Tá tugtha le fios ag Údarás na Gaeltachta go bhfuil leasaithe déanta ag an eagraíocht ar na córais agus an cur chuige riaracháin a bhí in úsáid roimhe seo chun measúnú agus monatóireacht a dhéanamh ar na pleananna teanga atá aontaithe agus á bhfeidhmiú ag a chuid cliantchuideachtai. Tuigtear dom go bhfuil an córas sin i bhfeidhm ó bhí tús 2022 ann agus go bhfuiltear ag leanúint an chórais, dá réir. Tá ráite ag an údarás go mbaineann an tríú gné den obair seo le taighde a choimisiúnaigh an eagraíocht atá dírithe ar …

Mar a dúirt mé, tá sé curtha in iúl ag an údarás go bhfuil fócas na heagraíochta anois ag díriú ar na bealaí gur féidir leis tionchar a imirt ar iompar agus ar chleachtas teanga leis na 8,000 fostaí atá ag obair ina chliantchuideachtaí ar fud na Gaeltachta. Agus an próiseas pleanála teanga faoi lán seoil sa Ghaeltacht, tá deis níos mó ná riamh ag an údarás agus ag na pobail áitiúla labhairt leis na comhlachtaí, leis an mbainistíocht agus leis na fostaithe araon faoin dtionchar mór a d'fhéadfaidís a imirt sa limisté…

Sa chur chuige leasaithe atá curtha i bhfeidhm ag an údarás ó thús 2022, aontaítear pleananna teanga ar bhunús tréimhse trí bliana leis an gcliant. Aontaítear plean teanga bunaithe ar líon aontaithe spriocanna gníomhaíochtaí a bheith bainte amach gach bliain le linn na tréimhse sin agus déantar measúnú agus monatóireacht ar dhul chun cinn na spriocanna go bliantúil. Faoi dheireadh mhí Aibreáin, bhí pleananna teanga nua agus athbhreithniú aontaithe le 29 gcliant ó thús na bliana. Má tá torthaí eile á iarraidh ag an …

The Deputy has asked about the extension of the reduced 9% VAT rate for the hospitality sector. While elements of the hospitality sector are also important parts of the wider tourism ecosystem, as the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, I do not have responsibility for the general hospitality sector. However, the Minister for Enterprise Trade and Employment, Deputy Coveney, and I co-chair the hospitality and tourism forum as I said earlier, which brings together on a regular basis these…

The 9% VAT rate was introduced in recognition of the fact that the tourism and hospitality sectors were among the most impacted by the public health restrictions put in place throughout the pandemic. As I said, it is extended now until September 2023. The Government has strongly supported the tourism and hospitality sectors over the past few years and in the current economic challenges, through a range of fiscal supports that I outlined, including the decision to extend the lower 9% VAT rate until 1 September. I wi…

As I said, I continue to engage with my Government colleagues on what further supports may be required. In the budget I did secure additional funding of €15 million for overseas marketing, after 2022's once-off pump-prime investment of €35 million. I also secured additional funding of €50 million to support a range of measures including domestic marketing. Fáilte Ireland is doing incredible work on the ground with recruitment and retention and in creating local area action plans in consultation to help with the dev…

A key objective of the overall European Capital of Culture is the development of a legacy framework to sustain and build on the capacity, networks and opportunities arising from the Galway 2020 cultural programme. To develop the legacy framework, an extensive consultation process was undertaken by Galway 2020, which included stakeholders such as local artists, cultural organisations, community organisations and local State and business entities. The independent evaluation of Galway 2020 European Capital of Culture …

The legacy aims to bring together key agencies and stakeholders in Galway to devise and derive a creative vision for Galway. The legacy programme has been designed based on extensive consultation with the sector and the lessons from the evaluation carried out in Galway 2020. I believe there has been no delay in the finalisation of the legacy framework. Galway 2020 engaged in extensive consultation with stakeholders as part of legacy development. It also reviewed and took into account key findings and recommendation…

Yes.

An example of facilitating international and EU relationships and funding would be a network or ecosystem that has been established to increase the number of applications for EU funding being progressed from Galway. That will bring more funding into the city. It will allow learnings and advice, training opportunities and policy updates to be shared to help the success of Galway-based applications, and will build contacts, networks and partnerships. It is about increasing the international links formed through the E…

As Minister for culture and the arts, I have no specific role in relation to the proposal that there should be an Oireachtas poet laureate. I recognise the remit of the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission in this regard. I am aware that other parliaments, as the Deputy has said, have made such appointments. I am aware also of the very positive contribution that access to and participation in the arts can bring in different contexts, including in the workplace, in terms of individual and collective well-being and br…

As I outlined in my earlier answer, we provide support in a range of ways; for example, through the Arts Council, which has seen an increase in funding since I became Minister, through what we do in Culture Ireland and Creative Ireland, and through the support we provide to poets under the basic income for the arts scheme. I can forward to the Deputy exact details of the range of funding that comes from my Department, which is pretty vast. We have such a proud, strong tradition of poetry. We are known right across …

Fáiltím roimh an deis labhairt leis an Seanad inniu faoi chúrsaí turasóireachta. Tá ról tábhachtach ag earnáil na turasóireachta i bhforbairt chothrom eacnamaíoch réigiúnach ar fud na hÉireann. Seachas a luach eacnamaíoch, tá ról tábhachtach ag an turasóireacht freisin i dtaobh íomhá na hÉireann a chur chun cinn thar lear, rud a thugann tuiscint dhearfach ar mhuintir na hÉireann, ar an tírdhreach agus ar an gcultúr dár gcuairteoirí. Díríonn mo Roinn féin, Fáilte Éireann agus Turasóireacht Éireann ar fhorbairt inbhu…

The supplement the Deputy read during the week, Fighting Words, is supported by my Department through Creative Ireland. It is a wonderful initiative that I am proud to support. As I said, I will send the Deputy on more details on that and on the idea itself. It is a terrific idea, but it is for the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission to consider. I would be confident that it will give it the appropriate consideration of which it is worthy. Well done to the Deputy for suggesting it.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 9, 26 and 41 together. The arrival of refugees from the war in Ukraine, combined with the high number of international protection applicants, has resulted in the largest humanitarian effort in the State's history. The national response to this challenge is underpinned by an all-of-government approach. As I said earlier, in February last year, we were accommodating 8,300 people. We are now accommodating 83,520 people, which is equivalent to the population of Galway city. As the Deput…

Budget 2023 provided a €2 million increase in funding for domestic marketing to promote Ireland's tourism offering to Irish holidaymakers. As Deputy Munster will be aware, the domestic market is a critical part of the tourism economy. While, of course, I am examining mitigation measures, I am also looking to see how the domestic tourism market could help to sustain these tourism businesses. A marketing campaign will be a part of the measures we put in place. Additional domestic marketing funding secured for this ye…

No proposals have come from me. I have the concerns and believe there is real potential that mitigation measures will be needed. That needs to be backed by hard data, which is why I have asked Fáilte Ireland to conduct research. I have said business continuity supports, similar to those rolled out by Fáilte Ireland during the pandemic, may be required but we need to look at all possibilities. The Deputy mentioned a special recognition payment. We have to consider all innovative measures to provide support. On Deput…

I thank the Senators for their comments. I am aware that the impacts of using tourism accommodation to meet humanitarian needs are being felt far beyond the provision of accommodation. Accommodation will do well this summer. A number of downstream tourism businesses are experiencing reduced footfall due to a lack of tourists in their areas. My officials are engaging with a range of Departments, with input from colleagues in Fáilte Ireland. We are not working in silos. Fáilte Ireland work with me and I asked for all…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta. Tá roinnt beartas ceadaithe faoi scéim na bhfoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge le bliain anuas chun tacaíocht a chur ar fáil do theaghlaigh a chuireann lóistín ar fáil do lucht freastail na gcoláistí Gaeilge agus do theaghlaigh nua atá ag teacht isteach sa chóras. Cuireadh ardú ar an deontas laethúil ó €10 go €12. Is ardú de 20% ar an deontas é sin. Anuas air sin, ceadaíodh ardú ó €2,000 go €6,000 ar an deontas tosaithe atá ar fáil do theaghlaigh a chláraíonn faoin scéim don chéad uair agus do …

Idir na beartais seo a luaigh mé cheana, meastar go mbeidh suas le 400 leaba breise ar fáil sa chóras i mbliana le hais 2022. Níl aon bheartas breise ar na bacáin faoi láthair ach mar a dúirt mé, bíonn an Roinn i gcónaí ag faire amach chun aon deis a aimsiú chun tuilleadh a dhéanamh do na coláistí samhraidh. Tá iarratais faighte ó 32 teaghlach Gaeltachta go dáta i mbliana. Ar ndóigh, leis an ardú ar uaslíon na scoláirí gur féidir le teaghlaigh cáilithe a choinneáil ar íostas ó 12 go dtí 16, meastar go mbeidh 400 le…