Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)

Ar dtús báire, ba mhaith liom a rá go bhfuil díomá ar an Aire nach bhfuil sé in ann a bheith anseo. Tá cruinniú aige in áit éigin eile. Dúirt sé liom gurb é seo an chéad uair ó ainmníodh é mar Aire Stáit nach raibh sé anseo go pearsanta chun ceisteanna a fhreagairt, so the Deputies opposite are stuck with me.

Údarás na Gaeltachta operates a range of schemes and initiatives to create and maintain employment opportunities and support economic and social development in the Gaeltacht. On foot of a strategic review carried out by the working group on employment creation in the Gaeltacht, as well as new development strategies adopted by Údarás na Gaeltachta, significant progress has been made in recent years in reversing the downward employment trend in the Gaeltacht and in effecting a transition from a declining manufacturing sector to employment in the services sector.

Key sectoral areas of focus for Údarás include internationally traded services in software, financial services, shared services and customer activities; audiovisual, digital media and ICT; life sciences, including the biomedical and pharmaceutical sectors; aquaculture, fish farming and processing; Irish language-based enterprises; food processing; tourism; and renewable energy. Particular emphasis has been placed on maximising the potential of indigenous resources, the promotion of new training and educational initiatives, and the provision of third level courses through the medium of Irish in the Gaeltacht.

In terms of employment creation, 1,038 new full-time jobs were created in Údarás-assisted companies in 2007, bringing the total employment figure to 8,026. This means that for the first time since 2001, more than 8,000 full-time jobs in Údarás-assisted companies are being supported in the Gaeltacht. Under the National Development Plan 2007-2013, funding of €233 million has been earmarked for Údarás to continue its work in developing the economy of the Gaeltacht.

My Department is in regular contact with Údarás in a policy and governance context and the job losses to which the Deputy refers are a shared concern. As the Deputy will be aware, competitiveness in national and international markets has intensified in recent times. Unsettled financial markets have created difficulties for a number of Gaeltacht companies and others have been placed under pressure due to the euro-dollar exchange rate. However, the continuing emphasis by Údarás on after care support will help companies to support job numbers and, in the case of companies that are under market pressure, to keep any job losses at a minimum.

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