Vol. 1029 No. 5
1. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will provide details of any plans she has for the hotel and accommodation sector in 2023, with particular regard to the effect of the Ukrainian refugee crisis on the sustainability of the sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56967/22]
Will the Minister provide details of any plans she has for the hotel and accommodation sector in 2023, with particular regard to the effect of the Ukrainian refugee crisis on the sustainability of the sector? Will she will make a statement on the matter, please?
Ireland is resolute in its solidarity and support for Ukraine and we are honouring our commitment to help people who have been displaced by this horrendous war. More than 63,000 people who have been forced to leave their homes in Ukraine have sought refuge in Ireland, and approximately 45,000 of these people are being provided with accommodation from the State. However, this war is causing ongoing challenges such as rising energy prices, scarcity of energy supply and supply chain issues including accommodation. This is by some distance the largest humanitarian operation undertaken by the Irish State, and tourism accommodation has played a vital part in this national response. However, I recognise the growing concern among the wider tourism industry about how the amount of tourism bed stock taken out of the system for humanitarian reasons is likely to have a real impact on tourism's recovery in 2023 and beyond. In addition, hotel accommodation is not an ideal medium- to long-term solution for the accommodation needs of families, and this is why the Government is exploring a wide range of alternative options, including the rolling out of a rapid-build housing programme to provide accommodation for families fleeing the war in Ukraine. My officials have communicated these concerns to the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, which is working urgently across government and with agencies, NGOs and local authorities to bring new accommodation on board so that the State's humanitarian responsibilities can be met. In addition, my Department is participating in the senior officials' group that is focusing on meeting the current humanitarian accommodation and other needs.
As the Minister is aware, the tourism sector is coming out of a very difficult few years after Covid-19 restrictions, on top of which there are the cost-of-living crisis, the energy crisis and the influx of refugees from the Ukrainian conflict. However, media reports yesterday covered the Irish Tourism Industry Confederation, ITIC, issuing of a report, Irish Tourism: Impact of Ukrainian Conflict. The report says that Ireland is an outlier in Europe in regard to its over-reliance on tourist beds for refugees. The report also says that almost 22% of tourist accommodation in the State is currently used by the State for refugees both from Ukraine and other parts, and that is expected to rise with the influx of refugees over the winter months. It says that the Government figure suggests 76% of Ukrainian refugees in Ireland are being accommodated in tourist facilities. As the Minister knows, we have heard other reports about the severe knock-on effect this has had on the sector. Has the Minister met with the Minister, Deputy O’Gorman, to try to find a solution to this?
I thank Deputy Munster. As I said, we are resolute in our solidarity and support for Ukraine. More than 45,000 Ukrainian people have sought accommodation from the State in addition to more than 16,000 international protection applicants. This compares with 7,500 at the same time last year. The Minister, Deputy O'Gorman's, Department has sourced accommodation for the equivalent of the population of Waterford city in the past six months. My officials have communicated concerns to the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, especially in respect of the peak period, which starts from around St. Patrick's Day onwards. I have communicated these concerns also to the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman. That is why I am glad my Department is represented on that senior officials' group that is focusing on meeting the current humanitarian accommodation and other needs and conveying the concerns of the tourism sector.
About 80% of refugees have been put up in facilities outside of Dublin. That means the knock-on effect on those areas is particularly harsh when it comes to tourism. The ITIC also estimates there could be a loss of up to €1 billion in earnings and hundreds of job losses. That represents a serious threat to the industry. The Minister said the Government is looking at a rapid house building programme, but in all fairness, how long have we been hearing that? As the Minister said, the pressure will really be on in earnest in early spring. I do not get from what the Minister just said that there is a plan in place already that will be fit for purpose come the springtime to accommodate refugees fleeing conflict anywhere other than hotels. That is going to have a detrimental effect on our tourism for 2023.
Hotel accommodation has been seen from the very beginning as a short term solution. It is not an ideal medium- to long-term solution for the accommodation needs of families. That is why the Government is exploring the wide range of alternative options, including the rolling out of a rapid-build housing programme. The use of tourist accommodation to meet humanitarian needs, while necessary in the short term, has obviously led to concerns for everyone involved in tourism, from what I have heard from engagement with the sector. My Department is represented on the senior officials' group on this issue. In addition, my Department has regular engagement with the sector representatives on a range of issues, including this. Department officials will next meet with the tourism agencies and tourism sector representatives on 6 December 2022. There is ongoing engagement with the Department of the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, and between me and the Minister, and I have conveyed the concerns of the industry.
The next speaker is missing, so we will move on to the next question, and it is Deputy Munster again.
3. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she has had any communications with RTÉ on the matter of pay discrepancies between workers in Raidió na Gaeltachta and those in English language RTÉ radio stations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56968/22]
Has the Minister had any communications with RTÉ on the matter of pay discrepancies between workers in Raidió na Gaeltachta and those in English language RTÉ radio stations, and will she will make a statement on the matter?
Tá sé ríthábhachtach domsa go dtugtar stádas comhionann don Ghaeilge i ngach réimse den saol, ach go háirithe i leith na craoltóireachta, a bhfuil ról ríthábhachtach aici i múnlú fhéiniúlacht agus chultúr na hÉireann.
As the Deputy will recall, this issue of potential pay discrepancies between workers in Raidió na Gaeltachta and their English language counterparts, and the ongoing review by RTÉ of its grading structure, was raised during Committee Stage of the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill on 26 October last. I know it is something of which Deputy Munster has been cognisant and has brought to the fore. At that time, if she remembers, I undertook to seek clarification from RTÉ on the issue and to respond to the committee. On foot of this, my officials wrote to RTÉ seeking such clarification, and in response RTÉ has provided further detail on the ongoing review process.
I am informed that the review process involves a detailed and full evaluation of all staff roles and grades, including an assessment of the organisation's skills and requirements as a modern media organisation. I am aware that when the matter was raised with RTÉ by the Committee of Public Accounts earlier this year, at the meeting to which Deputy Munster referred, the director general confirmed that a comparison between Irish language workers and their English language counterparts was not specifically included in the terms of reference for the current process. However, it is designed to enable RTÉ to devise a simplified grading structure with fairness and transparency across all roles, including those in Raidió na Gaeltachta. The process is ongoing and is likely to be concluded in June of next year.
The Deputy will be aware that, in accordance with the provisions of the Broadcasting Act 2009, RTÉ is independent in the pursuit of its objects, both in terms of editorial decisions and its day-to-day management and operational activities. However, parity of esteem for the Irish language is very important and, therefore, I share the Deputy's concerns to ensure there is no disparity in pay that is purely related to the language through which someone conducts their work. As such, I have written to RTÉ this week asking that it communicates directly with the joint committee to set out how this process could address the committee's concerns about the terms of employment of Irish language workers.
As the Minister said, I have raised this at several committees, including the joint committee with responsibility for media and the Committee of Public Accounts. When I raised the issue at the Committee of Public Accounts, the RTÉ representatives at that time gave a commitment to review the situation. We chased it up with them because we had got no response, and they came back eventually and said that was not happening. While I appreciate the response the Minister got, when I first raised this at the Committee of Public Accounts, it was April 2021, so I suspect they are dragging their heels. The Minister said there is an ongoing review. I would say to the Minister that we need to keep on top of this. It is discrimination, and there is no other way to describe it.
While the Minister respects the independence of RTÉ as a public broadcaster, we certainly will not be turning a blind eye to blatant discrimination, which is what this is. I do not hold much faith in the ongoing review. I think they are giving the same spiel they gave to us in the Committee of Public Accounts, and then when we press them, there is nothing happening at all. We need to keep on top of this and not let them away with this or let them continue that practice.
I share the Deputy’s concern to make sure there is no disparity in pay. That is why, after Committee Stage of the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill, I committed to the Oireachtas joint committee that we would have follow-up discussions with RTÉ, which my officials did. I have written to RTÉ, with regard to disparity in pay which is purely related to the language through which someone conducts their work, outlining that there must be equality. While those in RTÉ, through the engagement with officials, have provided further detail on the ongoing process, I have asked them to communicate directly with the committee to set out how the process will address the pay disparity. I think we are on the same page in keeping a focus on this.
That is very much appreciated. What I would suggest, and we will do this at committee level, is to request detail and a timeframe from RTÉ. It is funded by the licence payer. A practice of discrimination against Irish language workers is just not tolerable. I want them to prove me wrong but, up until now, they have not given me much faith. The Minister may be able to assist the committee in looking for specific detail as to what stage the review is at, what the review entails specifically in this area to address this pay disparity, and a timeframe in which we can see this discrimination and pay disparity addressed.
Parity of esteem for the Irish language is very important. I have asked RTÉ in my communication with it this week that it communicates directly with the joint committee to set out this process, which I think will address what the Deputy is looking for, and set out how that process could address the committee's concerns about the terms of employment of Irish language workers. I do not wish to pre-empt what further clarity RTÉ might provide but I am more than happy to continue the engagement with RTÉ on this matter.
4. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán an bhfuair sí cóip den phlean infheistíochta don Ghaeilge agus don Ghaeltacht ó 2024 go 2026 de chuid Chonradh na Gaeilge agus an bhfuil a Roinn tar éis an phlean a scrúdú. [57251/22]
An bhfaca an tAire Stáit, nó an bhfuair sé, cóip den phlean infheistíochta don Ghaeilge agus don Ghaeltacht? Seo dréacht atá á scaipeadh ag Conradh na Gaeilge faoi láthair mar gheall ar an infheistíocht gur gá chun an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn sa todhchaí.
Tuigim go bhfuil dréacht den phlean infheistíochta foilsithe ag Conradh na Gaeilge le cúpla lá anuas agus go bhfuil cóip den dréacht feicthe ag feidhmeannaigh mo Roinne. Ó tharla gur dréacht é, níl sé i gceist agam aon ráiteas a dhéanamh ina leith ag an tráth seo. É sin ráite, is féidir a bheith cinnte go leanfaidh mo Roinn ag cabhrú mar is cuí le cúnamh reatha agus caipitil a chur ar fáil faoi na cláir Ghaeilge agus Ghaeltachta ar leas foriomlán na teanga agus an phobail.
Mar is eol don Teachta, tá infheistíocht shuntasach déanta ag an Rialtas seo sa Ghaeilge agus sa Ghaeltacht le cúpla bliain anuas. D'éirigh liom méadú 10% a fháil ar mhaoiniú d’earnáil na Gaeltachta don bhliain seo chugainn, arb ionann le €8.5 milliún de mhaoiniú breise, agus leithdháileadh iomlán de €94.2 milliún don bhliain 2023. Is ag tógáil ar an méadú a fuarthas don earnáil i 2022 atá an t-allúntas breise seo don bhliain seo chugainn. Úsáidfear an maoiniú méadaithe seo chun na héachtaí a baineadh amach go dtí seo le cur chun feidhme Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla (Leasú) 2021 a fhorbairt tuilleadh agus chun pobail na Gaeilge agus na Gaeltachta a fhorbairt agus a chothú sna blianta seo romhainn.
Sa chomhthéacs sin, ba mhaith liom tagairt ar leith a dhéanamh don straitéis do na healaíona teanga-bhunaithe agus an plean digiteach nua don Ghaeilge atá le foilsiú roimh dheireadh na bliana. Déanaim tagairt freisin don infheistíocht shuntasach atá déanta ag an Rialtas seo i TG4 le cúpla bliain anuas, agus ardú os cionn 40% ar leibhéal maoinithe an stáisiúin le trí bliana anuas. San áireamh leis an soláthar don bhliain seo chugainn, tá €3.3 milliún chun cainéal teilifíse Gaeilge do leanaí a bhunú, rud a bhí á éileamh le blianta. Cuirfidh sé ar chumas TG4 freastal níos fearr a dhéanamh ar na pobail sin a labhraíonn Gaeilge agus deiseanna a chruthú do chainteoirí Gaeilge tríd ábhar a choimisiúnú ó earnáil na léiritheoirí neamhspleácha. Tosóimid 2023 le fuinneamh athnuaite agus le fios againn go bhfuil maoiniú breise ar fáil dúinn chun tacú le forbairt leanúnach na Gaeilge agus na bpobal Gaeltachta.
Ní hé go raibh mé ag súil go mbeadh an tAire Stáit ag tabhairt achoimre ar cad atá foilsithe go dtí seo ag Conradh na Gaeilge ach go raibh mé ag iarraidh déanamh cinnte de go bhfuil sé ar an eolas faoi agus, cosúil le gach duine eile, go mbeidh sé ag moladh do dhaoine cuidiú leis an gconradh nó leo siúd atá ag iarraidh pleananna a chur chun cinn ar mhaithe leis an nGaeilge agus ar mhaithe le hinfheistíocht bhreise a lorg don Ghaeilge.
Sa doiciméad atá agam anseo, tarraingíonn an conradh ár n-aird ar cé chomh as riocht atá an coibhneas idir Údarás na Gaeltachta agus an IDA agus Fiontraíocht Éireann agus an coibhneas idir an Chomhairle Ealaíon agus Foras na Gaeilge. Tá beagán fáis tar éis teacht ar an airgead atá á infheistiú ach tá i bhfad Éireann níos mó á fháil ag na heagrais eile ó thaobh céatadán agus pinginí de i gcomparáid le na heagrais Ghaeilge.
Ó tháinig an Rialtas seo i bhfeidhm, tá ardú suntasach ar an mbuiséad don Ghaeilge agus don Ghaeltacht bliain i ndiaidh bliana, rud a fhágann go bhfuil ardú os cionn 40%, beagnach €30 milliún breise, sa bhuiséad don bhliain seo chugainn i gcomparáid leis an mbuiséad trí bliana ó shin. Is é sin an difríocht faoin Rialtas seo. Chomh maith leis sin, thóg muid isteach Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla (Leasú) 2021 ag deireadh na bliana seo caite. Tá €1 milliún ar fáil chun tús a chur le forbairtí nua ó thaobh na Gaeilge sa Státseirbhís araon le buiséad níos mó agus foireann bhreise in oifig an Choimisinéara Teanga. Go luath, beidh mé ag seoladh plean digiteach don Ghaeilge agus straitéis do na healaíona teangabhunaithe. Tá infheistíocht shuntasach á pleanáil againn sna blianta beaga romhainn. Táimid tiomanta. Nuair a fheictear ar an allúntas atá ag Údarás na Gaeltachta an bhliain seo chugainn i gcomparáid leis an méid a bhí á fháil aige trí nó ceithre bliana ó shin, feictear go bhfuil difríocht an-mhór ann. Beimid ag scrúdú an plean seo ó Chonradh na Gaeilge agus táim tiomanta chun an infheistíocht seo a fheabhsú tríd na blianta.
Léiríonn an plean seo go bhfuil pobal na Gaeilge ag féachaint ar an todhchaí agus ag iarraidh an Ghaeilge agus an Ghaeltacht a chosaint, cur le líon na nGaeilgeoirí sa tír ina iomláine agus cosaint cheart a thabhairt don Ghaeltacht. Is é sin an fáth go bhfuil plean uaillmhianach de dhíth a leagfadh amach go díreach cén caiteachas atá riachtanach ní sna cáinaisnéisí bliain i ndiaidh bliana, ach thar tréimhse níos faide. Tá an conradh ag déanamh an iarracht sin. Ní hé go n-aontaím le gach rud atá ann ach tá smaointe maithe ann agus ba chóir dúinn ar fad, san Fhreasúra agus sa Rialtas, féachaint air seo agus, más féidir linn in aon chor, cuidiú agus cur leis. Tá aitheantas tugtha don Aire Stáit agus don Rialtas as an airgead atá caite go dtí seo agus as an airgead a bheidh á chaitheamh, ach is léir ón dréacht seo gur gá i bhfad Éireann níos mó ó thaobh caiteachais Stáit de chun an coibhneas a bhí ann idir na heagrais a luaigh mé a bhaint amach arís. Táthar ag caint faoi mhilliúin de phuint bhreise a chaitheamh gach bliain.
Mar a dúirt mé, tá sé an-tábhachtach an plean infheistíochta seo a scrúdú. Tá mo Roinn i dteagmháil le Conradh na Gaeilge an t-am ar fad maidir le gach rud. Tá sé tábhachtach go bhfuil an plean seo ag Conradh na Gaeilge. Mar is eol don Teachta, is ar fheidhmiú leanúnach an plean gníomhaíochta don Ghaeilge agus an straitéis 20 bliain don Ghaeilge atá clár oibre mo Roinn dírithe. Go deimhin, sheol mé an tríú tuairisc bhliantúil ar dul chun cinn an phlean ghníomhaíochta le déanaí ag Oireachtas na Samhna i gCill Áirne. Tá sé le feiceáil go bhfuil dul chun cinn á dhéanamh, go háirithe leis an bpróiseas pleanála teanga. Tugadh maoiniú suntasach breise d'Údarás na Gaeltachta le dhá bhliain anuas chun fostaíocht a chruthú sa Ghaeltacht agus le dul i ngleic leis na fadhbanna a chruthaigh an phaindéim dá chuid cliantchomhlachtaí. Leis an méadú 10% ar bhuiséad na Gaeilge agus na Gaeltachta don bhliain seo chugainn, beidh mo Roinn ag breathnú ar cad ar chóir a dhéanamh leis an gciste ardaithe chun go mbeifear in ann an leas is fearr is féidir a bhaint as sna blianta atá romhainn.
