This is a fairly straightforward question with which he will be familiar. I am seeking to understand and to get some information from the Minister of State in relation to those non-capital grants. We understand the capital grants and the schemes but I ask about the actual level of funding that is available to cover those costs, such as energy, insurance, staffing, etc. This relates to the stream of funding that will go beyond the capital grants.

I thank the Deputy for her very important question. The Minister, Deputy Calleary, and I are aware of the challenges that many large community groups that operate community centres face in relation to the operation and staffing costs. In our consultation processes for the new strategy for the community and voluntary sector, it has emerged as an issue of concern. As the Deputy knows, the community and voluntary sector is quite diverse and receives financial support through a variety and wide range of funding programmes and schemes from several Government Departments and agencies, including our Department.

Our Department's community service programme, CSP, for the four year period from 2023 to 2027 currently supports the delivery of 445 local services, which is 426 organisations. It is a total allocation of €59.4 million for this year alone. Some 78 community centres and other community facilities are funded under the CSP, supporting a total of 380 staff posts, 53 managers and 327 full-time equivalent staff. This amount of total funding allocated is €36.2 million over the current five-year timeframe of this programme. In line with the programme for Government commitment and together with the Minister, our Department last year announced our intention to hold an open call early this year on the new CSP programme. The design of this open call is under way. Details, including eligible community services and organisations, will be announced in the coming weeks.

In the Gaeltacht region, there is a comprehensive development approach to managing the increased demand for funding from Gaeltacht community development organisations, with a 59% direct increase in funding to these organisations. Both the Minister and I are very much aware of the issues and challenges our community centres, which are operated in the main by voluntary boards, are facing.

I thank the Minister of State for his response. The purpose of the question was to try to isolate those specific funding streams separate from grants that will contribute towards the physical running. The Minister of State is right that they are in the main run by volunteer boards. However, they are employers as well. It makes things very tricky. There have been welcome increases in the minimum wage. That has a knock-on consequence for other people who are working. Costs like energy in particular are rising. What we saw in the aftermath of Storm Éowyn and Storm Chandra was how badly exposed some, although not all, community centres were. They are a bit of a beacon in the community. People think when everything is gone they will head to the community centre and it is like a hub. In some instances, they were not sufficiently staffed to be able to respond. They are now having to cope with the energy bills. There is a huge increase in energy. The money available is not matching that level of increase.

The points the Deputy made are fair comments. Both the Minister and I are very much aware from our own involvement and engagement. We have travelled the country and met with the community and voluntary sector. As a former director of my own community association, I know they are very resilient in sourcing funding from a variety streams. In the budget announced last November, there is a 6% increase in funding from our Department, which is a demonstration of the ambition the Minister and I have in terms of supporting and developing community organisations in our rural towns, urban suburbs and communities across the country.

This is a very genuine point. As part of the consultative process for Our Rural Future and in new the community and voluntary sector strategy, there has been a strong articulation of the points the Deputy has raised. Both the Minister and I will reflect on that as we look at the new Our Rural Future design and the community and voluntary sector strategy when we publish it later this year.

Can I be a bit a cheeky and hijack my own time for a moment to remind the Minister of State that he promised me he would visit Foróige in Balbriggan? I will follow up with him again after this.

I understand the Minister of State is listening and hears what is being said. What I am trying to find out is how that is going to manifest itself in terms of money so that the community centres can be sure they are going to be in a position to be able to pay their energy bills. The fear many of them have is that they are not going to be in a position to fund because energy costs have risen. They are not coming down. Even if the pace of increase has slowed a small bit, they have not come down. For very many, they are unaffordable. When times were very hard people, particularly in the aftermath of Storm Éowyn and Storm Chandra, they went to their community centre as a beacon. We do not want the lights not being able to be turned on there.

I look forward to going to Balbriggan. The Deputy was to come back to me with the invitation to arrange it.

I thought I had done that but I will do it.

I would love to do that because it is very important to support that organisation. The Deputy raised that already.

The reality is that we have seen - for example, in the community services programme - an increase of €4 million to €59.4 million this year. We have seen a 6% increase in the budget. We will reflect on the articulation by the community and voluntary sector in terms of the preparation of the strategy and in the consultative process for the new Our Rural Future. I assure the Deputy the Minister and I are very much rooted in this sector. We want to ensure the challenges that are being encountered will be considered in the development of any new policies. When we had Covid and the cost-of-living crisis, and energy was at its core, the Government was not found wanting. Again, our community and voluntary sector is very resilient in the sourcing of funds. We will look at what we can do to support what is a very important pillar of our society.

Staying with the topic of community centres, will the Minister inform the House when the Government might announce a new programme for community centre investment given the serious issues many community centres are having at the moment in increasing what they have to offer for the public and if he could make a statement?

I thank the Deputy for his question. Both the Minister of State and I agree and recognise that community centres can be at the heart of every community and that they are a vital resource for any city, neighbourhood, town or village. Since joining the Department, we prioritised investment in community infrastructure. As part of budget 2026, we secured increased funding for the programmes delivering on this priority, including an increase in the annual budget for the community centre investment fund, CCFI, of €3 million to €20 million. The CCIF was introduced to provide high quality, accessible, community spaces that are available to groups in all communities in both rural and urban areas. Through the CCIF, €110 million has been allocated since 2022 for the enhancement and refurbishment of existing community centres and the construction of a number of new centres where such a need has been identified. I am committed to delivering further iterations of the CCIF in the coming years.

Following meetings with the Minister of State and myself, our officials are currently finalising the details of the next call for applications. This call will focus on refurbishment to existing community centres. I expect to open this new round of funding to applicants in the coming months with a view to announcing successful projects before the end of the year. We also support community facilities with enhancement works through a range of other funding streams, including capitally through the CLÁR programme, LEADER and the town and village renewal scheme.

I thank the Minister very much for his reply. We are all aware of the importance of community centres throughout the country and no more so in my own area. Tonight, I will have a meeting of my own local community centre where we will discuss all things relevant, including funding and how we can expand what we can offer to the local community. It is very welcome that there is to be additional funding allocated. How quickly can that happen? The Minister said the announcement will be this year and then there will be funding announced before the end of the year. A lot of the community centres I am dealing with are having issues around heating, lack of heating, heating that is obsolete, etc. It is making a difference, particularly over the past number of weeks, in that they cannot open their doors. That is the issue I wanted to raise with the Minister today. I am glad the Government will concentrate on refurbishment more than anything else. The heating systems in many of these local halls and community centres are so old that they are not fit for purpose. I would welcome it if the Minister could confirm that is the type of infrastructure the Department is looking at.

I confirm that will be part of the iteration. We are trying to make it as broad as possible. As the Deputy and Deputy O'Reilly said previously, these centres provide very important services. Many of them were built at different times when energy costs were not quite causing the pressure they are now. Regarding the impact of the CCIF today, 93% of centres that have been funded under the CCIF have reported an increase in user numbers following the upgrades, with new improved accessibility, inclusivity and comfort. There has been further engagement from older adults, people with disabilities, families and marginalised groups reflecting to the new centre and new investment. Energy upgrades have been a major feature of the CCIF refurbishment process. They will continue to be. We will work closely with colleagues in the CCIF to give the best possible advice to community centres through local authorities. The vast majority of them have voluntary boards of directors. I want to make sure the new iteration of the CCIF is as easy as possible for those volunteers to access in an efficient manner.

The Minister mentioned a very important point. Tonight, at our meeting, there will probably be six of the locals who have been there for the past 20 to 30 years. They are the volunteers who keep that particular community going. As the Minister just did and the Minister of State previously acknowledged, it is always important to acknowledge those volunteers. In relation to the disability and marginal groups, there is a growing demand in urban areas for centres for marginalised groups. In relation to new centres, an area I have raised with the Minister before is the conversion of derelict buildings into community centres. Is that something the Minister will look at? I have mentioned previously rural schools that have become obsolete in some cases and unfortunately have closed in other cases.

Again, is that something the Minister will look at? Obviously, those with a disability and those from marginalised groups need to meet, and need to have a location where they can meet. There are a number of obsolete and derelict buildings that could be used for these purposes. Is that something this fund would encourage?

It is. It is my intention in 2027 to have a specific round of the CCIF for new-build centres. The then Minister, Heather Humphreys, announced a range of those in 2024. We are getting all of those into construction at the moment. There are about 12 nationally. Under the town and village renewal scheme, through the buildings acquisitions measure, local authorities can identify properties that are derelict within communities for a number of uses. We have funded the acquisition of properties for use as community facilities for exactly the kind of groups the Deputy has looked at. We have done similar through LEADER. I encourage any group to look at the town and village renewal scheme if they want to invest in a new centre, particularly within an existing community. I gceantair Ghaeltachta freisin, tá airgead breise le haghaidh hallaí agus hallaí pobail a bhfuil daoine ag iarraidh infheistíocht a chur isteach iontu. We have a range of supports across every section of the Department, predominately in capital. As the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, has outlined, both he and I are working with the CCIF to try to assist that programme too.

Tá an cheist seo dírithe ar an Aire toisc an breithiúnas a rinne an Bhreithimh Humphreys san Ard-Chúirt maidir leis na scéimeanna teanga. Dúirt sé go bhfuil sé "seafóideach" agus "áiféiseach" le rá go bhfuil feidhm dhlíthiúil fós acu. Cathain a bhfoilseofar na caighdeáin teanga atá le teacht i gcomharbas orthu siúd?

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta as an gceist. Tá an Roinn ar an eolas faoi chás cúirte a tógadh i rith na bliana anuraidh, inar tarraingíodh ar ghnéithe bainteach le hAchtanna na dTeangacha Oifigiúla mar chuid de. Mar a luadh roimhe seo, bhí mo Roinn ag feidhmiú i gcónaí de réir comhairle dlí a bhí faighte ar an ábhar roimhe seo, ach mar bheart taca sa bhreis agus chun aon amhras a sheachaint sa tréimhse idir aisghairm na scéimeanna teanga agus teacht i bhfeidhm na gcaighdeán teanga, tá leasú molta ábhartha ar an Acht sin áirithe sa Bhille um Údarás na Gaeltachta (Leasú), 2024. Ó tharla nach bhfuil an Bille sin achtaithe go fóill, scríobh an Roinn chuig gach comhlacht poiblí i mí na Nollag 2024 le meabhrú dóibh nár chóir aon laghdú a theacht ar leibhéil na seirbhísí Gaeilge atá á soláthar acu le linn na hidirthréimhse seo.

Leagann an tAcht leasaithe amach nach féidir le caighdeáin teanga leibhéal níos lú seirbhíse trí Ghaeilge a fhorordú ná mar a bhí geallta roimhe seo faoi scéim teanga nó eile. Chuige sin, tá athbhreithniú cuimsitheach déanta ar na scéimeanna teanga reatha go léir mar chuid den obair dhréachtaithe ar na caighdeáin teanga, atá ag teacht chun críche anois. Áirítear roinnt gníomhartha bainteach le nithe a fhorordú trí na caighdeáin teanga sa phlean gníomhaíochta um sheirbhísí poiblí Gaeilge a sheol mé le déanaí, chomh maith leis na bearta atá le tacú le comhlachtaí poiblí agus iad á gcur i bhfeidhm. Agus an plean sin foilsithe anois, tá sé i gceist tús a chur leis an gcomhairliúchán ar na dréacht-chaighdeáin go luath trí na meicníochtaí aitheanta faoin Acht.

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire. Is léir ón bhfreagra go raibh comhairle dlí i gceist agus gur aithin an Roinn go raibh fadhb bhunúsach ann. Gealladh dúinn nuair a bhí muid ag déanamh plé ar Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla go mbeadh na caighdeáin ann sar i bhfad. Ó thaobh an dlí de, ba chóir go mbeadh siad ann roimh dheireadh 2024. Tá na scéimeanna teanga as ord. Ní ann dóibh. Tá sé seafóideach agus áiféiseach a bheith ag brath orthu. Táthar ag brath ar dhea-thoil nó treoir ón Aire do na comhlachtaí poiblí gur chóir dóibh rud éigin a dhéanamh nach bhfuil go hiomlán dleathach má théitear de réir an méid atá ráite ag breitheamh na hArd-Chúirte. An príomhcheist ná cén uair a mbeidh feidhm dhlíthiúil ag na caighdeáin. Tá an tAire díreach tar éis a rá go dtosóidh comhairliúchán. Ní hamháin nach bhfuil siad foilsithe, in ainneoin gur gealladh dúinn go mbeadh siad foilsithe laistigh de thrí mhí, ach tá an tAire anois ag caint faoi chomhairliúchán. Mar sin, ní bheidh siad i bhfeidhm, de réir cosúlachtaí, roimh dheireadh na bliana seo.

Tá an-obair idir lámha ag mo Roinn ó achtaíodh an tAcht ar dhréachtú na gcaighdeáin teanga. Sa mhéid seo, táimid ag tabhairt aird ar chúrsaí níos luaithe go sonrach san Acht atá le háireamh, nithe atá le foghlaim ó thaithí na Breataine Bige, áit ina bhfuil córas ag feidhmiú go héifeachtach anois agus ar thóg sé roinnt ama an chéad dréacht a aontú. Tá an plean gníomhaíochta foilsithe anois. Tá sé i gceist tús a chur leis an gcomhairliúchán ar an dréacht ach tá an t-uafás oibre tar éis dul isteach sa dréacht sin agus beidh a lán sonraí ann. Bhí cruinniú leis na hoifigigh sa Roinn atá ag déileáil leis na dréachtaí an tseachtain seo caite. Tá muinín agam go bhfuilimid réidh le dul ar aghaidh go dtí an comhairliúchán sin chomh luath agus is féidir. Beidh mé ag cur brú go mbeidh sé déanta go tapa. Cé go bhfuil an dréacht agus na caighdeáin chomh tábhachtach, tá sé tábhachtach freisin go mbeidh am ag daoine iad a phlé. Tuigim an gá atá ann dóibh. Is rud an-tábhachtach dom é go mbeidh siad foilsithe. Tá sé tábhachtach freisin go mbeidh muid in ann caint le daoine fúthu agus aon bhuairt a bhíonn ar dhaoine faoin ndréacht a thuiscint.

San idirlinn, an bhfuil sé i gceist leanúint leis an leasú a bhí an tAire ag cur chun cinn maidir leis an mBille a bhaineann le toghcháin Údarás na Gaeltachta? Is féidir é sin a chur chun cinn mar Bhille ann féin agus an reachtaíocht maidir leis na toghcháin a chur ar athló, mar atá déanta ar aon chaoi, mar tá éigeandáil ann anois nach bhfuil aon fheidhm dhlíthiúil ag na scéimeanna. D'fhéadfaí rún nó Bille éigeandála a thógáil os comhair na Dála. Is é sin an rud a tharlaíonn de ghnáth nuair a deir an Ard-Chúirt nó aon áit eile nach bhfuil feidhm dhlíthiúil le reachtaíocht. Is é sin atá an breitheamh tar éis a rá. Mar a dúirt sé:

Go deimhin féin, seafóid agus rud nach bhféadfaí a rá is ea an argóint ar fad go bhfuil an scéim fós ag faoileáil os cionn talún agus ag feidhmiú cé gur baineadh uaithi na cosa taca dlí a bhí mar bhonn léi.

[...]

Chomh seafóideach céanna atá an tuairim seo gur féidir leis an scéim feidhm dlí a thabhairt di féin trí leas a bhaint as a foclaíocht féin d’ainneoin cinneadh an Oireachtais an reachtaíocht údaraithe a aisghairm.

An fhadhb bhunúsach, mar sin, ná nach bhfuil aon stádas ag na scéimeanna a thuilleadh gan reachtaíocht éigeandála.

Táimid beagnach réidh lena lán leasaithe a thabhairt chun tosaigh le haghaidh Bhille an údaráis. Tá leasú air seo mar cheann de na leasaithe sin. Tá mé ag plé an Bhille leis an bPríomh-Aoire chun é a thabhairt chun deiridh agus os comhair na Dála chomh luath agus is féidir. Beidh leasú ann faoin ndúshlán seo. Tá sé tábhachtach freisin go leanfaimid ar aghaidh leis an obair ar na caighdeáin agus go bhfuil muid in ann na dréacht-chaighdeáin a phlé. Táimid dírithe ar an obair sin - ní hamháin na leasaithe - freisin. Beidh na leasaithe ag teacht os comhair na Dála agus an tSeanaid chomh luath agus is féidir nuair atá deis agam iad a phlé leis an bPríomh-Aoire.

The housing crisis in the Gaeltacht is having a specific damaging effect on these communities and our language. Tá an ghéarchéim tithíochta na ceantair Ghaeltachta ag cur todhchaí na Gaeilge mar theanga bheo i mbaol. It is putting our language in danger. Young people are being forced to leave. Will the Minister set out how he is using his powers as the Minister responsible for the Gaeltacht under section 9 to help Údarás na Gaeltachta to deliver homes and ensure the future of our language and our Gaeltachtaí?

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta Hearne as an gceist. It should be noted that housing issues pertain to the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. The primary objective of Údarás na Gaeltachta is to ensure the Irish language endures as the main community language in Gaeltacht areas and is preserved for future generations. To that end, an t-údarás provides funding for a wide range of enterprise and employment development initiatives. The organisation also supports strategic actions relating to linguistic, cultural and community development. It is worth noting that Údarás na Gaeltachta will have a role, albeit a secondary one, in working with relevant stakeholders to support housing supply in the Gaeltacht. An t-údarás maintains a significant property portfolio across the Gaeltacht and wastewater infrastructure at various sites is part of that. As laid out in the Government housing plan, there are opportunities for an t-údarás to co-operate with relevant authorities to avail of that existing infrastructure through a strategic, plan-based approach, in order to fulfil the housing needs in Gaeltacht communities.

I have had meetings with the príomhfheidhmeannach of Údarás na Gaeltachta and it is my understanding that the organisation is having discussions with local authorities. I have also asked it to engage with Uisce Éireann to avail of current infrastructure and identify where that very necessary infrastructure is missing. I will continue to have further engagement with an t-údarás in this regard.

Although there is a challenge in terms of the scarcity of living accommodation in Gaeltacht areas, they also have one of the highest vacancy rates in the country. To that end, a dedicated vacant Gaeltacht homes co-ordinator was recently appointed in partnership with local authorities with Gaeltachtaí in their area, funded by an t-údarás, to aid communities in addressing issues of vacancy, facilitate access to various State grants and provide us with information on vacancy.

Since my Department's schemes under the Housing (Gaeltacht) Acts were changed some years ago, the Government has established a number of new schemes under which far more generous grants are available than those available under the previous schemes. On that basis, the return of the grant schemes that were available under the Housing (Gaeltacht) Acts is not currently under consideration.

I thank the Minister for his response. I welcome the engagement on housing. While housing comes under a different Department, we cannot separate the future of the Irish language from the housing crisis in Gaeltacht areas. As the Minister knows, there is a particular emergency there. This morning, there were ten properties to rent in Connemara on daft.ie , while Airbnb had 573. Young people are being forced out of Gaeltacht communities. It was reported by the One Million Homes project this morning that 12,000 homes are needed in Gaeltacht areas. We have had presentations by the GAA about how it cannot field teams. Housing is the core issue for Gaeltacht communities. I have met with BÁNÚ and Conradh na Gaeilge, as has the Minister. More needs to be done. Údarás na Gaeltachta could be playing a much bigger role in ensuring housing is available for young people, thereby ensuring the future of our language.

I do not disagree with the Deputy's analysis in terms of rental properties and vacancies. We must work on this in a strategic way. I have met with the príomhfheidhmeannaigh of the local authorities in Gaeltacht areas on two occasions and will meet them again before the end of this month to discuss how we can work together. The appointment by an t-údarás of a vacant homes officer with a specific focus on Gaeltacht area is an important development. Following my meeting with the príomhfheidhmeannach of an t-údarás, we are beginning to identify where the sites are and whether an t-údarás has plans for those sites. In particular, I want to gain an understanding of the deficiencies in those sites in terms of infrastructure, especially wastewater infrastructure. That will allow us to start working with an t-údarás and Irish Water on a collaborative basis to address those deficiencies and then work with an t-údarás to develop the sites for housing purposes. I have also had meetings with the Minister, Deputy Browne, to ensure we get early publication of a housing statement for Gaeltacht areas focusing specifically on the challenges we all agree are there. We are very focused on that and I would love to get a quick result. We now have a pathway to some progress in this area.

I appreciate the Minister's focus on this issue. It is wonderful to see. I am one of the people coming back to the language agus ag foghlaim an teanga arís. Within that, people need to understand that while there is this great revival, the places where the language is alive, where we think of it as having its origins and being capable of being sustained, are, in fact, in serious danger. I have spoken to young people who are being forced to leave those areas. This is a particular emergency in Gaeltachtaí. I urge the Minister to do all he can to fast-track support and funding for an t-údarás and the local authorities in order that the young people who are cainteoirí na Gaeilge can stay in their communities and, from there, we can regrow the language of our country. The Gaeltachtaí are the heart and core of the solution. It is the contention of Conradh na Gaeilge and BÁNÚ that the future of the language is in danger if the specific housing crisis in Gaeltacht areas is not addressed. The market will not solve those housing issues because it is not profitable for the private sector. The State must lead on this and support these communities.

We are working with an t-údarás and, in particular, with the local authorities in the Gaeltacht areas, which are the planning authorities, to identify every possible opportunity and solution. The information will come through from the Gaeltacht vacant homes officer, the work of the local authority chief executives and the work of an údarás at both príomhfheidhmeannach level and board level. I want to ensure we bring all that work together, working with the Minister, Deputy Browne, to deliver on this major challenge. We want people not just speaking the language but using and celebrating it and getting involved in community organisations. The next question, from Deputy Conor D. McGuinness, concerning support for early childhood care centres, is central to that. The infrastructure is being put in place and we will make announcements in that regard in the coming days. However, unless there are people living in Gaeltacht areas, putting down roots and taking part in the community, that infrastructure will be for naught. I assure the House that this issue is a priority. It is not all in my control. I am working with the Minister, Deputy Browne, and with an t-údarás. We will work with the local authorities. Collectively, we can arrive at a solution.

Tá sé iontach níos mó daoine a chloisteáil ag caint mar gheall ar ghéarchéim thithíochta na Gaeltachta. Is maith an rud é sin. Baineann an cheist atá agam le naíonraí. Tá an-chuid daoine ag éileamh anois ar shaol trí Ghaeilge, mar shampla ar oideachas trí Ghaeilge dá bpáistí, laistigh den Ghaeltacht ach lasmuigh den Ghaeltacht chomh maith. An srian atá i gceist anseo ná srian caipitil chun foirgnimh a thógaint agus spás a chruthú do pháistí atá ag freastal ar naíonraí fud fad na tíre.

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta as ucht na ceiste tábhachtaí seo. Tá maoiniú ar fáil faoin gclár tacaíochtaí pobail agus teanga agus faoin gclár scéimeanna tacaíochta Gaeilge de chuid na Roinne chun tacú le tograí caipitil laistigh agus lasmuigh den Ghaeltacht. Is é cuspóir an chúnaimh chaipitil a chuirtear ar fáil faoi na scéimeanna seo an Ghaeilge a neartú mar theanga pobail agus teaghlaigh i gcomhréir le cuspóirí an straitéis 20 bliain don Ghaeilge.

Faoin gclár tacaíochta pobail agus teanga, cuirtear cúnamh caipitil ar fáil do choistí agus eagraíochtaí Gaeltachta chun áiseanna pobail agus teanga a thógáil nó a uasgrádú. Faoi na scéimeanna tacaíochta Gaeilge, cuirtear maoiniú ar fáil do choistí pobalbhunaithe a fheidhmíonn trí Ghaeilge lasmuigh den Ghaeltacht chun cabhrú leis na costais a bhaineann le hionaid Ghaeilge a thógáil nó a athchóiriú. Áirítear naíonraí agus seirbhísí luathblianta mar ábhar iarratais inghlactha faoi na scéimeanna seo. Cuirtear tacaíochtaí sa bhreis ar fáil do thograí luathblianta sa mhéid is gur féidir maoiniú suas le 95% de chostais inghlactha a fháil do sheirbhísí luathblianta pobalbhunaithe atá ag feidhmiú trí mheán na Gaeilge. Is féidir costais chaipitil chomh maith le costais ghairmiúla a bhaineann le comhairleoirí a fhostú a áireamh sna deontais seo.

Moltar dóibh siúd atá ag smaoineamh ar iarratas a dhéanamh teagmháil a dhéanamh leis an rannóg cuí i mo Roinn chun maoiniú féideartha a phlé sula gcuirtear aon iarratas foirmiúil isteach. Is féidir teacht ar bhileog eolais don dá scéim agus ar shonraí maidir leis an bpróiseas iarratais ar shuíomh Idirlíne mo Roinne. Má tá an Teachta ag iarraidh an t-eolas sin, seolfaidh mé chuige go díreach é. Maidir leis an Roinn leanaí, tá an clár Building Blocks ann ó thaobh cúrsaí chaipitil freisin.

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as an bhfreagra sin. Mar is eol dó, tá tábhacht ar leith ag baint leis an tumoideachas agus an deis do dhaoine óga freastal ar oideachas d'ardchaighdeán trí mheán na Gaeilge ó aois an-óg, ó dhá bhliain agus naoi mí nó trí bliana suas go dtí an coláiste nó ollscoil, más maith leo. Is rud an-tábhachtach é sin agus tosaíonn sé i gcónaí leis an naíonra. Is dócha go bhfuil naíonraí mar bhunchloch an oideachais sin. Nuair a théann páistí isteach sa naíonra, b'fhéidir go gcloiseann siad an Ghaeilge ó pháistí eile don chéad uair agus foghlaimíonn siad scileanna sóisialta agus píosa neamhspleáchais. Tá sé an-tábhachtach go dtarlaíonn sé sin trí mheán na Gaeilge. Mar sin, tá sé tábhachtach go bhfuil naíonraí ar fáil. Táim ag smaoineamh ar dhá bhaile i mo thoghcheantar féin: Trá Mhór in oirthear Phort Láirge agus Dún Garbhán in iarthar Phort Láirge.

I dTrá Mhór, tá Naíonra Philib Barún taobh le scoil náisiúnta Gaeilge. Níl spás ceart acu. Tá siad istigh in dhá prefab. Tá suíomh ceannaithe ag an naíonra agus táthar ag iarraidh áit a thógáil. Táim ag smaoineamh ar Naíonra Gharbháin chomh maith, atá sa riocht céanna. Tá an-éileamh ag teacht ar an naíonra áirithe sin.

Aontaím go mór leis an Teachta. Tá sé tábhachtach. Nuair a thosaíonn an turas Gaeilge ag aois óg cosúil leis sin, bíonn turas iontach ag an bpáiste on réamhscoil go dtí an bhunscoil, an mheánscoil agus an coláiste. Is iontach an rud é sin. Mar a dúirt mé, tá an t-airgead agus na scéimeanna ann. B'fhéidir go mbeidh plé againn maidir leis an dá scoil sin. Beimid in ann tacaíocht a thabhairt dóibh, go háirithe agus iad díreach in aice leis an mbunscoil. Is é an rud is fearr do thuismitheoirí go mbeadh an naíonra agus an bunscoil san áit céanna agus an Ghaeilge in úsáid sa dá háit. Táim sásta an dá scoil sin a phlé leis an Teachta agus obair a dhéanamh ionas go mbeimid in ann dul ar aghaidh. B'fhéidir go mbeimid in ann obair a dhéanamh leis an Aire, an Teachta Foley, freisin, faoin scéim Building Blocks. B'fhéidir go mbeidh meascán airgid agus infheistíochta ann. Aontaím go mór leis an Teachta faoin turas Gaeilge. Má thosaíonn sé ag aois óg, mairfidh sé don saol.

Bheadh sé iontach dul chun cinn a dhéanamh maidir le Naíonra Philib Barún agus Naíonra Gharbháin. Ba bhreá liom cruinniú a dhéanamh leo, leis an Aire agus lena oifigigh chun é sin a phlé. Más féidir linn, ba mhaith an rud é obair a dhéanamh leis an Aire, an Teachta Foley, chomh maith chun an maoiniú caipitil sin a chur ar fáil dóibh. Tá na suímh acu, ach is éard atá ag teastáil uathu anois ná píosa airgid chun dul ar aghaidh agus foirgnimh a thógáil ar na suímh sin ionas go mbeidh spás mar ba cheart ag na páistí atá fós ag feitheamh ar spásanna sna naíonraí sin.

Beidh mé lánsásta na tograí tábhachtacha sin sna naíonraí a phlé faoi na scéimeanna tacaíochta Gaeilge. Má chuireann an Teachta ríomhphost chugam, beimid in ann é sin a dhéanamh. Tá sé thar a bheith tábhachtach go bhfuil an infheistíocht seo ag dul go dtí na naíonraí. Tá infheistíocht bhreise le dul isteach i mbliana go dtí na naíonraí agus go dtí an obair atá á dhéanamh ag tuismitheoirí na Gaeilge. Mar gheall go bhfuil an t-airgead is mó sa Roinn againn le blianta, beimid in ann infheistíocht a dhéanamh sna naíonraí, sna scoileanna agus i gcúrsaí óige freisin. Beidh mé ag déanamh togra mór amárach faoi ionad óige mór faoi phlean caipitil na Roinne. Mar a dúirt mé leis an Teachta Hearne, tá an infheistíocht seo thar a bheith tábhachtach chun rud bunúsach a chur ar fáil do mhuintir na Gaeltachta ionas go bhfuil an deis acu ní hamháin tithe a fháil ach scoileanna, oideachas, cúrsaí cultúir agus ealaíon a fháil sa Ghaeltacht agus ceiliúradh a dhéanamh air sin sa Ghaeltacht agus lasmuigh den Ghaeltacht.

The Minister and the Minister of State will be very familiar with the findings of the report of the GAA's national demographic committee. As we all know, the GAA, along with the Ladies Gaelic Football Association and the Camogie Association, comprise over 2,300 clubs and they have 760,000 members. We are not just talking about sporting organisations. We all know that these clubs are a key and integral part of every community. In so many instances, they shape local community life. It is essential that the Government and the Oireachtas listen to and act on the concerns outlined in that report. Recently, the GAA made an excellent presentation to the Oireachtas housing committee. I hope the Minister and Minister of State encourage all the officials in their Department and in the agencies that come under its remit to study the transcript of that particular committee meeting. There were fabulous contributions by both members and the witnesses.

I thank the Deputy for his question. I am aware of the recent report of the GAA national demographics committee, and the presentation it made. The Deputy drew my attention to it some weeks back. The Minister of State and I engaged directly with the GAA on this issue. We met the national demographics committee last September in relation to its work and the report.

We acknowledge the challenges for the GAA, but also for the communities that they serve that the report outlines, and the importance of their clubs as focal points for communities all across the country. We are aware the GAA is committed to working within rural and rural communities and at national level. I thank not just the national demographics committee, but in particular the county demographics officers around the country.

Our Rural Future adopts a whole-of-government approach, which will contain a wide range of measures aimed at ensuring that all rural areas are attractive for people to live, learn, work and raise families. Actions delivered under the current policy have delivered improvements in broadband provision, increased rural transport services, support for rural enterprise and ongoing support for the agrifood sector. My own Department has seen significant funding increases in recent years across a range of capital investment schemes such as the rural regeneration and development fund, the town and village renewal scheme and the outdoor recreation infrastructure scheme. This investment is delivering real impacts in rural communities all across the country.

As the Deputy will be aware, we are currently revising Our Rural Future, and the process of developing this is well advanced. My Department undertook an extensive range of consultation to help shape the new policy. Many of the issues relating to attracting and retaining young people and their families in rural areas featured strong. The GAA has engaged proactively in the most recent call for written submissions. All such submissions received will feed into the development of the new policy. We will continue to engage with our Departments and other key stakeholders, including the GAA, ahead of the publication of the next iteration of Our Rural Future, which will address many of the challenges outlined by the GAA demographics committee.

I welcome the Minister's response. I fully appreciate the understanding that the Minister and the Minister of State have of the concerns outlined by the GAA. In my own county of Cavan, we have had a welcome increase in population, but there is a population imbalance and demographic imbalance. The east of County Cavan is in the commuter belt of Dublin. The clubs there face pressures because of increasing numbers of participation, which is great. The belt from Castlerahan, Ballyjamesduff, Virginia, Mullagh to Bailieborough and Kingscourt has experienced huge population growth. The Minister is familiar with the geography of west Cavan. Blacklion's Shannon Gaels, Swanlinbar's club or Corlough all face particular challenges due to population decline, particularly within a certain age profile. My own club of Templeport St. Aidan's, and our neighbouring club, Corlough, have an arrangement where the players from Corlough have a deviation that they can play in competitive competitions with my own club of Templeport. They still retain their own identity, which is a very good thing. When the Minister has the opportunity to visit those clubs, he will see the excellent facilities they have. We need to put on the record that we value the work of those volunteers in ensuring sports are available for all age groups in every community.

All of us will agree that without volunteers we would not have any society, particularly the GAA, but any organisation. I always take the opportunity to ask those who give out about volunteers what they would do on a Saturday if they had no GAA, no drama, no rugby, soccer, swimming or anything to go to and if their kids did not have those outlets. They are run by volunteers. The Minister of State and I are focused on the challenge outlined by the demographics committee that we met in terms of the disparities within counties. I also raise the pressures within urban communities in our cities to get playing facilities within the city of Dublin, where the population is there but the facilities are not keeping up. In terms of Our Rural Future, we will seek to try to address that. Some of our discussion earlier was on housing. The Deputy and I have had discussions on the rural housing guidelines, the updating of which is necessary to encourage young families back into rural communities. I noted his comment about the pressure on clubs on the Meath border in Cavan. It did not seem to affect Meath at the weekend, but we will look at that.

I thank the Minister. As the Cathaoirleach Gníomhach knows, thankfully, in practically every parish in Cavan-Monaghan, we have excellent community facilities. I know that many communities in Dublin and the highly populated areas would love to have those facilities. As the Minister knows well, we have the social infrastructure in rural communities. We have community centres, schools, GAA and other sporting organisations. What we need is population. Perhaps the Minister and the Minister of State could try to continue the influence on other Departments on the need for investment in rural Ireland.

We need more jobs and, as the Minister said, more young families. We have to improve in some way the availability of housing for young couples. Planning is essential, as are changes to the rural planning guidelines. Only last night, I engaged with the Minister for housing, Deputy James Browne, who fully understands the difficulties. Where we have the infrastructure, the community facilities, education, health and other social facilities, we need people. The Government must try to ensure, through every means available to it, that more and more young people are in a position to live in rural communities.

I assure the Deputy that the Department, including the Minister of State and I, and our officials, are currently engaging with our colleagues across government on what their responsibilities are in relation to the next stage of Our Rural Future. Rural affairs are not just for the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht. It is an all-of-government approach, which is very much what Our Rural Future is about.

I reiterate my thanks to the GAA. Its demographics committee and demographics officers are an example. After the Minister of State and I met with the GAA, we certainly engaged with other sporting organisations with a challenge to them to give us similar reports and data. Many of them responded to that challenge. It is my intention that we will publish the next iteration of Our Rural Future ahead of the summer. We are in the final stages of negotiation; there is a question later on the level of engagement with that process, which has been significant. The challenges identified by Deputy Smith, and known to the Cathaoirleach Gníomhach, are real, not just in Cavan and Monaghan, but right across rural counties. We will seek to address those.