Tá sé ráite ag Teachta Dála Shinn Féin do Ghaillimh Thiar Mairéad Farrell go bhfuil an Ghaeltacht agus an Ghaeilge “in áit na leathphingine arís eile ag Fine Gael agus Fianna Fáil” sa gcáipéis polasaí atá aontaithe ag an dá pháirtí sin ar mhaithe le comhrialtas a bhunú.

Dúirt an Teachta Farrell:

“Tá cáipéis polasaí 24 leathanach aontaithe ag Fianna Fáil agus Fine Gael a leagann amach a gcuid tosaíochtaí don chéad rialtas eile. Caithfidh mé a rá gur cúis mhór iontais dom nach bhfuil fiú is aon tagairt amháin don Ghaeltacht sa gcáipéis seo. Is mór an náire í sin.

“Tá dhá thagairt fánach don Ghaeilge le fáil sa gcáipéis ach is fánach iad. Ar cheann acu tá gealltanas go dtabharfar deis do dhaoine óga meas a bheith acu ar an teanga agus is é atá sa gceann eile go dtabharfar aitheantas do ról na Gaeilge maidir le leas pearsanta an duine aonair agus leas an phobail. Is ionann é sin agus siombalachas fealltach i leith na teanga nach gcabhróidh léi a bheag ná a mhór.

“I ndeireadh na Dála tá an Ghaeltacht in áit na leathphingine arís eile ag Fine Gael agus Fianna Fáil. Tá a fhios againn cheana go bhfuil ráta dífhostaíochta sa nGaeltacht ar an iomlán i bhfad níos airde ná ceantracha tuaithe eile, cúig oiread níos airde i gceantair áirithe. Deich mbliana ó shin, in 2010, bhí buiséad caipitil €18 milliún ag Údarás na Gaeltachta. I mbliana níl ann ach €10 milliún. Le linn an ama sin tá ardú mór tagtha ar an méid a fhaigheann an IDA agus Fiontraíocht Éireann.

“Tá an t-uafás bearnaí fós i leith infreastruchtúr na Gaeltachta. Fadhbanna móra maidir le soláthar uisce, bóithre, córais séarachas, leathanbhanda agus eile. Mura bhfuil Fianna Fáil ná Fine Gael sásta fiú aird ar bith a thabhairt ar ghéarchéim na Gaeltachta i gcáipéis thábhachtach mar seo, shílfeá gur beag an seans go mbeidh fuascailt in ann do na fadhbanna seo.

“Caithfear clár rialtais a aontú sa stát seo a thugann aghaidh ar na ceisteanna is mó atá ag goilliúnt ar an bpobal. Tá an ghéarchéim teanga, infreastruchtúr agus fostaíochta sa nGaeltacht ar cheann acu sin, gan aon cheist.

“Má tá an chéad rialtas eile dáiríre faoi shlánú na Gaeltachta, is é a bhéas ar a gclár oibre – Aire Sinsearach don Ghaeilge agus don Ghaeltacht; toghcháin phoiblí do bhord Údarás na Gaeltachta mar aon le maoiniú agus cumhachtaí breise; geallúint go gcuirfear maoiniú cuí ar fáil do phleananna teanga; agus plean mór infheistíochta i gcomhair infreastruchtúr na Gaeltachta.”

CRÍOCH//

Note to editors: English copy below.

Gaeltacht “in the ha’penny place” one again by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael – Mairéad Farrell TD

Sinn Féin TD for Galway West Mairéad Farrell has said that the Gaeltacht and the Irish language have been left in “the ha’penny place once again by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael” in the policy document agreed by both parties as the basis for government formation.

Deputy Farrell said:

“Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have agreed a 24 page policy document that lays out their key priorities for the next government. It came as a surprise to me to find that there is not even one mention of the Gaeltacht in this document.

“There are two references to the Irish language, but they amount to meaningless rhetoric. One commitment is for every child to be given ‘the opportunity to develop their creativity, appreciate the Irish language, and learn history.’ The other is to recognise ‘the role of the arts, culture and the Irish language in our personal and community wellbeing’. These statements reflect the kind of deceitful symbolism towards the language that will deliver nothing in practice.

“At the end of the day, the Gaeltacht has been left in the ha’penny place once again by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. We already know that the unemployment rate is a lot higher in the Gaeltacht compared to other rural areas, up to five times higher in certain regions. Ten years ago Údarás na Gaeltachta – the primary employment creation body in the Gaeltacht – had a capital budget of €18 million.

“This year it is only €10 million. During that same period, there has been a significant increase in the amount of funds granted to the IDA and Enterprise Ireland.

“Many gaps remain in Gaeltacht infrastructure. There are major problems with water supply, road quality, waste water treatment systems, broadband and more besides. If Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are not even happy to include one reference to the Gaeltacht in a policy document as important as this, what hope do we have that they will go about address these various crises?

“A programme for government is required that takes on the big issues facing ordinary people. The language, infrastructure and employment crises in Gaeltacht regions have to be included in this.

“If the next government is to genuinely protect the future of our Gaeltacht, the work plan needs to include at a minimum: a Senior Minister for Irish language and Gaeltacht affairs; public elections to the board of Údarás na Gaeltachta along with adequate funding and powers; commitments to properly fund language plans; and a major infrastructure plan for the Gaeltacht.”