I would point out that, as the Deputy is aware, there is substantial current investment by my Department in Ballyhaunis through RRDF projects, the regeneration of a number of properties and the town centre management. I am very aware of the issues raised by the Deputy and I do not want any diminution of services in any part of the county. There is substantial investment under way in the fabric to increase the attractiveness of the town centre and to improve it as a place to do business. I will continue to support t…

It is great to see such cross-party co-operation across the two constituencies. Launched in 2022, the town centre first policy, TCF, is a major cross-government policy that aims to tackle vacancy, combat dereliction and breathe new life into our town centres. TCF supports the Our Rural Future vision for a thriving rural Ireland by setting out the scaffolding and framework to facilitate and resource the regeneration of Irish towns to ensure they are vibrant and viable places to live, work, invest in and visit. Impor…

I thank both Deputies. As they acknowledged, there is a town centre first officer in Kildare. The town centre first town plan under phase 1, which was announced in December 2021 for Kildare, includes Clane, and phase 2 includes Castledermot. Through the town centre first town team support funds, we are funding teams in Monasterevin, Kilcullen and Ballymore Eustace to do their work locally. I will be visiting Athy later in the year and look forward to seeing all the work that is about to be done. I agree with the De…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta. Tá mé chun freagra a thabhairt as Béarla, tá brón orm. My Department makes a significant annual investment in subsidised transport services to ensure our island communities can avail of reliable, affordable year-round ferry and heavy cargo services. In the case of Oileán Thoraí, there are four separate subsidised transport services provided for the island at an annual cost of approximately €750,000. Comharchumann Thoraí now plays a more central role in monitoring services to ensure…

I can assure the Deputy that what we have done is prioritise services into Oileán Thoraí to make sure that they are being delivered, that there is the traditional ferry service and that there is a fast ferry service. They are new services and they are providing a strong service. I have been told there is an issue with Magheraroarty Pier. Donegal County Council was awarded funding to come back with a report on that issue. As I said, I intend to go there to see it for myself but as of now, we are focused on deliverin…

I certainly look forward to the visit but want to be straight with the Deputy that as of now, the intention is to examine those existing services. I will sit down with the Deputy, Deputy Gallagher and the comharchumann to look at it because I want to get a full understanding of it and see for myself how the service works. I will not just go to Magheraroarty; I will go on to the oileán freisin.

I thank Deputy O'Hara for his question on this project. As he will be aware, the RRDF is a major capital investment programme seeking to support large-scale, ambitious projects that can achieve sustainable economic and social development in rural areas. To date, the RRDF has allocated €588 million for 243 projects across the country. A fourth call for category 2 applications was launched in October 2024. Typically, projects deemed successful under category 2 can access funding of up to €1 million per project to cov…

I have heard the Deputy's case and I note the project from his question. We have to ensure these projects are done properly. The documents have only been with us since 14 March and there will be engagement on the viability of the project. The core aspect about this specific measure is that it opens up potential funding again. There will be engagement with Galway County Council, which is the promoter, and ultimately with the town team, around aspects of it. It is a competitive process. However, we also have signific…

I completely hear the Deputy. Many of the projects we have involve older buildings that people are seeking to repurpose. The process is designed to protect those buildings but also to protect the investment and to ensure that the investment we make at this stage will unlock potential future investment. There is no point in us opening up an expectation in respect of investment that we may not be able to reach, particularly for older buildings. I will engage with the Deputy and his office on the project and the timel…

Gabhaim buíochas leis na Teachtaí Dála as na leasuithe seo. Ón uair dheireanach a bhí mé anseo, bhí cruinniú agam le príomhfheidhmeannach Údarás na Gaeltachta agus cathaoirleach Údarás na Gaeltachta faoi chúrsaí tithíochta amháin agus faoi na pleananna a bhí acu agus an plean atá á réiteach acu. Tharla rud agus chaill mé seachtain mar gheall ar rud pearsanta. Mar sin, ní raibh seans agam aon chruinniú eile a bheith agam, ach beidh cruinnithe eile agam. Beidh cruinniú agam leis an Aire tithíochta, an Teachta Browne,…

Táim ag iarraidh go mbeidh.

Ar an gcéad dul síos, tá mórán measa agam ar an triúr Teachta. B'fhéidir nach bhfuil mé ag glacadh leis na leasuithe ach, mar gheall ar an meas sin, ní bheimid ag teacht ar ais le haghaidh an chéad Chéim eile sula mbeidh cruinnithe againn faoi chúrsaí tithíochta leis na grúpaí agus leis an údarás. Mura bhfuil na Teachtaí sásta, beidh seans acu leasuithe a chur síos. Ag croí an Bhille seo, táimid ag dul ar ais go dtí toghcháin a scriosadh 12 bhliain ó shin. Bhí toghcháin ann agus bhí guth agus rogha na ndaoine sa Gh…

Tá leasú amháin i measc an ghrúpa sin in ainm an Teachta Ó Snodaigh.

Tairgim leasú Uimh. 23: Ar leathanach 13, líne 19, “6 chomhalta” a scriosadh agus “7 gcomhalta” a chur ina ionad. Ba mhaith liom a lua ag an bpointe seo go bhfuilim ag breathnú ar cúpla leasú féideartha eile a thabhairt isteach ar Chéim na Tuarascála. Baineann an chéad cheann féideartha le sprioc earcaíochta Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla, is é sin go mbeidh 20% díobh siúd a earcaítear chuig comhlachtaí poiblí inniúil i nGaeilge faoi dheireadh 2030. Féachfar leis an leasú féideartha seo a chinntiú go bhfuiltear siúd …

Ní thuigim which atá i gceist. Tá suim agam é a phlé. Táim ag iarraidh tuiscint a fháil faoi cén treoir as a bhfuil na Teachtaí ag teacht leis an leasú sin. Conas a d'oibreodh sé?

Níl aon uimhir beartaithe agam.

Tá deacrachtaí ann maidir leis seo. Tá 30 oifigeach pleanála teanga ann, agus an bhfuil na Teachtaí ag iarraidh go mbeadh gach duine de na daoine sin ar na coistí réigiúnacha mar gur-----

Cé a phiocfadh na daoine sin? Nílim ag magadh. Táim ag iarraidh é sin a thuiscint. Tá meas mór agam ar na hoifigigh phleanála teanga. Tá siad ag déanamh an-jab agus tá an ceart ag an Teachta Connolly ó thaobh na gcoinníollacha de. Caithfimid obair a dhéanamh ar an méid sin. Beidh mé ag cur béime ar sin le linn mo chuid ama mar Aire. Táim ag iarraidh é a thuiscint. Má tá 30 oifigeach ann, cé a phiocfadh na baill? An bpiocfadh an grúpa féin iad? B'fhéidir go n-oibreoimis air roimh an gcéad Chéim eile chun oibriú amac…

Gabhaim buíochas leis na Teachtaí. Tá sé leagtha amach go mbeadh consulting role ag na grúpaí pleanála teanga sna coistí réigiúnacha ach beimid ag obair leis an mbeirt Teachta chun an ról a phlé. Tosóimid ar an obair sin.

Tairgim leasú Uimh. 25: Ar leathanach 13, idir líne 27 agus líne 28, an méid seo a leanas a chur isteach: "(9) Maidir leis an gcomhalta tofa don cheantar a shonraítear in alt 26D(1) (a), beidh sé nó sí ina chomhalta nó ina comhalta freisin den choiste réigiúnach sa limistéar dá dtagraítear i bhfo-alt (6)(b)."