I propose to take Questions Nos. 31 and 54 together.
As with communities across the country, our Gaeltacht communities continue to struggle with the impacts of the pandemic. In light of Brexit, coupled with the economic impact of the pandemic, client companies of Údarás na Gaeltachta will continue to need support which is being provided on an ongoing basis by Údarás na Gaeltachta.
Officials from my Department continue to work closely with Údarás na Gaeltachta to ensure that the range of supports being provided by Údarás, including financial and technical support and advice, align with the needs of client companies. I am assured that Údarás na Gaeltachta will continue to engage in this regard with its client companies in order to further develop awareness around the supports being provided to assist companies in dealing with the implications of both COVID-19 and Brexit.
As the Deputy will be aware, my Department recently completed a spending review and assessment of the impact of Brexit and COVID-19 on Údarás na Gaeltachta and its client companies. The work was carried out by the Evaluation Unit of my Department, which is an independent unit working with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the Irish Government Economic and Evaluation Service (IGEES).
My Department engaged with both Údarás na Gaeltachta and a selection of its client companies in order to complete the assessment. The findings and recommendations were considered as part of the Estimates process and resulted in significant additional exchequer funding of €8.1m being provided to Údarás na Gaeltachta in Budget 2021 - bringing its total allocation to €31.8m for the coming year.
Since the formation of this Government, I have been working tirelessly with Government colleagues to mitigate against the worst of the COVID-19 impacts. To that end, in July, we announced an additional €8m for Údarás na Gaeltachta on top of the existing capital allocation of €10 million for 2020. This additional funding is supporting a range of capital investments which will enhance the agency's capacity to further support the development of enterprise and is currently creating in the region of 40-50 new construction jobs throughout the Gaeltacht. It is expected that this additional investment will ultimately support the creation of 320 new longer-term jobs in client-companies of Údarás na Gaeltachta.
It is important to note also that Gaeltacht enterprises also have access to the broad range of targeted national and sectorial measures put in place by Government since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and in preparation for Brexit. Furthermore, Údarás na Gaeltachta also has access to the schemes and funds administered by the IDA, Enterprise Ireland and the Local Enterprise Offices to ensure delivery within the Gaeltacht areas.