Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 13 May 2021
234. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her plans to protect employment in Gaeltacht regions in order to encourage native speakers to continue living and working in those regions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25378/21]
View answerÚdarás na Gaeltachta has just completed the implementation of its three year strategy for the 2018 - 2020 period and is about to formally launch its new five year strategy for the period 2021 – 2025.
The Strategy will outline the organisation's key objectives and projects which will be advanced over its 5 year lifespan, encompassing the organisation’s primary area of responsibility; the promotion of the Irish language as a community language and the economic and social development of the Gaeltacht.
All of this is being undertaken against the backdrop of the ongoing implementation on the part of Údarás na Gaeltachta of the relevant actions set out in the Government's Action Plan for the Irish Language and the overarching 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030 which represents Government policy in relation to the Irish language and Gaeltacht regions.
The ongoing and successful implementation of the Language Planning Process across all of the 26 Gaeltacht Language Planning Areas, Gaeltacht Service Towns and Irish Language Networks forms a key part of the ongoing advances being made in support of the language both within Gaeltacht regions and nationally.
In relation to Údarás na Gaeltachta specifically, the Deputy will also be aware that in order to further enable the organisation to discharge its functions in support of Gaeltacht regions, additional exchequer funding to the value of €8.132m was provided to Údarás under Budget 2021.
An increase of €4.454m over the original 2020 provision was provided for the organisation's capital budget, ensuring that it has a capital allocation of €14.454m in 2021.
The organisation’s current budget also saw a €2.978 million increase which will assist in further enabling the organisation to better support the implementation of its work programme for 2021 and into the future.
An additional €700,000 was also provided under Budget 2021 over the original 2020 provision for Gaeltacht community development which equates to an overall allocation of €4.75m in 2021.
Údarás na Gaeltachta - with the ongoing support of my Department and incrementally increasing exchequer funding, has pioneered the concept of remote working in rural Gaeltacht areas and its gteic Digital Network consists of 20 Digital hubs with 10 more in development. It is also progressing a range of strategic capital projects across the Gaeltacht. These include Coláiste Íosagáin in Baile Bhuirne, Sean Ospidéal an Daingin, Áras Scéalta an Atlantaigh in Eachléim, Teach Solais Cheann Fhánada, Drioglann Chroithlí, and Páirc na Mara in Cill Chiaráin as well as a range of strategic projects based on the green economy and renewable energy sector.
The Deputy will be aware of the impact of COVID-19 on our society and economy over the past 12 months. Notwithstanding these significant and ongoing challenges, 427 new jobs were created in Gaeltacht companies during 2020. There were 7,363 full-time and 437 part-time jobs in companies supported by Údarás na Gaeltachta at the end of 2020. Employment remained stable in 68% of client companies while the medical device sector saw a 4% increase in employment during 2020, with over 700 people now employed in the sector in the Gaeltacht.
Údarás na Gaeltachta continues to work in conjunction with my Department and other state agencies such as Enterprise Ireland to ensure 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. In this context, the Board of Údarás na Gaeltachta has approved over €7.4m of supports to date for over 435 Gaeltacht companies to address financial and supply difficulties, ensure cash-flow and enhance their ability to access global online sales markets.
In addition, many Gaeltacht companies operating in the tourism and hospitality sectors have accessed the range of supports for those sectors and for businesses in general which are being provided by Government since the onset of the pandemic.
