Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 28 November 2018
288. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the steps she plans to take to improve employment opportunities in the Connemara area in order to tackle high levels of unemployment (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49758/18]
View answerI have been informed by Údarás na Gaeltachta that they are taking a number of steps in order to improve employment opportunities in the Connemara area referred to by the Deputy. These include :
- Development of Action Plan for the area
A 5 year action plan has been compiled for the area. The plan covers development of natural resources, employment, infrastructure, enterprise, youth, education, tourism and facilities and contains a wide range of actions focusing on sustainable development and job creation. It is intended that the plan, which has been prepared by Údarás, working in partnership with local community interests and with relevant external organisations, will be launched before the end of this year. As part of the implementation phase, Údarás is recruiting a dedicated Project Officer to deliver the plan.
- Gteic – Gréasán Digiteach na Gaeltachta
A digital hub, developed under the gteic – Gaeltacht Digital Network, is located in the area and will shortly be opened to the public. Gteic – Gréasán Digiteach na Gaeltachta is an important element in the job creation strategy, providing an innovation unit with high-speed broadband connectivity giving new technology companies an opportunity to establish and locate themselves in the region. These developments, as part of the remote working strategy of An tÚdarás, will give the community an opportunity to return to or live in their home area by providing remote working opportunities at hot desks, co-working spaces or offices within the hub. It will facilitate people who wish to develop a business concept and will also provide access to mentoring and support.
Páirc na Mara – Marine Innovation Park
The development of projects based on renewable energy and enterprises focused on natural resources is central to the organisation’s strategy. Páirc na Mara in Cill Chiaráin is being developed as a state of the art, low carbon marine innovation park, located on a brownfield site in the area. The project, which is central to the Údarás 2018-2020 Strategy Statement and supports national strategies such as the 5-Year Plan for the Irish Language 2018-2022, Harnessing our Ocean Wealth, Foodwise 2025, the National BioEconomy Policy Statement and the Action Plan for Jobs, is being advanced as a partnership with a number of state agencies. In addition, Údarás is in active discussions with a range of international partners with world class expertise in the area who can bring resources and best practise to bear on the project.
- Tourism Development
Údarás na Gaeltachta is working with sectoral interests and community groups to advance the development of tourism and marketing in the Connemara area. A tourism marketing company, Costa Conamara, has been established, promoting the region at home and abroad. Its new website www.conamara.ie is currently going live.
Community Development
Údarás na Gaeltachta works in close co-operation with local community groups and provides financial support for the local Co-operative.
Finally Údarás na Gaeltachta has advised me that key to the success of all the initiatives listed above is a focus on attracting new enterprise and investment to the area from indigenous companies and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) as well as from supporting local enterprise.
