Skip to main content
Normal View

Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 21 Oct 2003

Vol. 572 No. 6

Written Answers. - Job Creation.

Jan O'Sullivan

Question:

135 Ms O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the progress which has been made with regard to the examination by his Department of the report of the working group on the creation of employment in the Gaeltacht; if the Government is committed to implementing the recommendations made by the group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24063/03]

As outlined in my response to Parliamentary Question No. 105 on 27 May 2003, my Department is continuing in partnership with Údarás na Gaeltachta to actively examine and implement recommendations of the working group on the creation of employment in the Gaeltacht to determine how they can be most effectively implemented. Arising from the working group's report, Údarás na Gaeltachta has formulated an action plan to tackle the significant unemployment problem in the north west Donegal Gaeltacht. A key objective of the plan is to approve 200 jobs per annum for the Gaoth Dobhair area, with the aim of achieving peak employment again in five years time. Extra staff resources in Údarás have been assigned to the Donegal Gaeltacht and a committee, under the chairmanship of Peter Quinn, has been formed to assist in the implementation of this action plan.

The initiatives being pursued by Údarás na Gaeltachta include targeting new sectors of the economy; upgrading building and telecommunications infrastructure; and placing greater emphasis on high skills and on the resources of the Gaeltacht itself, including the Irish language. In this regard, Údarás na Gaeltachta's new scheme, Fiontraíocht Ghaeilge sa Ghaeltacht, was launched this year and it supports the recommendations of the working group. Support is being given to a number of third level educational courses through the medium of Irish that are being provided by the National University of Ireland, Galway, in Gaoth Dobhair. This is a positive development and is also in line with the recommendations of the working group.

Top
Share