Stáit go gcaithfidh siad é seo a dhéanamh agus go gcaithfear na resources a chur i bhfeidhm lena dhéanamh ar ardchaighdeán. Níl aon phointe caighdeáin a fhoilsiú agus a rá go bhfuil an tseirbhís ar fáil ach nuair a théann daoine chuig aon oifig Stáit, níl an tseirbhís sin ar fáil toisc easpa cainteoirí chun an tseirbhís a sholáthar. Tá sé tábhachtach dom, nuair a fhoilseofar gach rud, go mbeidh muid agus gach comhlacht ar an talamh réidh le dul.

Road Projects

Brian Stanley

Ceist:

88. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht to review the level of funding for local improvement roads schemes for the current year, in view of the level of demand; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37944/26]

Deputy Brian Stanley

The local improvement scheme is very important for local roads. The local community makes a contribution of between 10% and 15%. The level of funding this year in the case of Laois dropped by €1,000. I was hoping it would be a bit more. I ask that the funding for this year be reviewed.

Deputy Dara Calleary

I acknowledge the Deputy's ongoing interest in this area. The local improvement scheme, LIS, provides for the upgrading of non-public rural roads and laneways typically not maintained by local authorities. It was reintroduced in 2017. Since 2017, funding of over €200 million has been allocated to local authorities and over 5,500 roads have been improved. In February this year, I was pleased along with the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, to launch the 2026 scheme. We confirmed base funding for 2026 of €17.5 million which represents an increase on the initial base funding made available in 2025. Laois County Council received a 2026 allocation of almost €470,000. The total allocated to Laois since 2017 is over €6.6 million. My officials are engaging with local authorities which have submitted their priority road lists for 2026. They have now received approval to proceed with the works. I have directed that scheme spend be monitored closely to ensure that funding is fully utilised and not returned to the Department and that as many road improvements as possible are completed under the scheme this year. Parallel to that process, I will be monitoring spending within my Department over the coming months to identify any potential savings that can be reallocated to the LIS programme. I am very aware of the importance of the scheme to councils and rural communities. It is a priority for the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, and me. We continue to monitor expenditure within the Department. We are also asking local authorities to consider their level of expenditure on each road. There are considerable disparities in expenditure on the scheme from local authority to local authority. We are zeroing-in on that to ensure there is a common spend around the country. In that way, we will also achieve more roads being completed.

Deputy Brian Stanley

I think the Minister will find that with Laois not too much money comes back to the Department. It tends to get used. I agree with him about using it well. It is a 10% contribution where there are five residents or landowners or fewer and 15% where there are more than six. The funding for Laois is actually €469,000. It was €470,000 last year and nine schemes are approved locally for this year but there are more than 80 on the waiting list. Some are more urgent than others. The Minister will appreciate that, as will anyone who is local councillor or constituency TD. I highlight to the Minister the western Slieve Bloom area - he was in Mountrath recently and saw how money was spent very well in the wonderful Cafe Donate and the river walk, etc. With the topography, a lot of those roads are over peat and bad land. At this rate, it will take nearly ten years to complete what is on the scheme. That is if the scheme is closed. The Minister knows more will come on next year and the year after. It is a matter of trying to keep ahead. It requires more funding.

Deputy Dara Calleary

Laois completed 18 roads in 2025 and 81 are outstanding on the list we have. We had a really successful visit to Laois with Deputy Stanley and with Deputies Fleming and Aird some weeks back. I saw the fantastic work Laois County Council is doing. I pay tribute to that work. I could literally throw the entire budget of the Department at LIS and still have waiting lists. Other Departments also have responsibilities in terms of regional and public roads funding in rural areas. It cannot just be this Department that takes on that burden. We are working closely with other Departments on that. We are looking at our expenditure as we are nearly six months through the year. I reiterate the necessity for every local authority to complete and spend the money allocated to them in a given year. If money is returned by local authorities, it makes my job in the Department of putting extra resources into this programme even more difficult.

Deputy Brian Stanley

In his reply the Minister said some local authorities may not use it. There may be indications throughout the year that some local authorities are not going to use it. I understand there is not an endless pot of funding and it is not down to the Department of community and rural affairs solely but in relation to this scheme, it is. I ask that where there is a surplus of funding or unused funding that the funding be reviewed. I am with the Minister in relation to spending it well and getting a good return for it. The county council is very good at making sure the local contribution is made by local residents and landowners. It is important that happens. We are in a standstill situation. The cost of roadworks has gone up 15% with contractors. It is between 10% and 15% extra this year, so it is not even a standstill situation. Only about 80% of the work that was done last year will be done this year with the level of funding we have, which is €1,000 less at €469,000.

Deputy Dara Calleary

We are very aware in the Department of the increase in costs, in particular over the past three months since the outbreak of the war in the Middle East. That directly impacts road costs in particular.

That is why the Department will be flexible. If I can see underspends, LIS will be a priority. Our capital delivery teams are engaging with local authorities that are serial offenders as regards sending money back. We tried to get notification of the approval of schemes out to councils earlier this year so that they could get work under way in the so-called summer period and get most of that work done. Looking around, I see that nearly everybody here is a rural Deputy. I encourage every Deputy to engage with the management of their local authorities in respect of LIS to ensure they are spending the allocation they are getting because, as I have said, it is not good for local authorities to be sending back money. I want money spent, particularly where it is capital money. I encourage engagement at local management level around LIS budgets.

Cúrsaí Tithíochta

Conor D McGuinness

Ceist:

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]

Deputy Conor D. McGuinness

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?

Deputy Dara Calleary

Mar is eol don Teachta, is fiú a thabhairt faoi deara go dtiteann an fhreagracht maidir le cúrsaí tithíochta ar bhonn ginearálta ar an Roinn Tithíochta, Rialtais Áitiúil agus Oidhreachta. Agus é sin ráite, tá soláthar tithíochta dóibh siúd atá ina gcónaí agus ag obair sa Ghaeltacht thar a bheith tábhachtach dom go pearsanta agus do mo Roinn. Go deimhin, tá tithíocht riachtanach chun an teanga, seirbhísí, fostaíocht, fiontraíocht agus deiseanna eile sa Ghaeltacht a fhorbairt. Agus é sin san áireamh, tá céimeanna tacaíochta á dtógáil chun na críche seo.

Beidh an Bille um Údarás na Gaeltachta (Leasú), 2024 le tógáil ag Céim na Tuarascála an tseachtain seo chugainn. Cé gurb é athbhunú toghcháin chuig bord an údaráis príomhchuspóir an Bhille seo, ar mhaithe le tacú le soláthar tithíochta sa Ghaeltacht, déanfar leasú sa Bhille ar alt 8 den Acht um Údarás na Gaeltachta chun cead a thabhairt don údarás talamh a dhíol le comhlacht tithíochta ceadaithe nó le húdarás tithíochta, nó a dhiúscairt ar shlí eile chuig an gcuspóir céanna, chun tithíocht a sholáthar sa Ghaeltacht.

Tá mé féin agus mo chomhghleacaí, an tAire, an Teachta James Browne, ag obair go dlúth lena chéile ar an gceist seo lenár n-oifigigh, a bhfuil obair shuntasach déanta acu ar fhorbairt ráiteas náisiúnta pleanála don Ghaeltacht. Sa phlean tithíochta a foilsíodh le déanaí, Tithe a Sheachadadh, Pobail a Thógáil, gealltar an ráiteas náisiúnta pleanála a fhoilsiú agus moltar scrúdú a dhéanamh ar an bhféidearthacht go n-oibreodh Údarás na Gaeltachta le hUisce Éireann agus údaráis áitiúla chun tacú le tithíocht a thógáil do phobail labhartha na Gaeilge. Reáchtáil mé cruinniú le gairid idir Údarás na Gaeltachta agus Uisce Éireann chun a chinntiú go ndéanfar dul chun cinn gan dua maidir leis an fhéidearthacht seo a scrúdú.

Bunaithe ar fhigiúirí ó na húdaráis áitiúla, ceadaíodh meán de 90% d'iarratais phleanála le haghaidh tithíochta sa Ghaeltacht in 2025, rud a léiríonn nach bhfuil fadhb ag daoine cead pleanála a fháil sa Ghaeltacht. Ina theannta sin, bronnadh os cionn €3 mhilliún ar iarratasóirí sa Ghaeltacht faoin deontas athchóirithe do réadmhaoin fholamh le linn 2024 agus 2025.

Deputy Conor D. McGuinness

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.

Deputy Dara Calleary

Mar a dúirt mé, tá mé féin agus an tAire, an Teachta Browne, ag obair go crua air seo. Nílim in ann dáta a thabhairt don Teachta ag an bpointe seo. Caithfidh mo Roinn agus an Roinn tithíochta teacht ar aontú faoin mbealach le dul. Tá sé tábhachtach go mbeidh scéim agus ráiteas pleanála againn a oibríonn ar an talamh. Tá a lán dúshlán ann. Caithfimid obair ar na dúshláin seo. Táimid ag obair air sin ach níl aontú ann go fóill idir mé féin agus an Aire, an Teachta Browne. Nuair atá an plean réidh, beimid in ann é a fhoilsiú. Tá an obair ar siúl. Bíonn cruinnithe ag na hoifigigh. Bhí cruinniú ag na hoifigigh sa dá Roinn an tseachtain seo caite. Táimid dírithe isteach air ach ní bheidh sé éasca. Tá sé sin an-tábhachtach le rá. Tá dúshláin againn freisin le hUisce Éireann. Táimid ag obair ar na dúshláin sin chun go mbeidh talamh seirbhísithe ó thaobh uisce agus séarachais. Is ceann de na dúshláin eile atá againn é sin. Táimid ag obair le hÚdarás na Gaeltachta chun a chuid talún a cheangal le córas Uisce Éireann chun go mbeidh deiseanna ansin.

Deputy Conor D. McGuinness

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?

Deputy Dara Calleary

Níl mé chun iad seo a leagan amach ar urlár na Dála. Táimid ag obair air. Tuigeann an tAire, an Teachta Browne, agus mé féin cé chomh tábhachtach is atá an ráiteas seo chun díriú ar an nGaeltacht agus go háirithe ar na daoine óga atá ag iarraidh tithe a chruthú inti. Táimid ag obair ar gach ceann de na dúshláin atá ann. Tá a lán oibre ar siúl ar a lán dúshlán sa Roinn. Tá na hoifigigh sa Roinn tithíochta atá ag obair liom ag obair ar roinnt de na dúshláin eile. Táimid ag obair ar chúrsaí taobh amuigh den ráiteas freisin. Mar a dúirt mé, tá san áireamh ansin soláthar séarachais agus uisce. Táimid ag obair le príomhfheidhmeannaigh na n-údarás áitiúil a bhfuil freagracht as pleanáil sna Gaeltachtaí orthu. Tá a lán píosaí ag baint leis an dúshlán nó jigsaw seo. Táimid ag obair air. Creidim go n-aontaíonn an Teachta liom gurb é an rud is tábhachtaí ná go mbeidh ráiteas pleanála againn a oibríonn agus a thugann deis do dhaoine tithe a chruthú sa Ghaeltacht. Tá sé tábhachtach go mbeidh siad in ann íoc as na tithe sin agus go mbeidh siad affordable. Táimid dírithe air seo agus ar thithe sóisialta freisin.

Dáil Éireann díospóireacht - Thursday, 21 May 2026