Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

Information on staffing at Údarás na Gaeltachta is readily available to my Department, which monitors the organisation on an ongoing basis. Údarás has a good record in job creation; for example, 1,269 new jobs were created in Údarás-assisted companies in 2008, while full-time employment in Údarás-supported enterprises was 8,193.

One of the issues that arises is that of the cost per job, which is sometimes queried. I have made criticisms in this regard in the past, and I understand Forfás has now moved away from the cost-per-job measure and is employing a more complicated and thorough way of considering value for money. I recently met representatives of the board of Údarás to discuss this issue. My view was that in considering the cost per job we must also consider the sustainability of the job. Thus, if we spend money on an industry that goes on for 30 or 40 years, the cost per job, taking into account the years of operation and the repayment to the State in taxes and so on, cannot be compared to that of a company that lasts for five years. Therefore, I stressed to the representatives of Údarás that they must consider the sustainability of the jobs created, the risk element, and the benefit to the Irish language. The latter consideration applies to Údarás more than to any other State agency. I would put a higher premium, for example, on jobs created by Údarás that not only sustain viable employment in the Gaeltacht but also sustain the language in the area. That is the whole justification for having a separate agency in the Gaeltacht.

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