Tá Bille Údarás na Gaeltachta (Leasú) 2018 molta ag Teachtaí Dála Shinn Féin ag teacht ós comhair na Dála don dara chéim inniu agus é i gceist acu na toghchán a bhí ann do Bhord an Údaráis a thabhairt ar ais.
Dúirt urlabhraí Gaeilge, Gaeltachta, Ealaíon agus Cultúir Shinn Féin, Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD:
“Tá Sinn Féin den tuairim nár chóir riamh fáil réidh leis an sainordú daonlathach a bhí ag Bórd Údarás na Ghaeltachta sular fuair rialtas Fine Gael réidh le Toghcháin an Údaráis i 2012.
"Leis an mBille seo tá sé i gceist againn go mbeidh na toghcháin arís amach anseo. Roimh olltoghchán 2020 gheall Fianna Fáil go dtabharfadh siad ar ais na toghcháin ach le breis is dhá bhliain tá Jack Chambers i gcumhacht mar Aire Stáit na Gaeltachta, agus dúirt sé ar dtús go raibh sé sásta le rudaí mar atá siad, agus na baill go léir roghnaithe ag an Aire.
“Is maith an rud go bhfuil an port athruithe ag an Aire Stáit Chambers ó shin, ach in ainneoin geallúintí agus geallúintí eile, níl aon dul chun cinn tarlaithe ach moilleadóireacht.
"Tá pobal na Gaeltachta braon de na hathbhreithnithe agus an comhairliúchán go léir ar an gceist seo – ba léir gur éagóir a bhí ann ó thús nuair a fuair an rialtas réidh leis na toghcháin, agus tá sé in am dúinn iad a thabhairt ar ais.
“Ba léir sa Cháinaisnéis is déanaí, nuair nach tugadh fiú milliúin amháin sa bhreis don Údarás, an dochar a bhaineann le guth láidir a bheith bainte ón eagras. Bunaíodh an tÚdarás mar thoradh ar Ghluaiseacht Cearta Shibhialta na Gaeltachta chun a chinntiú go mbeadh forbairt na Gaeltachta faoi stiúir pobal na Gaeltachta féin, seachas rogha an Aire.
“Tá sé ráite fiú ag iar-Chathaoirleach Údarás na Gaeltachta, Seán Ó Neachtáin, go bhfuil an neamhaird ag tarlú ó thaobh buiséad an Údaráis de, toisc nach bhfuil na hionadaithe tofa áitiúla ann le bheith glórach agus gníomhach ag lorg airgead dóibh.
"Rinne eagrais eile ar nós Bord an Taibhdhearc nó TG4 achainí láidir agus Buiséad 2023 á cur le chéile, ach cá raibh Bord an Údaráis?
“Laghdaíodh go suntasach buiséad an Údaráis nuair ar cuireadh na toghcháin ar scor, ach ag an am céanna chur an rialtas lena gcuid cúramaí ó thaobh pleanala teanga de. Sin mar a chaitheann rialtais Fhine Gael agus Fhianna Fáil leis an Údarás: Níos lú airgead chun níos mó oibre a dhéanamh.
“Tá deis ag an Aire agus Fianna Fáil a léiriú leis an mBille seo go bhfuil siad dáiríre faoina gcuid geallúintí. Tá súil againn go dtabharfaidh siad éisteacht dár mBille sa Dáil agus go n-oibreoidh siad linn sa Choiste chun struchtúr níos foirfe ná mar a bhí ann roimh 2012.”
Sinn Féin spokesperson on Gaeilge, Gaeltacht, Arts and Culture, Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD, has slammed Minister Catherine Martin’s butchery of the Arts Budget
This comes at a time when performers and arts workers face venue closures as a result of skyrocketing energy costs on top of the cost of living crisis, just as they try getting back on their feet after two years of little to no work due to Covid restrictions.
The Dublin South-Central TD said:
“On Tuesday night, Sinn Féin identified that hidden beneath the glossy announcements about increases and expansions for arts funding in yesterday’s budget, the overall arts budget is in fact being slashed by €19 million.
“We finally had an admission, when Minister Martin was confronted with Sinn Féin’s charge at her press conference yesterday, about who’s going to pay for these cuts: Performers.
“According to the Minister, supports for the live performance sector simply aren’t needed this year.
“This is a disgraceful dismissal of the real plight of performers. The whole reason Live Performance Supports were put in place during the pandemic was because it was acknowledged that traditional funding streams like the Arts Council were not sufficient to keep musicians and others who normally sustain themselves without grant funding, but through income from performance work alone.
“These are the same workers most vulnerable now as they continue to recover following two years with little to no business, at a time when the entire industry is competing for gigs, and venues who can’t afford heating and electricity are closing down, leaving even fewer opportunities for business.
“This is only going to get worse over the winter, just as the cost of living crisis pushes these workers and performers further into precarity.
"What is Minister Martin’s response? To cut the entire €50 million in supports for live performance and redistributing those funds to other parts of the arts, while leaving the entire arts sector €19 million worse off than it was in 2022.
“€10 million of this will top up the basic income scheme funding. While we wish those on the scheme every success, it’s worth remembering that over 6,000 eligible applicants waited months only to be told they would not benefit. The selection process took no account either of merit or financial need, leaving the most vulnerable once again with nothing to protect them.
“Many are understandably disgusted that rather than providing a means-tested support to make sure unsuccessful applicants who are struggling to get by would not be left behind, like the hardship funding for arts workers that Sinn Féin has consistently called for, Minister Martin is in fact gutting those supports that were in place for musicians and performers.
“Those who were strung along for months waiting to hear back from the basic income scheme will also be astonished to learn that Minister Martin knew as far back as October 2021 that it would not be rolled out until 'Middle Year to Autumn 2022', which she yesterday claimed is why fewer was allocated for the scheme this year than next year.
“This is shocking considering performers and artists were told the first payments were set to begin in 'early Spring' at her Budget press conference last year, and 'April' in subsequent answers to parliamentary questions from myself and others, with the delays to later deadlines explained as unforeseen. When did Minister Martin know these dates were unrealistic?
“Either the Minister was lying at the time or is lying now.
“Another question not answered yesterday morning is what happens the remainder of the €25 million announced for the basic income scheme for the arts for 2022 that went unspent due to the delayed roll-out?
"Was this yet another of Minister Martin’s trademark phantom funding announcements, with as much as €17 million of promised arts funding at a time of crisis simply vanishing?
“Yesterday’s press conference leaves more questions than answers. All we learned is that the sector is indeed losing €19 million overall next year, and our performers are set to lose out most as they face into an incredibly difficult winter.
"A Sinn Féin Arts Minister would have increased rather than cut arts funding, and worked to ensure no performer or worker was left behind.”
Sinn Féin spokesperson on Gaeilge, Gaeltacht, Arts and Culture, Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD, has expressed deep concern at the apparent cut of over €19 million in the budget allocation for arts and culture programme funding announced in this year’s budget.
The Dublin South Central TD said:
“The figures are deeply worrying. The figure for arts and culture funding has dropped from €371 million in 2022 to €352 million next year.
"This comes despite claims that the budget will 'enhance' and 'expand' supports within the sector, which begs the question: who will lose out to make up for these cuts?
“Sadly, no clarity or detail was provided in either the Budget speeches or documents published yesterday, or in the glossy press releases and videos released by the Department for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media today.
“At a time when artists and arts workers face venue closures and the cost of living crisis, many of them after getting the bad news that their basic income application was unsuccessful, it would be totally unjustifiable to cut the funding upon which they rely by €19 million.
“It suggests a government totally hostile to the arts at this time of crisis.
“In contrast, Sinn Féin’s alternative budget outlined how we would not only have maintained the baseline arts funding from 2022, but increased funding for arts and culture by an additional €17.26 million for a total of almost €389 million for the arts in 2023.
"Even in hard pressed times, Sinn Féin would not leave the arts behind.
“This funding would have allowed for vital increases for funding across the sector as it battles the cost of living crisis.
This would include additional money for the Arts Council, Culture Ireland, our National Cultural Institutions and Screen Ireland, as well as investing in the creation of a dedicated Culture Quarter for Dublin at Moore Street, protecting the historic 1916 Battle-site for future generations while securing space for culture and the arts, just as developers are closing down and destroying such spaces across our capital.
“Sadly, this government has set out no such plan to preserve our built heritage and ensure an increase in cultural spending at this time of crisis.
"The attempt to fudge the figures by announcing increases while in reality cutting funding for the sector by €19 million is an insult to arts workers.
“Minister Catherine Martin has a lot of explaining to do, and we hope she will bring clarity at her press conference in the morning.”
Sinn Féin spokesperson on Gaeilge, Gaeltacht, Arts and Culture, Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD, today called for a full explanation from Minister Catherine Martin as to why the long-awaited basic income for the arts has been delayed for the third time since applications closed.
Teachta Ó Snodaigh said:
“Minister Martin has spent over a year promising artists whose livelihoods were destroyed by pandemic restrictions that a basic income was on the way.
"The Minister provided hope to many when she committed €25 million to it in the Budget last year on the basis that applications would open in early Q1 2022, with the first payments promised for April.
“Instead, applications did not open until April, and now we know it will be after Budget 2023 before any funding actually reaches artists’ pockets.
"Applicants were then emailed in May to say that the high level of applicants – 9,000 – meant they applicants would have to wait until June to find out if they were successful. Then they were emailed in June to say the same high level of applicants meant they had to delay until July.
"Now as July draws to a close, they received a third email, with the same excuse about the high level of applicants being used to justify delaying selection until September.
“Given that there has been no change in the number of applicants since May, why the repeated delays? This comes after the opening of applications was delayed, as a result of the consultation with stakeholders being delayed from last year.
“This effectively means that the €25 million promised for the scheme in Budget 2022 was a phantom figure, and won’t in fact be spent this year.
“To the many artists who have been forced to sell equipment, leave the sector, or even emigrate to make ends meet in the meantime, a €25 million underspend for vital arts supports at a time when the sector is on its knees would be a total betrayal.
“Minister Martin has proven utterly incapable of keeping her word to our artistic community and cultural workers. How many more months can they face being strung along with the promise of getting supports, if they’re lucky enough to be picked at all?
“It was a shameful decision to begin with for the Minister to turn what was originally proposed by the Taskforce as a recovery programme for all artists and arts workers into what is now essentially a lottery system for the lucky few, based on pure chance rather than need, that won’t reach anybody until far too late to aid recovery.
“Minister Martin must explain how her Department ended up blindsided by 9,000 applications to begin with, when the very report where the basic income was first proposed itself identified a potential 55,000 directly employed in the wider arts sector.
"What sort of numbers had been expected and planned for, and what work went into setting deadlines and making sure they were realistic before making promises they could not keep?
“Had she been honest from the start about timelines, Minister Martin could have put in place a robust system of temporary immediate supports at the same time as this pilot was being developed – like Sinn Féin’s proposal for a Hardship Fund to help those struggling most – instead of rejecting them on the basis that this basic income would be up and running within no time.
“Instead of unachievable deadlines and phoney excuses, it’s time for government to give artists some respect. The 9,000 applicants need a cast iron guarantee from Minister Martin that they won’t get another last-minute email in September telling them they’ll just have to wait another few months.”
Polasaí Pleanála & Tithíochta ‘is cuimsithí riamh ag páirtí polaitiúil’ Seolta ag Sinn Féin don Ghaeltacht – Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD
Mhaígh urlabhraí Gaeilge, Gaeltachta, Ealaíon agus Cultúir, Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD, as a bheith ag seoladh an polasaí pleanála agus tithíochta Gaeltachta ‘is cuimsithí riamh ag páirtí polaitiúil’ inniú agus seoladh an pholasaí ‘Ag Pleanáil don athchóiriú’ eagraithe d’Ionad Pobail an Spidéil sa Cheardlann ag a 1i.n. inniú.
Tá 10 Príomh Moltaí leagtha amach sa pholasaí dhátheangach seo a cuireadh le chéile thar thréimhse bliain iomlán, bunaithe ar éilimh gníomhairí Gaeltachta agus údaráis áitiúla araon, agus sonraí teagmhála sa doiciméid freisin le haghaidh urlabhraí agus ionadaithe Shinn Féin fud fad na Gaeltachta.
Dúirt an Teachta Ó Snodaigh:
“Tá an Ghaeilge beo beathach agus ag fás, ach is léir go bhfuil géarchéim ar leith sa Ghaeltacht. Níl ach duine as gach cúigear ag labhairt Gaeilge go laethúil ann, agus tá rabhadh tugtha ag na saineolaithe le fada an lá go bhfuil an Ghaeilge mar theanga labhartha sa phobal ann i mbaol.
“Tá an phleanáil ina chruacheist ar leith.
“Cuireann an polasaí reatha bac ar theaghlaigh Gaeltachta tithe a thógáil ar a dtalamh féin chun deis a thabhairt don chéad glúin eile fanacht sa Ghaeltacht agus clanna a thógáil trí mheán na Gaeilge. Bíonn brú ar Ghaeilgeoirí an Ghaeltacht a fhágáil chun clanna a thógáil, rud a dhéanann scrios ar inmharthanacht na siopaí áitiúla, na scoileanna, clubanna, srl., ag cur le Béarlú agus bánú leanúnach.
“Sin an fáth go dteastaíonn cur chuige dáiríre ón rialtas, agus leagtar amach sa pholasaí seo cad a dhéanfadh Sinn Féin i rialtas chun tabhairt faoin dúshlán seo. Teastaíonn reachtaíocht nua chun a chinntiú nach mbeidh ar phobail Gaeltachta dul chun na cúirte chun iad féin a chosaint.
“Tá Sinn Féin ag moladh go dteastódh measúnú tionchair teanga ar aon fhorbairt 2 teach nó níos mó ag léiriú nach ndéanfadh siad dochar d’úsáid na Gaeilge sa phobal áitiúil. I gcás tithe saoire, molann muid féachaint ar chóras na Breataine Bige ina dteastaíonn cead pleanála speisialta leo ag brath ar riachtanais na háite, agus tá córas mar sin curtha i bhfeidhm againn i nDún na nGall cheana féin.
“Tá gá freisin le caighdeán náisiúnta áit a bhfuil céatadán tithe in aon fhorbairt curtha ar leataobh do Ghaeilgeoirí, ionas gur féidir a bheith cinnte go bhfuil a dhóthain Gaeilge acu chun páirt a ghlacadh sa phobal labhartha ann – molaimid leibhéal B2 nó níos airde de réir an Chomhchreat Eorpach.
“Má táimid tiomanta i dtreo an géarchéim tithíochta a réiteach, ní mór dúinn tithe sóisialta agus inacmhainne a chur ar fáil do Ghaeilgeoirí sa Ghaeltacht freisin, ag freastal ar riachtanais na háite agus ag mealladh Gaeilgeoirí ó lasmuigh den Ghaeltacht chun athlonnú ann.
“Teastaíonn cur chuige uile-rialtais chun cás na Gaeltachta a thabhairt slán, agus i measc na moltaí eile tá beartaithe againn pleanáil taighdebhunaithe a dhéanamh go leanúnach ar an gcás sochtheangeolaíoch ann agus forálacha Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla a bhaineann le seirbhísí bunúsacha a sholáthar do phobal Gaeltachta ina dteanga féin a chur i bhfeidhm faoi dheireadh.
“Molaimid spreagadh ar leith freisin do thuismitheoirí chun páistí a thógáil le Gaeilge, agus is é sin an fáth dar linn gur gá Scéim Labhairt na Gaeilge a thabhairt ar ais agus a leathnú amach ionas go mbeidh páistí scoile agus réamhscoile san áireamh. Tá €500 an pháiste á lorg againn in aghaidh na bliana mar aitheantas go bhfuil costas sa bhreis ag baint le páiste a thógáil le Gaeilge nuair atá Béarlú ar bhun chuile háit thart timpeall.”
Sinn Féin launches ‘most comprehensive’ Gaeltacht Housing & Planning Policy ‘ever by a political party’ – Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD
Sinn Féin spokesperson for Gaeilge, Gaeltacht, Arts and Culture, Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD, today heralded that the Gaeltacht Housing and Planning Policy being launched by Sinn Féin at An Spidéal Community Centre in the Ceardlann at 1pm today is ‘the most comprehensive ever by a political party’.
The policy lays out 10 Key Recommendations that have been put together over the course of a year, based on the demands of Gaeltacht activists as well as local authorities, and contact details for Sinn Féin’s spokespeople and representatives across the Gaeltacht can also be found within.
Teachta Ó Snodaigh said:
“The Irish language is vibrant and growing, but it is clear that there is a crisis in the Gaeltacht. Only one in five are speaking Irish daily there, and the experts have warned for years that Irish as a spoken language of the community is in danger.
“Planning is a key issue.
“Current policy makes it hard for Gaeltacht families to build houses on their own land and give the next generation a chance to stay in the Gaeltacht and raise children through Irish. Irish speakers face pressure to leave the Gaeltacht in order to raise families, which damages the ability of local shops, schools, clubs, and so on to survive, adding to continuous anglicization and depopulation.
“This is why we need a serious approach from government, and in this policy we have laid out what Sinn Féin would do in government to address this challenge. New legislation is needed to ensure that Gaeltacht communities never again have to go to the courts to defend themselves.
“Sinn Féin believes linguistic impact assessments should be required for any developments of 2 houses or more to show that they will not damage the use of Gaeilge locally. In the case of holiday homes, we recommend examining the Welsh system where special planning permission is required depending on local need, something we have already put in place in Donegal.
“We also need a nationwide standard for instances where a percentage of houses in a development are set aside for Irish speakers, so we can be sure that they have sufficient Irish to take part in the spoken community there – we recommend level B2 or higher under the Common European Framework.
“If we are serious about fixing the housing crisis, we must also provide social and affordable housing for Irish speakers in the Gaeltacht, serving local needs as well as attracting Irish speakers from further afield to resettle there.
“An all of government approach is needed if we are to secure the future of the Gaeltacht, and among the other recommendations we are proposing regular evidence-based planning on the socio-linguistic situation there and that the provisions of the Official Languages Act on ensuring basic services are provided to Gaeltacht communities in their own language are finally implemented.
“We also call for an incentive for parents to raise their children in Irish, which is why we believe Scéim Labhairt na Gaeilge (the Irish Speaking Scheme) should be re-established and expanded so that school and pre-school children would be included. We are proposing €500 per child each year in recognition for the additional cost that goes with raising a child through Irish where English is being pushed from every angle.”
The document is available to view here
Sinn Féin TD for Dublin South Central Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD has welcomed the decision by the United Arab Emirates to freeze the assets of the Kinahan organised crime gang.
Teachta Ó Snodaigh said:
“I want to welcome yesterday’s announcement by the United Arab Emirates that they are to freeze the assets of the Kinahan crime gang, and I have written to the Ambassador of the UAE to Ireland to extend my thanks for this move.
“This follows last week’s important decision by the US government to impose sanctions on senior members of the gang, and is another significant step that will assist in putting them and their associates out of business.
“As a TD for Dublin South Central, I know the devastation these criminals have brought to communities right across Dublin and beyond.
“Making sure the Gardaí are fully resourced to take these people on, in addition to international moves are the only way to take out these criminals; which form an international organisation. I would urge other countries to follow suit.
“Ensuring that working class communities are supported in their efforts to direct young people from the false hope of glitz and glamour that these thugs promise is also essential.”
Sinn Féin spokesperson on Gaeilge, Gaeltacht, Arts and Culture Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD welcomed today’s launch of the Basic Income for Artists pilot scheme by government, and the news that the scheme will finally be opened to applications from 12 April.
Teachta Ó Snodaigh said:
“Artists whose livelihoods have been decimated by the pandemic have been waiting to see progress on this scheme for over a year since it was first recommended by the Arts and Culture Recovery Taskforce.
“While this sample pilot will only benefit a select few, rather than all artists as was originally proposed, and despite coming several months later than promised, this is a welcome development that will ensure vital funding for 2,000 artists and arts workers at a time when they need it most.
“I would like to commend all those involved in getting it over the line, including Minister Catherine Martin and officials in the Department for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, and the National Campaign for the Arts in particular, for the work they have put in over the past few years to see this come to fruition.
“My Sinn Féin colleagues and I have been working constructively with this proposal since it was first put forward.
"I am glad to see that a number of the concerns raised both by us and by the participants in the stakeholder consultation forum before Christmas have been listened to in the guidelines that have been published today, particularly around eligibility and the numbers involved.
“Certain key questions remain, however, and with only a week left before applications open, we need answers to those urgently.
“For example, there is no mention of artists with disabilities in the information published online today.
“That is despite the Disabled Artists and Disabled Academics (DADA) campaign highlighting the way in which they may be effectively excluded from participation or placed at a further disadvantage relative to their peers if forced to choose between the scheme and vital disability supports like allowances to help meet the Cost of Disability, medical cards or housing supports.
“I understand the Minister provided a degree of reassurance on this to journalists at her press conference this morning, but that clarity and the implications of participation on disability supports needs to be made explicit for potential applicants as a matter of urgency.
“Clarity is also needed on how the scheme will ensure the random sample chosen is representative of the diversity of art forms within the sector and takes account of demographic and regional balances, particularly given that we do not have accurate statistics for the arts sector at present.
“Another big question that arises is what will the Department be doing over the coming three years to support the post-pandemic recovery for artists and arts workers who are eligible but are not selected for this scheme.
“With the cost of living crisis on top of the devastation wreaked by Covid, these artists and workers, particularly those less well off, cannot be left behind.
“In the meantime, I would encourage all eligible artists to apply.”
(English below)
"Cur chuige dáiríre” atá ag teastáil dar le hurlabhraí Breisoideachais agus Ardoideachais, Taighde, Nuálaíochta agus Eolaíochta de chuid Sinn Féin, Rose-Conway Walsh TD, má táimid ag iarraidh an Ghaeilge a bheith i lár an aonaigh ag an ardleibhéal agus más mian linn “ligint don Ghaelollscolaíocht forbairt agus bláthú".
Bhí an Teachta Dála ar son dáilcheantar Mhaigh Eo ag caint agus í ag seoladh sraith leasuithe chun ról na Gaeilge a threisiú i mBille an Údaráis um Ardoideachas atá molta ag an tAire Simon Harris agus a tháinig os comhair Roghchoiste na Dála don chéad uair an tseachtain seo.
Dúirt an Teachta Conway-Walsh:
“Bhí díomá orm maidin inné gur dhiúltaigh an tAire Harris glacadh le leasú simplí chun féiniúlacht Gaelach an Údaráis um Ardoideachas a láidriú agus gur chinn sé leanacht ar aghaidh ag tabhairt “Higher Education Authority” ar an eagras, in ainneoin nach bhfuil a leithéid le feiscint aon áit sa dlí.
“Beidh deiseanna ag an Aire sna seachtain amach romhainn éisteacht a thabhairt do na leasuithe suntasacha atá curtha le chéile ag foireann Shinn Féin chun cearta a chinntiú do mhic léinn a thagann amach ón Ghaeloideachas dara-leibhéal leanacht ar aghaidh ag staidéar trí Ghaeilge ag an ardleibhéal, agus chun a chinntiú go mbeidh daoine le Gaeilge ceaptha ar an Údarás agus ar bhoird ollscoile fud fad an stait.
“Tá leasú againn freisin ag moladh stráitéis bunaithe ar thaighde chun cur go mór leis an nGaelollscolaíocht agus deiseanna foghlama do Ghaeilgeoirí ag an ardleibhéal i réimse leathan ábhair, áit a mbeadh ról don Údarás um Ardoideachas iniúchadh a dhéanamh ar na féadarthachtaí a bhainfeadh le Gaelollscoil nua a bhunú sa Ghaeltacht, nó Coláiste Oiliúna lánGhaeilge do Mhúinteoirí mar a bhí molta sa Staidéar Cuimsitheach Teangeolaíoch chomh fada siar le 2007."
D’fháiltigh urlabhraí Gaeilge, Gaeltachta, Ealaíon agus Cultúir Shinn Féin, Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD, roimh fhógra an Aire go nglacfaidh sé le roinnt moltaí ó Conradh na Gaeilge, ach d’impigh sé ar an Aire Harris tabhairt faoi na leasuithe curtha chun cinn ag Teachta Conway-Walsh a chur i bhfeidhm.
Dúirt an Cathaoirleach ar Chomhchoiste Oireachtais na Gaeilge, na Gaeltachta agus Phobail Labhartha na Gaeilge:
“Tá thart ar 50,000 dalta bunscoile ag freastal ar Ghaelscoileana sa tír, agus timpeall 16,000 ag Gaelcholáistí dara-leibhéal, ach ansin is cosúil go dtiteann an tóin as ról na Gaeilge san oideachas ag an ardleibhéal, áit nach bhfuil figiúirí cruinn á chóireamh maidir le líon na ndaltaí nó infheistíocht.
“Is léir go bhfuil teipthe go hiomlán leis an reachtaíocht mar a bhí, áit a bhí cur chun cinn na Gaeilge mar sprioc don Údarás um Ardoideachas. Tá géarchéim sochtheangeolaíoch as cuimse sa Ghaeltacht agus tá dúshlán nua romhainn chun an sprioc 20% earcaithe le Gaeilge a bhaint amach sa státsheirbhís roimh 2030, ach ar chúis éicint níl cur chuige stráitéiseach don Ghaeilge le sonrú sa Bhille seo.
“Tá deis ag an Aire Harris a léiriú nach bhfuil an meon ‘bla bla bla’ aige, mar a bhí curtha ina leith ag Éamon Ó Cuív le déanaí, ach go bhfuil suim aige ní hamháin glacadh le moltaí an Chonartha, ach dul níos faide agus deiseanna fadsaol oideachais a chruthú do na glúnta Gaelacha amach romhainn.”
[ENGLISH VERSION]
Serious approach needed to enable Irish medium third-level education flourish – Rose Conway-Walsh & Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Sinn Féin’s spokesperson on Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Rose Conway-Walsh TD, has said a "serious approach" is needed if we hope to put the Irish language at the heart of higher level and “enable Gaelollscolaíocht to develop and flourish”.
The Mayo TD was speaking as she launched a series of amendments to strengthen the role of Irish in the Higher Education Authority Bill proposed by Minister Simon Harris, which came before the Dáil Select Committee for the first time this week.
Teachta Conway-Walsh said:
“I was disappointed that Minister Harris rejected a simple amendment to cement the Irish language identity of the Údarás um Ardoideachas and instead chose to continue calling the body the “Higher Education Authority”, despite no such name existing in law.
“The Minister will have opportunities in the coming weeks to give a hearing to substantial amendments that Sinn Féin’s team has put together to ensure a right for students coming out of second-level Irish medium education to continue studying through Irish at higher level, and to ensure that people competent in Irish are appointed to the Údarás and university boards across the state.
“We also have an amendment proposing an evidence-based strategy to significantly support Irish medium university education and learning opportunities for Irish speakers at higher level across a wide variety of disciplines, where the Údarás um Ardoideachas (HEA) would have a role examining possibilities for setting up a new Irish speaking university (Gaelollscoil) in the Gaeltacht, or an all-Irish Teacher Training College as was recommended in the Comprehensive Linguistic Study as far back as 2007.
Sinn Féin spokesperson for Gaeilge, Gaeltacht, Arts and Culture, Aengus Ó Snodaigh, welcomed the Minister’s announcement that he will adopt some of Conradh na Gaeilge’s proposals, but he implored Minister Harris to give proper consideration to amendments put forward by Teachta Conway-Walsh as well.
The Chair of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on the Irish language, Gaeltacht and Irish-speaking Community said:
“Roughly 50,000 primary school students attend Gaelscoils nationwide, and around 16,000 go to second-level Gaelcholáistí, but then we see the role of Irish collapses at higher level, where accurate figures on numbers of students or investment aren’t even collated.
“It is clear that the existing legislation has failed entirely, despite the promotion of Irish being a specific objective of the Údarás um Ardoideachas (HEA).
"We have an unprecedented sociolinguistic crisis in the Gaeltacht and the new challenge of trying to meet the 20% target for Irish-speaking recruits to the public service by 2030, but for some reason there is no strategic approach for Irish detailed in this Bill.
“Minister Harris has an opportunity to show that the ‘bla bla bla’ approach Éamon Ó Cuív accused him of recently is not accurate, and instead show an interest not only in accepting the Conradh proposals, but going further and creating lifelong educational opportunities for generations of Irish speakers to come.”
Chuir urlabhraí Gaeilge, Gaeltachta, Ealaíon agus Cultúir Shinn Féin, Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD, in iúl gur gá fís agus tacaíochtaí cuí chun deis a thabhairt do Ghaillimh bláthú de réir an cáil atá air agus barr a chumas a bhaint amach mar phríomhchathair dhátheangach agus cultúir d’Éireann.
Bhí an Cathaoirleach ar Chomhchoiste Oireachtais na Gaeilge, na Gaeltachta agus Phobail Labhartha na Gaeilge ag labhairt tar éis dó cuairt dá-lá a thabhairt ar Ghaillimh an tseachtain seo caite le linn Seachtain na Gaeilge, áit a chas sé le grúpaí atá bainteach le saol Gaeilge agus ealaíon na cathrach, lena n-áirítear Gaillimh le Gaeilge, Fíbín sa Taibhdhearc, amharclann náisiúnta na Gaeilge, grúpaí éagsúla in OÉ Gaillimh ar nós Uachtarán agus Oifigeach Gaeilge na hOllscoile, Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge, Scoil an Bhéarla agus na nEalaíon Cruthaitheacha ag Ionad Mac Dhonnchadh, agus Comhaltas na Mac Léinn, Conradh na Gaeilge, Ionad Ealaíon na Gaillimhe, Ionad na nEalaíon Cruthaitheacha & Meán ag Institiúd Teicneolaíochta na Gaillimhe-Mhaigh Eo (GMIT), Ionad Scannánaíochta na Gaillimh, agus ionadaí ar son Coiste Pleanála Teanga Gaeltachta an Bhruaigh Thoir.
Agus é i nGaillimh, bhuail an turlabhraí de chuid Shinn Féin freisin le gníomhairí poblachtánacha óga de chuid Ógra Shinn Féin agus d’fhreastal sé ar sheoladh an leabhar mór le rá Pluid le Eoghan Mac Cormaic faoin saol sna blocanna H agus ‘ar an phluid’. Sheol Teachta Dála Shinn Féin do Ghaillimh Thiar, Mairéad Farrell, an leabhar, agus ghlac sí páirt i roinnt de na cruinnithe leis an Teachta Ó Snodaigh.
Dúirt an Teachta Ó Snodaigh:
“Ba mhór an spreagadh dom é cruinniú agus dul i gcomhairle leis na grúpaí sin atá bainteach le cur chun cinn na nealaíon agus na Gaeilge i gcathair na Gaillimhe, toisc an paisean agus an cruthaitheacht a bhí le sonrú, ach bhí ábhar macnamh ann freisin ó thaobh polasaí cultúir de.
“Ní réitíonn an cáil atá ar Ghaillimh mar phríomhchathair cultúir leis an háiseanna agus na tacaíochtaí atá ann d’ealaíontóirí, agus is mór an náire é nach bhfuil ach 3% den phobal inár aon cathair dhátheangach amháin ag labhairt Gaeilge go laethúil, in ainneoin go bhfuil leath d’achar na cathrach faoi scáth na Gaeltachta agus go bhfuil obair na gcapall ar bhun ag a leithéidí Gaillimh le Gaeilge, Conradh agus gníomhairí pleanála teanga deonacha chun an Ghaeilge a thabhairt chun tosaigh arís.
“Mar urlabhraí Gaeilge, Gaeltachta, Ealaíon, agus Cultúir, ba deis éisteachta i ndáiríre a bhí sa turas seo chun foghlaim ó na saineolaithe ar an talamh, agus tá súil agam cuairt a thabhairt ar cheantair Gaeltachta agus pobail ealaíon eile chun a nioncuir a fháil a bheidh mar bhunús le polasaí cuimsitheach ealaíon agus athbheochana teanga gur féidir le Sinn Féin cur i ngníomh sa rialtas.”
Chuir Mairéad Farrell TD leis an méid a dúirt sé:
“Caithfidh gurb é Gaillimh an taon príomhchathair cultúir sa stair nach raibh ceoláras aige, gan trácht ar ár nionad ealaíon atá brúite isteach i bhfoirgneamh atá ag titim as a chéile sa méid is a bhfuil seomraí dúnta, ní féidir ceardlainn a reachtáil, agus níl rochtain ann do saoránaigh faoi mhíchumas.
“Toisc drochbhainistíocht agus tionchar na paindéime, bhí deis caillte le Gaillimh 2020, ach níl aon bac orainn an deis a thapadh anois leis an athoscailt beocht a chur athuair i saol chultúir na cathrach agus í a fhorbairt mar cheannaire domhanda don chultúr agus don dearadh, agus ag cumhachtú ealaíontóirí.
“Ní mór dúinn gníomhú go gasta freisin chun a chinntiú nach bhfágtar Gaillimh taobh thiar cathracha eile in Éireann, ag féachaint ar an éacht bainte amach le ceathrú Gaeltachta timpeall Cultúrlann Bhéal Feirste agus na pleananna uailmhianacha do Bhaile Átha Cliath le Gaeilge, go háirithe toisc go bhfuilimear suite ag doras na Gaeltachta is mó sa tír agus tá deis ar leith againn an tairbhe eacnamaíochta, sóisialta agus cultúir a ghabhann le bheith mar shealbhóir ar cheann de na teangacha is ársa labhartha ar domhain.
“Gabhaim buíochas leis na grúpaí go léir a ghlac am saor óna sceidil gnóthacha chun bualadh le Teachta Ó Snodaigh agus liom féin, agus geallaim dóibh go ndéanfaidh muid gníomhú de réir an méid a dúirt siad linn chun plean cuimsitheach a chothú gur féidir le Sinn Féin cur i ngníomh a dhéanfaidh difear ollmhór do Ghaillimh do na glúnta amach romhain.”
Vision and supports needed for Galway as a bilingual and cultural capital for Ireland - Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD & Mairéad Farrell TD
Sinn Féin spokesperson for Gaeilge, Gaeltacht, Arts and Culture, Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD, highlighted the need for vision and appropriate supports to allow Galway to live up to its reputation and unleash its true potential as a bilingual and cultural capital for Ireland.
The Chair of the Joint Oireachtas Committee for the Irish language, Gaeltacht and Irish-speaking Community was speaking following a two-day visit to Galway last week during Seachtain na Gaeilge where he held meetings with groups involved in the Irish language and artistic life of the city, including Gaillimh le Gaeilge, Fíbín sa Taibhdhearc, Ireland’s National Irish-language Theatre, several groups at NUI Galway including the University President and Irish language Officer, Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge, the School of English & Creative Arts at the O’Donoghue Centre, and the Students’ Union, Conradh na Gaeilge, the Galway Arts Centre, the Centre for Creative Arts & Media at Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT), the Galway Film Centre, and a representative of the Bruach Thoir Gaeltacht Language Planning Committee.
While in Galway, the Sinn Féin spokesperson also met with young republican activists from Ógra Shinn Féin and attended the launch of Eoghan Mac Cormaic’s award-winning book on life in the H Blocks and on the blanket protests, Pluid. Mairéad Farrell, Sinn Féin’s TD for Galway West, launched the book and accompanied Teachta Ó Snodaigh at several of his meetings.
Teachta Ó Snodaigh said:
“Meeting and engaging with the groups involved in furthering the arts and the Irish language in Galway City was invigorating, given the passion and creativity on display, but it also provided food for thought in terms of cultural policy.
“The reputation of Galway as a cultural capital is not matched by facilities and supports for artists, and it is a crying shame that our only bilingual city has no more than 3% of the population speaking Irish on a daily basis, despite around half of the city’s area coming within the Gaeltacht, and in spite of the trojan work underway by groups like Gaillimh le Gaeilge, Conradh and voluntary language planning activists to bring Irish to the fore once more.
“As Gaeilge, Gaeltacht, Arts and Culture spokesperson, I mainly took this trip as an opportunity to listen to the experts on the ground and hope to visit other Gaeltacht and arts communities seeking their input as a basis upon which to build a comprehensive policy for the arts and for the revival of the Irish language that Sinn Féin can implement in government.”
Galway West TD Mairéad Farrell added:
“Galway City must be the only capital of culture in history not to have a concert hall, not to speak of our arts centre being reduced to a building which is in such a state of disrepair that whole rooms are out of use, workshops cannot be held, and citizens with disabilities are deprived of access.
“Galway 2020, as a result of poor management and the impact of the pandemic, was a missed opportunity, but that doesn’t stop us seizing the opportunity of reopening to breathe new life into our cultural life by making our city a world leader in terms of culture and design, and empowering our artists to succeed.
“We also need to act fast to ensure Galway does not fall behind other cities in Ireland, looking at the success of the Gaeltacht quarter centred on Belfast’s Cultúrlann and the ambitious plans for Baile Átha Cliath le Gaeilge, as we are uniquely positioned at the gateway to the country’s largest Gaeltacht to make the most of the economic, social and cultural potential that comes with playing host to one of the oldest vernacular language traditions on Earth.
“I’d like to thank all the groups who took time out of their busy work to meet with Teachta Ó Snodaigh and myself, and assure them that we will follow up on what they have said is needed in the hope of building a comprehensive plan that Sinn Féin could implement to transform Galway for generations.“
