Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)

Any job losses are a matter of serious concern. I expect the issue of non-payment of wages in the case of the company closure to which the Deputy referred will be processed expeditiously in the normal manner to protect those workers.

The Department is working with Údarás na Gaeltachta in a variety of ways to ensure new sectors of employment potential are identified, particularly in the services area. I am informed that modern services such as customer support centres, community development co-operatives, arts projects, language enterprises and social economy projects as well as child care facilities and so on have been identified. I take Deputy Ring's point on the provision of broadband and other infrastructure of that nature. Such provision is extremely important because the survival of many of these service enterprises requires that we facilitate long-term sustainable employment in areas where it has been difficult to do so previously.

A useful initiative is the co-operation between the National University of Ireland, Galway, with businesses in Gweedore, An Cheathrú Rua, Carna and Indreabhán in regard to the provision of courses through the medium of Irish, with a particular emphasis on areas of study related to the new sectors in which jobs are likely to be available. The Department is hopeful that these co-operative efforts will enhance long-term sustainable employment prospects in the Gaeltacht.

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