Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 June 2014
388. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht his views on whether a capital budget of €12 million should be provided for Údarás na Gaeltachta in budget 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26006/14]
View answerAs Minister of State with responsibility for the Gaeltacht, I very much appreciate the importance of job creation in helping to retain sustainable communities in Gaeltacht areas. In that context, I wish to acknowledge the very important enterprise and employment function of Údarás na Gaeltachta as the regional economic agency for the Gaeltacht. Údarás na Gaeltachta's end of year statement for 2013 indicated that the rate of job losses in its client companies had reached a record low. This was very welcome news indeed. However, while the level of job losses has stabilised, I am very cognisant of the difficult challenge still to be faced in creating a sufficient number of new jobs to maintain, and indeed increase, employment levels in the Gaeltacht.
I met recently with Údarás na Gaeltachta and discussed its strategic proposal to increase its capital budget over time from the present level of €5.687m to €12m. I am very aware and supportive of the case advanced by the organisation that such an increase in funding would enable it to create an additional 300 jobs.
As the Deputy is aware, it was announced as part of Budget 2014 that comprehensive reviews of both current and capital expenditure would be undertaken by all Government Departments during 2014. These reviews underpin the Government's multi-annual budgetary framework and are conducted periodically to re-set Departmental expenditure ceilings in line with emerging Government priorities. The reviews are currently ongoing and will be considered by Government later this year with a view to underpinning expenditure ceilings for 2015 and beyond, as well as clarifying policy options and informing prioritisation decisions arising from the expenditure ceilings. Clearly, the capital allocation for Údarás na Gaeltachta for 2015 will be informed by the outcome of those reviews and within the framework of the Budgetary and Estimates processes later in the year.
