Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 15 Feb 2024

Could the Minister outline the marketing strategy employed by Tourism Ireland to promote Brigid 1500 abroad, whether it was deemed to be successful, and will she make a statement on the matter? If I talk of my home town of Dundalk and obviously Faughart, we had an excellent festival of lights that was run by Dundalk Bids, Louth County Council and many others. It and other events that I attended in Faughart were really successful but we probably could have done more. I would like to get the Minister's view on that.

The year 2024 marks 1,500 years since the death of St. Brigid, one of Ireland's three patron saints, who is traditionally commemorated each year on Lá 'le Bríde on 1 February. Since 2018, Tourism Ireland has supported Irish embassies and consulates across the world in marking St. Brigid’s Day by celebrating the creativity of women through a broad programme of events. The funding I secured in budget 2024 will allow Tourism Ireland to develop new marketing opportunities, such as St. Brigid’s Day, which help to extend the tourism season and encourage visitors to explore the less-visited parts of Ireland.

This year, for the first time ever, Tourism Ireland rolled out a new campaign to leverage St. Brigid’s Day around the world. This campaign, which will run for the spring period, aims to raise awareness of the island of Ireland as a great spring holiday destination. The saint’s feast day brings together Ireland's Christian tradition as well as reaching back to the ancient Celtic goddess, Brigid or Bríd, and with the ancient festival of Imbolc, a traditional Celtic festival that marked the beginning of spring.

Tourism Ireland’s new St. Brigid’s campaign involves a new video highlighting the Brigid 1500 festival in Kildare, which includes an interview with the founder of Brigid 1500 who discusses St. Brigid's legacy, the significance of Imbolc and the start of spring in Ireland; three short videos featuring female artists from the world of music, art and storytelling, which showcase some of our wonderful female talent against a backdrop of green, springtime Ireland; and new content bringing spring in Ireland to life, created by six popular female travel content creators from around the island of Ireland. These videos will be shared by Tourism Ireland with its millions of followers on social media throughout the spring period.

Louth, home of the birthplace of the saint, is a very significant part of the story of St. Brigid. I grew up with that not too far from Faughart. That Faughart was not too far from us was something that we were very proud of in County Monaghan. I know that the Deputy has that pride too.

This year's impressive Brigid 1500 ten-day festival organised by Louth County Council, which included elements supported by my Department's Creative Ireland programme, provides further opportunities for inclusion in any future marketing campaigns and promotions of St. Brigid, whether at home or abroad, by tourism agencies. St. Brigid’s Day provides a unique opportunity to acknowledge the critical role that women have played in Irish history, culture and society, and I believe that events celebrating Irish women will continue to flourish around this day over the years to come.

We can all see the successes that there were when I talk about Brigid 1500, whether it was in County Kildare or whether I am talking about County Louth and, as I said, Dundalk and Faughart. Tourism Ireland needs to play a far bigger role with regard to more joined-up thinking. None of us wants to get into a spat, and we have seen that from time to time. People in the general north Louth area got really annoyed when they heard RTÉ talking about Kildare being the birthplace of St. Brigid, or at least that is what they believe they heard anyway. We need to deal with that. Tourism Ireland needs to make sure that it is hands-on.

We have a really good starting point. There was spectacular work done by Dundalk Bids and by Martin McElligott and his team and we need to build on it. On some level, we are probably getting sometimes even greater international notice than domestic notice, outside of the people of Dundalk and north County Louth, who are very happy. Even those who would have said they were not quite sure on this said it was an absolutely fabulous event that took a huge amount of people over that period into the town of Dundalk. As I said, it was both spectacular and enjoyable, and very positive. Sometimes we do not have a huge level of positivity out there so it is something we can build on.

I thank the Deputy. In Louth - home of the birthplace of St. Brigid - a remarkable project unfolded to commemorate the 1,500th anniversary of this beloved Irish saint. I congratulate Louth County Council on its Brigid 1500 festival that really captured the imagination of all those who attended, especially the large "northern lights" show that attracted an estimated 48,000 visitors in just a few days. Along with a large-scale street and theatre performance, on a smaller scale but equally as important, students from St. Brigid's School in Dundalk with support from my Department designed a life-sized cloak made from copper foil circles paying homage to the enduring legacy of St. Brigid, and her deep connection to the town of Faughart. The choice of copper is significant, as it symbolises St. Brigid's association with the metalwork trade, making her the patroness of blacksmiths.

As part of the development of its new campaign to leverage St. Brigid's Day around the world, Tourism Ireland engaged with Louth County Council to discuss its festival work programme. While logistically it was not feasible to incorporate content in the 2024 campaign, consideration can certainly be given in any future campaigns to include St. Brigid's connection with Louth.

It is obviously disappointing that there was not greater involvement with regard to this content and the festival that was to be operated in Dundalk and north County Louth. Into the future, I would request that the Minister would take a hands-on approach to ensure engagement with Tourism Ireland. Other elected representatives from the area and I will follow through on this. We need to make sure that we do it together, and that we sell the entirety with regard to north County Louth, Dundalk, Faughart and Kildare. We should sell it on an international basis and equally ensure that there is a sufficient amount of funding to address this, particularly when we are talking about Government sources. We need to make sure that we do it in a proper, concerted way, that we get the best bang for our buck across the board, and that we do it with the utmost fairness and from the point of view of making sure we promote the St. Brigid's festival as best we can. That means that we do justice to both Louth and Kildare.

It is certainly not the case that Kildare should be versus Louth or Louth versus Kildare. Both Kildare and Louth are the two key locations in the story of St. Brigid. By taking them together, there is potential for opening really exciting tourism possibilities for Ireland's Ancient East. I am glad that Deputy Ó Murchú is speaking about that here. He is talking about the potential of the two counties, rather than pitting one against the other. The two tourism agencies are, of course, open to engaging with Louth County Council on future development opportunities regarding St. Brigid, and as I said, there is huge potential for Louth, Kildare, the entire Ireland's Ancient East region and the island.

Ní mór dom a rá go mbaineann an Bandia, Naomh Bríd, don tír uilig. Tá a fhios agam go bhfuil athbhreithniú críochnaithe ag Údarás na Gaeltachta agus baineann mo cheist go sonrach mar go bhfuil mé ag iarraidh soiléiriú a fháil ón Aire ar an bplean a d'eascair as an obair athbhreithniúcháin a rinne an t-údarás faoi na foirgnimh atá aige agus faoin talamh. Tá gá le plean agus le maoiniú.

Tuigtear dom ó Údarás na Gaeltachta go bhfuil an t-athbhreithniú ar phunann maoine na heagraíochta críochnaithe anois. Faoin athbhreithniú seo, rinneadh taighde maidir leis na féidearthachtaí a bhaineann leis an bpunann maoine sna seacht gcontae Gaeltachta. Tá an t-údarás anois i mbun cainteanna leis na cliant-chomhlachtaí atá mar thionóntaí aige maidir lena gcuid riachtanas do na blianta amach romhainn. Tá an t-údarás ag caint amach le cliaint nua atá ag iarraidh spás tráchtála a thógáil ar cíos. Is léir gur tosaíocht é do go leor tionóntaí na hoibreacha caipitil atá le déanamh ar fhoirgnimh s’acu. Cabhróidh an t-athbhreithniú seo leis an bpróiseas inmheánach pleanála atá beartaithe ag an údarás don dara ráithe i mbliana. Beidh sé mar bhunchloch ag an údarás d’aon fhorbairtí nua go mbeidh forbairtí tithíochta san áireamh.

Bíonn Údarás na Gaeltachta ag caint go leanúnach le cliaint reatha agus cliaint nua, údaráis áitiúla, soláthróirí seirbhísí agus dearthóirí ar mhaithe le tograí nua a thabhairt chun cinn. Is obair leanúnach a bhíonn i gceist leis seo. Tuigtear dom ón údarás go mbeidh deiseanna ann i gcomhthéacs an mhaoinithe bhreise a d'éirigh liom a fháil don eagraíocht i mbuiséad 2024 chun baill foirne breise leis na scileanna cuí a earcú chun an obair seo a bhrú chun cinn. Chomh maith leis seo, tá athbhreithniú déanta ag Údarás na Gaeltachta ar thograí tógála a d'fhéadfaí tosú sa ghearrthéarma, idir 2024 agus 2026. Tuigtear dom freisin go bhfuil an clár infheistíochta caipitil don bhliain 2024 aontaithe ag leibhéal bainistíochta san údarás chomh maith. Ar ndóigh, nuair atá aon choinne á dhéanamh ag Údarás na Gaeltachta i dtaobh a chuid mhaoinithe, bítear airdeallach i gcónaí ar an dualgas maidir leis an leas is fearr a bhaint as an acmhainn airgeadais atá ar fáil ón Státchiste. Bíonn ról faoi leith ag an mbord chun na moltaí cuí a ghlanadh ag leibhéal an bhoird.

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire. Tá an cheist seo á leanúint suas agam le fada an lá. Is liosta é seo de na foirgnimh agus tailte atá ag Údarás na Gaeltachta. Is maith an rud go bhfuil an talamh agus na foirgnimh aige. Breathnóidh mé ar mo chontae féin. Feicim Baile an tSagairt, Eastát Chasla, Eastát An Choill Rua, Eastát an Chnoic, Baile an tSléibh, Eastát Ros an Mhíl, Eastát An Cheathrú Rua, Eastát Tír an Fhia agus Eastát Charna. Tá neart talaimh, neart foirgneamh agus neart féidearthachtaí ann. Táim sásta go bhfuil athbhreithniú déanta. Níl mé sásta leis an bhfreagra sa mhéid gur mhaith liom plean a fheiceáil. An bhfuil plean feicthe ag an Aire ó thaobh tuilleadh forbartha ar an talamh seo maidir leis na foirgnimh seo? Tá gá práinneach leis. Arís, is fadhb mhaith é i ndáiríre go bhfuil an talamh agus na foirgnimh aige ach tá gá práinneach le plean.

Tá formhór de na foirgnimh folamh ón tréimhse idir 2018 agus 2023 ach tá eisceachtaí ann freisin. Tá foirgnimh ann atá folamh le os cionn deich mbliana. Ní rud neamhghnáth é go mbeadh foirgnimh folmha ag áisíneachtaí forbartha eacnamaíochta leithéidí Údarás na Gaeltachta le punann mhaoine chomh mór is atá ag an údarás. Bíonn comhlachtaí ag teacht agus ag imeacht i gcaitheamh an ama agus go minic bíonn uasgrádú le déanamh ar fhoirgnimh sular féidir iad a chur ar an margadh arís le ligean ar cíos. Ach an oiread le gach eagraíocht Stáit, bíonn ar an údarás oibriú taobh istigh den bhuiséad a thugtar don eagraíocht agus a chuid infheistíochtaí sa phunann mhaoine atá ag an eagraíocht a bhainistiú sa chomhthéacs sin.

Tá neart féidearthachtaí anseo. Tá trí dhualgas ag Údarás na Gaeltachta. Tá dualgais air ó thaobh an phobail, ó thaobh na teanga agus ó thaobh na fostaíochta. Tá neart féidearthachtaí ó thaobh cúrsaí tithíochta. Feicim go bhfuil abairt i bhfreagra an Aire go bhfuiltear anois ag breathnú ar chúrsaí tithíochta. Is maith an rud é sin ach an bhfuil sonraí ag an Aire faoi sin? Tá ceist eile curtha isteach, Uimh. 24. Níl a fhios agam cén fáth nach bhfuil an dá cheist le chéile. Baineann an cheist sin go díreach le tithíocht. I bhfreagra an Aire, luann sí cúrsaí tithíochta. Mar is eol di, tá géarchéim i nGaillimh agus sa chontae ó thaobh cúrsaí tithíochta. Ní féidir áibhéil a dhéanamh ar an ngéarchéim sin. Faoi dheireadh, tá Údarás na Gaeltachta ag breathnú ar na féidearthachtaí ó thaobh cúrsaí tithíochta. An bhfuil an tAire ar an eolas faoin scéim atá beartaithe aige? An raibh sé i dteagmháil leis an gcóras áitiúil?

Tá ráite ag an údarás go bhfuil sé ag tabhairt faoin obair chun a chinntiú go mbeidh sé in ann teacht ar réiteach dá chuid cliantchomhlachtaí reatha agus nua chomh maith lena chuid geallshealbhóirí eile, mar is cuí. Cuimsíonn an punann mhaoine an iliomad cineál foirgnimh agus tá éagsúlacht sa chaighdeán agus sa chóiriú atá ar fáil sna foirgnimh sin. Táthar ag féachaint ar na féidearthachtaí forbartha do chuid de na foirgnimh folmha atá ag an údarás, ag cur san áireamh na hacmhainní atá ar fáil leis sin a dhéanamh agus an leas is féidir a bhaint as na foirgnimh. Nuair atá aon choinne á dhéanamh ag Údarás na Gaeltachta i dtaobh a chuid maoine, bíonn sé i gcónaí airdeallach ar an dualgas maidir leis an leas is fearr a bhaint as an acmhainn airgeadais atá ar fáil ón Státchiste. Ach an oiread leis an tír ar fad, tá cúrsaí tithíochta agus pleanála sa Ghaeltacht go mór faoi chaibidil le tamall anuas. Mar is eol don choiste, is ag an Aire Tithíochta, Rialtais Áitiúil agus Oidhreachta atá an fhreagracht maidir leis an Acht um Pleanáil agus Forbairt, 2000, faoina dtagann gnóthaí i ndáil le cúrsaí pleanála agus tithíochta sa Ghaeltacht. Níl mórán ama agam ach is féidir le m'oifigigh scríobh chuig an Teachta.

Ó thaobh na ceiste seo, níor dhírigh mé isteach ar cé chomh fada atá na foirgnimh folamh. Dhírigh mé isteach ar rud dearfach, is é sin na féidearthachtaí atá ann ó thaobh cúrsaí tithíochta agus gnó. Bhí díospóireacht ann inné, ina raibh an Cathaoirleach Gníomhach páirteach, faoi chúrsaí gnó áitiúla agus na féidearthachtaí atá ann. Gabh mo leithscéal; an bhfuilim thar am? Níl a fhios agam.

The development of a legacy framework to sustain and build on the capacity, networks and opportunities arising from the cultural programme of Galway 2020 was a key deliverable of the overall European Capital of Culture. The Galway Culture Company has to date drawn down just over €800,000 of the €1 million allocated to the Galway 2020 legacy programme. The allocated €1 million funding has supported the three strategic objectives of the programme as follows: a sum of €191,920 supported the first strategic objective to facilitate international and EU relationships and funding; the second strategic objective to support place-based cultural programming received €397,423; and a further €208,490 supported the third strategic objective, the provision of supports to the cultural and creative sector.

The artistic and cultural sectors have had the opportunity to access this funding through a number of channels including open calls, partnerships on funding applications to EU programmes, opportunities for presentation in other European countries and targeted capacity-building supports. As such opportunities continue to arise they are published on the website of the Galway Culture Company. The legacy framework is also available to view on its website.

My officials continue to work closely with the Galway Culture Company on the legacy programme and, in that context, there are quarterly reporting meetings with the company. The first such meeting took place on 29 November 2023 between the Department and the chief executive and chair of the board of the Galway Culture Company. The second meeting took place on 31 January 2024. At both meetings, the company provided an update to the Department on programming and expenditure.

The performance delivery agreement between the Department and the company seeks to guarantee the appropriate oversight of the implementation of the legacy programme and the expenditure of the Government's funding allocation. In line with the agreement, drawdowns of the remaining €202,167.85 funding will be subject to monthly written requests and provision of supporting documentation. The remaining drawdown is expected to be completed in the first half of 2024.

I thank the Minister for the update and the details in respect of this matter. Of the €1 million, there is €202,167.85 remaining. I appreciate that the Department is keeping a close eye on this because there is a history to this. Perhaps the mistake I made as a politician was thinking that the designation of Galway as the capital of culture had something to do with art. I realise my mistake now because it was a lot more to do with business. This is actually captured in the three bullet points that the Minister has given for the legacy. This is not down to her but I thank her for providing them. The first point refers to the facilitation of international and EU relationships. I am not sure where my idea of art comes into that. The second refers to the support of place-based cultural programming. This is jargon.

The third is the provision of support to the cultural and creative sector. That gives the second amount and not the highest amount to the cultural and creative sector. I would have thought the creative sector would have got top billing. I will come back in at my second opportunity.

There is great support there for the arts sector and details of projects funded are available on the website of Galway Culture Company. These include previous projects such as Dear PrEUdence, an art exhibition with themes around mental health, and the PULSE drums programme. Ongoing projects and open calls include an artist bursary open call that provides support for artists from or living in Galway city and county and is being run through the Galway Arts Centre. Branar, a theatre company for children, has been commissioned to create Rocking the Classroom, a musical education programme in Irish and English for children in junior and senior infants, first and second class. There is a creative arts programme in four Galway DEIS schools across a range of art forms. Scéal na Gaillimhe is an open call to artists, performers, makers, designers and creatives from Galway city and county working through the medium of the Irish language. There is a designer in residence programme through which five talented graduate designers from the west are placed with companies. Macnas is also offering bursaries to individual creative practitioners living in Galway city and county to travel to and learn from highly skilled artists and professional across Europe. Departmental funding has also supported Irish translations and graphic design and has assisted in companies' fulfilment of the legal and financial requirements under the performance delivery agreement.

Níl aon dabht go bhfuil tograí maithe curtha chun cinn, Branar san áireamh. Tá ardmholadh tuillte ag Branar.

I have no doubt, and no hesitation in saying, that there were good projects. However, it would be remiss of me not to raise issues. This programme is going to conclude in the first quarter of this year, I gather, and the money will all be spent. Looking back, there are serious lessons to be learned. There has been serious upset on the ground among the artistic community and as regards a legacy to Galway, perhaps we were all of the misunderstanding that a permanent building or something of that nature might be given. A legacy committee was not even set up until we put on pressure in the Dáil for its establishment.

The Minister referred to a number of channels, including open calls and partnerships, for funding applications. Is that process complete? I gather there are no more open calls. Will she clarify that point for me? Is it just a matter of drawing down the remaining €202,000?

The Deputy raised the issue of physical infrastructure as part of the legacy. The bid book for Galway 2020, on which it was awarded the designation of 2020 European Capital of Culture, set out that any new capital infrastructure to be delivered is part of Galway's cultural strategy 2016 to 2025, Everybody Matters, which is developed and managed by the local authorities. The bid book also stated that infrastructure was not part of the European Capital of Culture project, which would rely on existing infrastructure and infrastructure that came onstream between the designations and delivery through existing plans and development. It is generally acknowledged, however, as part of Galway's cultural strategy and in the planning for Galway 2020 that the cultural dividend and legacy arriving from the delivery of Galway's year as European Capital of Culture would help to create the need for more cultural infrastructure, and this was set out in the third monitoring report of the expert panel to the EU in October 2019. I will ask my officials to follow up on the Deputy's question about open calls.

Foras na Gaeilge, an agency of the North-South language body, is charged with the promotion of the Irish language on an all-island basis. In carrying out its legislative mandate, Foras na Gaeilge provides support, advice and financial assistance to many groups who promote the language.

An scéim forbartha lionraí Gaeilge is Foras na Gaeilge's multi-annual scheme to promote, protect and ingrain the Irish language among communities, with an emphasis on the development and implementation of comprehensive language plans for those communities taking part in the scheme. There are currently 36 Irish language groups, North and South, funded by Foras na Gaeilge through the scheme, including nine grantees within a number of the areas which have already been designated as Irish language networks or Gaeltacht service towns. The remaining 27 grantees under the scheme are at various levels depending on their current stage of development. It is important to note that the scheme is operated by Foras na Gaeilge and I, as Minister, have no role in its administration.

The scheme began in January 2022 and has funding committed up to December 2024. More than €2.8 million has been provided to groups, both north and south of the Border, under the scheme for 2022 and 2023 and it is expected that a further iteration of the scheme will be advertised later this year.

Foras na Gaeilge is a constituent part of An Foras Teanga, the North-South language body, co-sponsored by my Department and the Department for Communities in Northern Ireland. On this basis, all matters relating to the North-South language body budget must be approved by the North South Ministerial Council. My Department has an additional allocation of €700,000 for North-South co-operation available in its budget for 2024. This allocation is available for use by the constituent organisations of the languages body, Foras na Gaeilge and the Ulster-Scots Agency, provided matching funding at agreed ratios is provided by the Northern Ireland Executive. Officials in my Department will continue to work with officials in the Department for Communities in Northern Ireland, the North-South language body's co-sponsor Department. Now that the institutions in Northern Ireland have been re-established, I hope progress can be made with regard to 2024 budgets, including in respect of the scéim forbartha lionraí Gaeilge.

Irish language community organisations around the country are promoting the language on the ground on a daily basis. They organise classes, provide speaking opportunities for all levels and work with schools, etc. In short, they have stood up to do a job the State has never been seriously interested in doing and has long forgone, that is, to reinstate Gaeilge as a spoken language of Ireland. Many people want more opportunities to speak the language and those who have Irish want opportunities and supports to bring up their children as Gaeilge.

Funding for this work, as the Minister said, is provided through Foras na Gaeilge's scéim forbartha líonraí Gaeilge and among the community groups on the ground there is an evident need to reopen the scheme, to increase the funding for Foras na Gaeilge and to channel it into the community groups. On a previous occasion when I raised the issue, the Minister of State, Deputy Patrick O'Donovan took the question and correctly pointed to the absence of the assembly in locking funds for these groups through Foras na Teanga on a North-South basis and through Foras na Gaeilge, which administers the funds for the community groups. Will the Minister assure us that her Department is now undertaking efforts to ensure additional funding for the Foras na Gaeilge scheme?

As I said, more than €2.8 million has been provided to groups, North and South, under the scheme for 2022 and 2023. Now that the Northern Ireland Executive is up and running, officials in my Department will continue to work with the officials in the Department for Communities in Northern Ireland and the North-South language body, co-sponsored by my Department. I hope progress can be made with regard to the 2024 budgets, including in respect of scéim forbartha líonraí Gaeilge.

As I said earlier, my Department has an additional allocation of €700,000 for the North-South co-operation available in its budget for 2024. This allocation is available for use by the constituent organisations of the languages body, Foras na Gaeilge and the Ulster-Scots Agency, provided matching funding at agreed ratios is provided by the Northern Ireland Executive. My officials are communicating with their counterparts in the Department for Communities.

The scheme is useful and is probably the best we have right now. However, it is not adequate as it stands. Community groups in my constituency are telling me there are serious problems. There is not enough funding for an adequate number of staff. The work and pay conditions for existing staff are not competitive enough so there is a problem in retaining staff. Many of the groups are hoping to employ additional staff in specialised roles to deal with youths or as business development officers. In that vein, the scheme is there. The Minister said it is not her responsibility but funding from her Department is used. The Department and Government missed an open goal with the previous budget by not taking seriously Conradh na Gaeilge's reasonable and detailed plan, An Plean Fáis 2024-2029, which would have cost very little extra and would have begun to right the wrongs of decades of underfunding of the Irish language sector. It would have begun to finally bridge the gap between it and the arts and heritage sectors, for example, which enjoy many multiples of funding compared to the support given to the Irish language. Will the Minister pledge support to Irish-language community groups through the scheme we are talking about or through other means?

Monaghan, in particular, is one of the strong contenders for Irish language network status. Upon achievement of that status, groups are provided with an additional financial allocation of €96,000 annually from my Department's Vote in the South and that of Foras na Gaeilge in the North. We are consulting Foras na Gaeilge and I understand Monaghan is one of the strong contenders.

Structured progression has been built into the scheme, with the focus on the current stage of development of the applicant. There are three stages of development as part of the scheme: higher, intermediate and basic. I can forward more details on this to the Deputy. Over €2.8 million was provided to groups in the North and South under the scheme in 2022 and 2023.

We all warmly welcome the restoration of the Northern Ireland Assembly and Executive, and that enables the North–South Ministerial Council to function. As we all know, Tourism Ireland, as one of the six implementation bodies, has a remit to promote the island of Ireland overseas as a premier holiday destination. I sincerely hope the Minister will have an opportunity at an early date to meet her new counterpart in the Northern Ireland Executive to give impetus to the good work of Tourism Ireland and show determination to develop further the tourism product on cross-Border and all-Ireland bases, which is critical to employment in every parish in the island.

I warmly welcome the restoration of the Assembly and Executive. I look forward to working closely with my counterpart in the Executive and to the early convening of the North–South Ministerial Council. In fact, I have already made contact with the office of the minister, Conor Murphy, to set up a call at the earliest opportunity. The North–South Ministerial Council will play a key role in the period ahead in ensuring we make the most of shared opportunities, including supporting the all-island economy, which continues to be a source of prosperity, growth and livelihoods for many from all communities across this island.

The importance of tourism to the economy on both sides of the Border and the joint approach to the promotion and development of the sector led to tourism being one of the areas chosen for formal North–South co-operation, through the structures created by the Good Friday Agreement. That co-operation has been hugely beneficial and the tourism sector is an exemplar of what can be achieved when we work together on this island with a shared purpose and for clear mutual benefit.

I believe there is great tourism potential through the further development of cross-Border tourism initiatives. My Department has had extensive engagement with the Department of the Taoiseach regarding shared island funding, the result being that €7.6 million was allocated out to 2025 for a new all-island tourism brand collaboration and marketing initiative connecting the Causeway Coastal Route and the Wild Atlantic Way in the north-west region. This project is being developed and implemented by the three tourism agencies on the island and will build on the international reputations of these two magnificent tourist routes.

North–South engagement and collaboration in the area of tourism has added value to the marketing of the island to potential overseas visitors for both jurisdictions. There have been significant achievements in this area, including the development of screen tourism and the maximisation of the tourism benefits of major sporting events, such as the return of the Irish Open to Royal Portrush in 2025 and the joint hosting of the 2028 UEFA European Football Championship, will also create much excitement and potential opportunities for the entire island.

My Department and the tourism agencies will continue to foster North–South co-operation to enhance an all-island tourism offering and make the most of these shared opportunities. This includes supporting Tourism Ireland in its mission to increase the value of overseas tourism to the island of Ireland, sustainably supporting the environment, communities and economies.

I warmly welcome the Minister's response and the sentiments expressed in her reply. She referred to the all-Ireland economy. It was so disappointing to see in the British Government's command paper the negative comments about the all-Ireland economy. That economy is growing and is being strengthened, thankfully.

I thank the Minister sincerely for her support in getting major funding for the flagship project for the Shannon Pot and Cavan Burren Park interpretive centre. We are well advanced with that project and it will proceed to construction within the next few months. It is a €7 million project. The Minister's assistance in promoting it and ensuring substantial funding was provided is very much appreciated in the upper Shannon region, not just in Cavan and Fermanagh but also further afield. It is the flagship project that will be so beneficial to Cavan, Fermanagh and the upper Shannon region in general. It is in the heart of the UNESCO Cuilcagh Lakelands Geopark. It is a genuine cross-Border project that shows the importance of developing the tourism industry on an all-Ireland basis. Years ago, when I was a member of the Government here and Arlene Foster was a member of the Northern Ireland Executive, we played a key role in getting the UNESCO geopark approved and putting the necessary funding in place to develop it. We look forward to further developments under the Minister, working with her counterparts in Northern Ireland through the North–South Ministerial Council.

Tourism Ireland is one of the most successful legacies of the Good Friday Agreement. I see it in action all the time. The wonderful all-island co-operation and the promotion of the island of Ireland and the all-island economy are so good for all communities across the island.

The Shannon Pot and Cavan Burren Park discovery centre project is fantastic. We were there together at its launch. The project will deliver a world-class visitor experience in the northern region of Ireland's Hidden Heartlands. There is fabulous potential associated with this brand-new visitor experience. The Shannon Pot discovery centre and enhanced Cavan Burren Park combine to make this unique and exciting experience. Construction is expected to begin in the first quarter of this year and the project is expected to be completed by the end of quarter 2 of next year.

I hope the Minister will be able to visit again. Local councillor John Paul Feeley and I worked very hard, along with Cavan County Council and Fáilte Ireland, to bring the project to this stage. Local constituents have told me that the Minister of State in the Department visited the geopark quite recently. He is very familiar with the area.

It is important that the interpretive centre, the discovery centre, promote the history and culture of the area and the importance of the River Shannon, our country's longest river at 360 km. The development of walking trails and a major viewing point will create economic activity and jobs and add to the general attraction of the cross-Border Burren area. We know about the boardwalk on the northern side of the Cuilcagh mountains and the huge number of visitors who go there annually. There is massive potential to grow the tourism product further.

The UNESCO cross-Border geopark would not have happened had the North–South Ministerial Council not been functioning at the time. Arlene Foster, as minister for investment and tourism in Northern Ireland and I, as a member of the Government here, were able to take a particular interest in the project and ensure funding was sourced from the European Union and our own Exchequers. That demonstrates clearly the potential of the North–South Ministerial Council and the further development of the tourism product on cross-Border and all-Ireland bases.

I am in absolute agreement with the Deputy, and that is why I so warmly welcome the restoration of the Assembly and Executive. I am really looking forward to working with my counterpart in the Executive and to the early convening of the North–South Ministerial Council. I have made contact with the office of the minister, Conor Murphy, and am looking forward to setting up a call at the earliest opportunity. There will be amazing shared opportunities in the period ahead to ensure the all-Ireland economy is supported. It is a source of prosperity, positivity, growth and livelihoods for many from all communities across this island.

I am asking this question on behalf of Deputy Munster who is dealing with a constituency matter. The Minister previously expressed a preference for direct Exchequer funding to replace the television licence. Will she provide an update on any correspondence, communications or meetings she has had with Government colleagues in this regard and will she make a statement on the matter? The public wants to see clarity on how this can be operated in the future.

Public service media is critical to our society, our distinct culture and language and our democracy. It requires and deserves a stable and sustainable funding model. I am strongly committed to securing a Government decision in that regard no later than the summer.

There are a number of options through which this aim can be delivered. It should be noted that I have not stated that direct Exchequer funding is the only way to do it. What I have said is that, given the impact the RTÉ controversy has had on TV licence revenue, further consideration of the Exchequer option is warranted. I have heard people raise concerns with regard to the potential risk of political interference in funding for public service media through the direct Exchequer funding model. However, this risk exists in all models, including the current model with respect to setting the level of the licence fee, or any household charge where, again, the level of charge would be set at political level. The challenge is to safeguard against these risks and the Future of Media Commission has set out such safeguards. These include funding levels being established and recommended by the independent regulator, Coimisiún na Meán, and limited scope for the Government to reject recommended funding levels were the direct Exchequer model to be decided on.

The real goal is to deliver a funding model for public service media that provides sufficient and stable funding, not only for our public service broadcasters, but also for the wider broadcasting and independent production sectors which are currently supported through the sound and vision scheme. It will also support print and online media delivering public service content through the new media fund. Coimisiún na Meán is currently developing the first schemes in that regard in respect of local democracy and court reporting. In order to achieve these aims, a number of potential options should be considered.

As I have stated on numerous occasions, high-level discussions on the report produced by the technical working group on TV licence reform are taking place, but a final decision will not be taken until after the reports of the two independent expert advisory committees are received. In advance of the matter being considered by the Government, it would not be appropriate for me to disclose either the options put forward by the technical working group or the discussions that are continuing with relevant Cabinet colleagues. However, the Government is absolutely committed to bringing forward a new funding model.

The Minister stated that a decision will be taken in the summer on how we will fund RTÉ and others. We all realise the spectacular work that was done, especially during the Covid-19 period, by some of our local radio stations and other local media. It is a matter of ensuring we have public sector media in this age of disinformation. It goes without saying, given what has come into the public domain in recent days, that there are still huge issues in accountability at RTÉ. The public has made a determination on that.

I accept what the Minister said about awaiting these reports, but to a degree that will not change anything. We all have the information. We know the various means available. The Minister already answered one of the questions. We are talking about direct Exchequer funding. It is possible, using Coimisiún na Meán or many other means, to ensure there is no political interference in funding for the media.

The Minister referred to the summer. Is she talking about the beginning or the end of the summer? The sooner we can bring clarity the better.

As I said earlier in the week in this Chamber, it will be before the summer, but the sooner the better as far as I am concerned. However, as the Deputy pointed out, the controversy has pointed to the fact that reform needs to go hand in glove with the decision on the funding model. That is why I am waiting for the two expert committee reports on culture and governance and on HR matters. They are the only reports commissioned by the Government and the only reports, since this controversy emerged at the end of June, that will make recommendations. I need to see the recommendations and I need to see commitment that they will be implemented. We will then move as swiftly as possible, with the support of my colleagues at Cabinet who want the decision on the funding model to be made quickly. Two of the key options are the Exchequer funding model and the household charge model, as the Taoiseach said.

The decision will be taken before the summer, but we are awaiting the two expert reports. Does the Minister have any notion of the timeline for that? Does it mean that no conversations or communications are taking place at Government level about a decision? Many of us believe there is enough information in the public domain to make the decision.

I welcome the Minister's statement that clarity has to be brought on this matter. This needs to be brought to an end as soon as possible. Sinn Féin has been clear this week that the only means of moving ahead is through direct Exchequer funding and that in our view the necessary protections to avoid political interference can definitely be provided. We all know the absolute necessity of public sector broadcasting. This has been a terrible time for those who work in RTÉ. It has led to huge anger about the lack of governance and disgraceful behaviour at certain times. This needs to be dealt with as soon as possible and as quickly as we can. It is as straightforward as that.

To follow on from my colleague, the Minister spoke about the reform aspect and waiting for the two Government reports. People are sceptical about that because the Future of Media Commission was commissioned and brought a report out before any of these scandals. That report should be taken on its own merits. People fear that the Government is kicking it down the road until after the local and European elections. From what we can gather, Fianna Fáil, and perhaps Fine Gael, want to bring in a new household charge. That would be vehemently opposed by ordinary hardworking people who have enough of more taxes being imposed on them. From what we can gather, the Green Party supports the same model as Sinn Féin, direct Exchequer funding, but it is not being allowed to proceed with it by the other Government parties. Will the Minister make a commitment that a decision will be taken before the local and European elections? Otherwise, we will conclude that the Government is playing politics with RTÉ. The revelations yesterday were astounding. People got €450,000 on their way out the door and we have to pay the tax liability on it. The total figure could be as high as €600,000.

The need for radical reform in RTÉ is obvious from the €450,000 paid to the former financial officer. It is shocking on top of all the revelations about obscene salaries. We need to get to the root of why this stuff happened. Part of the reason was that RTÉ moved away from a public service remit and became too embroiled in advertising and commercial considerations. Then all the executives thought they had to be paid the same as those who work in the corporate sector, abandoning their public service remit. To resolve the matter, we need, as well as reform at the top, direct Exchequer funding that is not reliant on commercial sponsorship. How do we pay for that? We have been arguing for months that a tax should be put on the profits of social media companies. This could easily fund RTÉ through direct Exchequer funding. It would give us additional money for public service broadcasting. The ordinary workers, including crew and others, should not pay the price - nor should the public in terms of the quality of public service broadcasting - for the crimes of a few at the top of RTÉ.

A number of issues were raised. The Government is clear in its commitment to the reform of the TV licence. I said in recent weeks that I am certainly not fearful of making that decision ahead of the European elections. What is of paramount importance is that a decision is made. I respectfully suggest that it is certainly not Government parties that are playing politics with RTÉ. Of course there will be different views. It is certainly not the case that our coalition partners are not allowing the Green Party to do this.

With the greatest respect, this is grown-up politics. We are a coalition, we are working together and we are committed to making this decision. Of course there will be different views and this is what we are teasing out at the minute. This to be expected of an-----

With the greatest respect, I did not speak over Deputy Gould. This is to be expected with an issue of such importance. It is to be welcomed that these different views are expressed and teased out to ensure we get to the right decision. I am not afraid. I am the Minister with responsibility for media and I will take this decision and make a recommendation to the Government. There is no fear of local and European elections. What I am concerned with is the future of public service media being put on a sure footing. That is my focus, not the politics involved or being fearful of elections. We need to deliver a message regarding how we value public service media and the only way to do that is to deliver the decision on the future funding model.

My Department works to support language networks right across the island of Ireland, including through the work of Foras na Gaeilge. In particular, the language planning process as set out under the Gaeltacht Act 2012 provides for the formal recognition of Gaeltacht service towns and Irish language networks as identified under the Act.

Gaeltacht service towns are towns in, or adjacent to, Gaeltacht language planning areas that play a significant role in the delivery of public services and leisure, social and commercial amenities to the community of those areas. Under the Act, a town must have a population of at least 1,000, according to the most recent census, to be included as a Gaeltacht service town. Recognition under the Act will be provided to Gaeltacht service towns providing language plans have been agreed with the communities concerned in accordance with prescribed language planning criteria.

Cork city has always had a vibrant Irish-speaking community with strong links to the Gaeltacht areas of the county and County Kerry. In this regard, the city has been short-listed, together with 15 other towns, as urban centres that may be accorded Gaeltacht service town status subject to language plans being developed in accordance with the provisions of the Act.

A broad range of schemes, supports and initiatives is already being deployed in support of the language in Cork city, as set out on my Department's website. Building on this, the most appropriate approach for my Department in providing structured support for the promotion of the Irish language in Cork city is being discussed by my officials with Foras na Gaeilge and with local stakeholders. The Aire Stáit and my Department will be happy to keep the Deputy informed as these discussions advance.

The irony here is that I am asking this question in English because I do not have the Irish to do it. However, the one thing I can say, and I am really proud of it, is that my two daughters could ask this question as Gaeilge. This is because they went to a local Gaelscoil - Gaelscoil Pheig Sayers in Fearann Phiarais. The fact that there was a local Gaelscoil available to them - it was not around when I was young - meant they were able to learn the language and become fluent in it. I am on the board of Gaelscoil Pheig Sayers. This school has tripled in size in the past number of years because people want their children to be educated in the language. They want to have that option.

We have seen a surge in people wanting their children to be able to speak the language. Aside from Gaelscoil Pheig Sayers, we have Gaelcholáiste Mhic Shuibhne in Knocknaheeny, we have seen significant growth in Gaelcholáiste Mhuire on North Monastery Road in Cork, which has hundreds of pupils in second level and we also have Mayfield Community School. There is, therefore, a vibrant community of Irish speakers that we want to build on.

You do not have to be fluent in the Irish language to love our native tongue. I commend the Deputy for showing that love of the language and trying to support it here. We should never be fearful of stumbling, getting grammar wrong or forgetting our séimhiús. It is about using and promoting the language, even if it is through putting questions in English, which is fantastic. It is wonderful to see the surge in numbers of people wishing to learn the language mentioned by the Deputy.

Pending the agreement of the language plan, the issues of financial support for Gaelscoileanna and employing language assistants in Cork city's Irish-medium schools have already been raised with my officials. They are being actively considered by my officials and I expect a decision will be made in due course.

It is good to hear about the initiative and that Cork city is being targeted as one of the areas where the language will be supported. I would like to see vacant buildings used. In my community on the northside of Cork, there are buildings that are free. We could have a Gaeltacht hub in the area with a café, meeting rooms, library and a place to hold events. That would encourage the schools and the community to buy in. The problem for Irish speakers at the moment is that there is no place they can go and be with other Irish speakers. I am also thinking of people like me who want to go somewhere to improve their Irish. I welcome the initiative but I ask that the use of vacant buildings be considered.

My Department has a scheme to develop Irish language centres and there might be potential to do something in Cork in that regard. I will follow up with my officials and get back to the Deputy. There is a scheme to develop Irish language centres and I believe there is potential for doing something in Cork in this regard given the desire for the promotion of and support for the Irish language.

The Minister and I have already confirmed that a new round of the large-scale sports infrastructure fund will open for applications in the first half of this year. We are still working out the dates and terms and conditions. They will be confirmed in due course. The programme is aimed primarily at national governing bodies of sport and local authorities but others such as philanthropic funders, clubs and voluntary organisations can apply. In general, they have to be prioritised by a local authority or a governing body. We may change that to include education and training boards.

It is very important that anybody considering applying for the LSSIF is aware of the new rule I was proud to introduce that men and women must have similar access to the facilities. This is a critical part of the programme. Recipients of funding must have a published policy showing how that is the case in practice.

I thank the Minister and Minister of State for their continued investment in the sports capital programme. Their indication that they will open this funding scheme in the first half of this year is very positive news. I know of the important role sport plays in people's lives in Mayo. We cannot but invest in facilities. In Castlebar, we are very fortunate that we have the sports complex at Lough Lannagh but there is a significant appetite to make a subsequent application for a large-scale multi-use sports complex, including a 4G football pitch and an all-weather tartan athletics track. That is really important. We did not have the opportunity to apply in 2018 and 2019 and it is six years on. Working with the local authority, this could be a really positive facility for Castlebar and Mayo, making it a sporting hub for tourism and attracting people to the county for sporting events.

I look forward to this scheme opening.

I was delighted to visit Lough Lannagh with the Deputy and Senator Chambers some months ago. To be honest, the Deputy brought me but he should probably invite all the chief executives of local authorities around the country to see what is in Castlebar. It is a fantastic facility. I cannot give any commitments here on the floor of the Dáil to any particular projects but that type of project, which is genuinely community based, municipal, provides a variety of sport and is open to the public, is exactly the type of project we want for the large-scale sports infrastructure fund. I will leave that in the hands of Mayo County Council, should it wish to apply, and there will be a fully transparent process in terms of how that particular funding is allocated.

I thank the Minister of State for his response. He might provide me with a copy of the 2019 application that was submitted by Mayo County Council for the Mayo multi-sport outdoor adventure and sports tourism hub. It is critically important that we start working on this application now with the local authority and that we review the previous scoring and application that was submitted to ensure that we have the feasibility report, the operational business strategy, the project programme, detailed cost plan and the cost plan for delivery. That is something I will work on over the next number of weeks and months to ensure that we have a strong application for Mayo and that this project can be achievable, and that it can be delivered by the local authority in conjunction with this Government.

This is very good news. I suppose we only need to get the date and the terms of reference and make sure people have enough time. I have spoken to the Minister of State previously regarding the League of Ireland. It is flying on some level, but sustainability is all about stadium. Obviously, I am talking particularly about Dundalk FC at this point in time. It is a matter of making sure that we have the scheme up and running, the terms of reference and that people can apply.

There will be a competitive process for this. We will not be building stadiums all around Ireland. I want to get that message out. It is not financially possible to do that. Every application will have to come either from a local authority or a national governing body, or perhaps an education and training board. Those organisations then have to stand over the project and deliver it. Deliverability is key because, in the previous round, due to various factors, many of these projects are only starting to get delivered now and we had to give extra funding to the ones that were announced in 2020. Deliverability is key.

The other key point is participation. How does this project increase participation in sport in the area? How does it get people more physically active?

What I would suggest to anybody who is seeking to apply, that is, those bodies, is that they get to work shortly because we expect to open it soon. They can look at previous applications, if they were unsuccessful, but also the general template from the previous occasion. The template will be similar; it will not be the same. There is a lot of work to do to get those ready and I strongly encourage those who are interested to start looking at that.

I do not want to give people the expectation that somehow there will be a Colosseum in every town in Ireland. There will not be. What I hope to see out of this is a significant number of added sporting facilities that people can enjoy and participate in sport in.