20241229_IRISH__an_rialtas_mi-shasta_faoi_chostas_an_jeanie_johnston

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The government is unhappy about the cost of the Jeanie Johnston.

An rialtas mí-shásta faoi chostas an Jeanie Johnston.

RTÉ News and Current Affairs The Government was advised at the beginning of this century that the boat The Jeanie Johnston should be scrapped and no further funding should be provided to the project.

Nuacht agus Cúrsaí Reatha RTÉ Comhairlíodh don Rialtas ag tús an chéid seo gur cheart fáil réidh leis an bhád An Jeanie Johnston agus gan a thuilleadh maoiniú a dhéanamh ar an tionscnamh.

The intention was to build a replica of the famine-era boat and sail it to America and Canada.

Bhí sé i gceist macasamhail den bhád ó aimsir an ghorta a thógáil agus seoladh go Meiriceá agus Ceanada inti.

The boat would give the people of those countries an insight into their connection to Ireland and the underworld.

Thabharfadh an bád léargas do phobal na dtíortha sin ar an cheangal a bhí acu le hÉirinn agus leis an drochshaol.

The project also had an all-Ireland dimension and it was envisaged that young people from Unionist and Nationalist backgrounds would have the opportunity to train on it when the boat was being built.

Bhí toise uile Éireann ag baint leis an togra fosta agus samhlaíodh go bhfaigheadh daoine óga ó chúlra Aontachtach agus Náisiúnach deis traenála uirthi nuair a bheadh an bád á thógáil.

But by the beginning of 2002 the project was facing major difficulties.

Ach fá thús na bliana 2002 bhí deacrachtaí móra ag an tionscnamh.

The underlying company was insolvent and there were cases pending in the High Court against it.

Bhí an comhlacht a bhí ina bhun dócmhainneach agus bhí cásanna ar siúl san Ard-Chúirt ina éadan.

There were concerns that the company would have to shut down and dispose of the vessel.

Bhíothas buartha go mbeadh ar an chomhlacht dúnadh síos agus go mbeadh orthu fáil réidh leis an árthach.

The Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources, Frank Fahey, established a focus group to investigate the matter and their conclusions can be read in an Aide Memoire prepared by the Minister for a Government meeting on the subject.

Bhunaigh Aire na Mara agus Acmhainní Nádúrtha, Frank Fahey, grúpa fócais chun an scéal a fhiosrú agus tá a gcuid conclúidí siúd le léamh in Aide Memoire a d’ullmhaigh an tAire do chruinniú Rialtais ar an ábhar.

That document is now available in the National Archives as a result of the rule that forces the State to release documents relating to Anglo-Irish relations after twenty years.

Tá an cháipéis sin ar fáil anois sa Chartlann Náisiúnta mar thoradh na rialach a chuireann iachall ar an Stát cáipéisí a bhaineann leis an chaidreamh Angla- Éireannach a scaoileadh tar éis fiche bliain.

The Minister said in the Aide Memoire that the initiative had problems from the beginning.

Dúirt an tAire san Aide Memoire go raibh fadhbanna ag an tionscnamh ón tús.

The company that was contracted failed to meet their deadlines and the budget that was set for them.

Theip ar an chomhlacht a bhí plé leis cloí lena gcuid spriocamanna agus leis an bhuiséad a bhí leagtha amach dóibh.

The estimated cost had increased significantly from €3.8m to €14.4m – an increase of 377%.

Bhí an costas measta ardaithe go mór ó €3.8m go €14.4m – ardú ionann is 377 faoin gcéad .

The boat was supposed to sail to America in 2001 but it wasn’t finished on time.

Bhí an bád in ainm a bheith ag seoladh go Meiriceá i 2001 ach ní raibh sí críochnaithe in am.

The focus group set up by the Minister did not put a dent in it in the report they gave him.

Níor chuir an grúpa fócais a bhunaigh an tAire fiacal ann sa tuairisc a thug siad dó.

They said the initiative had shortcomings from the beginning.

Dúirt siad go raibh easnaimh sa tionscnamh ón tús.

They outlined three options for Minister Fahey: 1. Not to provide any additional funding for the project and to sell the boat to clear their debts.

Leag siad amach trí rogha don Aire Fahey: 1.Gan aon mhaoiniú breise a thabhairt don tionscnamh agus go ndíolfaí an bád lena gcuid fiacha a ghlanadh.

2.

2.

€0.63m in funding was provided for the boat so that it could sail to America.

Maoiniú €0.63m a chuir ar fáil don bhád le go mbeadh sí ábalta seoladh go Meiriceá.

After that, it should be left or sold elsewhere.

Ba cheart ina dhiaidh sin í a fhágáil nó a dhíol thall.

3.

3.

Take the boat into state ownership and use it as a training boat.

An bád a chur faoi sheilbh an stáit agus í a úsáid mar bhád traenála.

But the conclusion to be drawn from the focus group’s advice was that they could not envisage any long-term use for the boat “which will not involve the State in ongoing subvention to the project and financial risk.”

Ach b’é an tátal a bhí le baint ó chomhairle an ghrúpa fócais ná nach bhféadfaidís aon úsáid fhadtréimhseach a shamhlú don bhád “which will not involve the State in ongoing subvention to the project and financial risk.”

A decision would have to be made, they thought, whether to sell the boat immediately or wait until it sailed to America and sell it there.

Bheadh cinneadh le déanamh, dar leo, an bád a dhíol láithreach nó fanacht go seolfadh sí go Meiriceá agus í a dhíol ansin.

That decision would depend on liabilities and debt sales.

Bheadh an cinneadh sin ag brath ar dhliteanais agus ar dhíol fiacha.

Kerry County Council had lost a lot of money, especially on the project.

Bhí go leor airgid caillte ag Comhairle Chontae Chiarraí ach go háirithe ar an tionscnamh.

The Minister recommended that the County Council oversee the process of voluntary liquidation of the company dealing with the project; and find a way to continue with the project that would be satisfactory to all interested parties.

Mhol an tAire go ndéanfadh an Chomhairle Contae maoirseacht ar an phróiseas le leachtú toilteanach a dhéanamh ar an chomhlacht a bhí ag plé leis an tionscnamh; agus teacht ar bhealach chun leanúint ar aghaidh leis an tionscnamh a bheadh sásúil do na páirtithe leasmhara uilig.

He suggested, however, that it would not be further funded: “in view of the widespread public disquiet over the financial excesses of this project, and the evidence of serious mismanagement by the Company, the Minister feels strongly that any such approach should include a rigorous examination of the project from its inception and a thorough investigation into the actions of the Company which led to the current financial position of the project.”

Mhol sé, áfach, nach ndéanfaí a thuilleadh maoiniú air: “in view of the widespread public disquiet over the financial excesses of this project, and the evidence of serious mismanagement by the Company, the Minister feels strongly that any such approach should include a rigorous examination of the project from its inception and a thorough investigation into the actions of the Company which led to the current financial position of the project.”

On 5 February 2002, the Government accepted the recommendation that Kerry County Council commence the process of voluntary liquidation of the company.

An 5 Feabhra 2002, ghlac an Rialtas leis an mholadh go gcuirfeadh Comhairle Chontae Chiarraí tús le próiseas leachtaithe toilteanach an chomhlachta.

In 2003, a replica of the Jeanie Johnston made its maiden voyage from Tralee to Canada.

Sa bhliain 2003 rinne macasamhail an Jeanie Johnston a céad aistear ó Thrá Lí go Ceanada.

It is now a museum located on Custom House Quay in Dublin.

Is iarsmalann atá inti anois atá lonnaithe ar Ché Theach an Chustaim i mBaile Átha Cliath.

The Jeanie Johnston on dry land

An Jeanie Johnston ar thalamh tirim