Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 1: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the initiatives that have been put in place to encourage job development in Gaeltacht regions; the consultations he has had with Údarás na Gaeltachta regarding recent job losses in the Gaeltacht; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12385/08]

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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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.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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In 2007, the Minister of State tells us, Údarás na Gaeltachta created 1,038 jobs. In the same period, however, 965 jobs were lost in the Gaeltacht, giving a net gain of 73 jobs. Since then, there have major job losses in Gweedore, Achill and An Daingean in Kerry, with the closure of Contact 4. The staff of that company in the three locations are owed five to six weeks' wages. They received a telephone call and, one hour later, were out the door and the factories were closed. This is unacceptable. Instead of the Department claiming back its grant aid, the focus should be on ensuring that the staff receive their wages.

The Minister, Deputy Ó Cuív, is in the United States where he is telling people that for the Irish language to survive in Gaeltacht areas, there must be 250,000 Irish speakers. What action is being taken by the Department in terms of rolling out the infrastructure needed in Gaeltacht areas? If industries and workers are to be attracted into Gaeltacht areas, the infrastructure must be in place, including roads, water and sewerage. Broadband provision is particularly important for business. What efforts are being made in this regard?

Is the Department working in conjunction with Údarás na Gaeltachta to research how more jobs can be created in Gaeltacht areas? The language will not survive in these areas unless people are attracted to live and work there. What are the Department's plans to achieve this end?

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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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.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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As a person who represents three Gaeltacht regions, it sometimes seems that people coming from abroad find it easier than local people to obtain grant aid from Údarás na Gaeltachta. Does the Department plan to introduce a scheme to encourage people from the Gaeltacht to create employment in their own area?

A recent report indicated that 55% of Gaeltacht areas have broadband but it is ineffective because the signal is not working. Broadband provision is vital if we hope to attract British, American and other foreign companies into Gaeltacht areas. It is the way forward.

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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The Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources is working to increase the provision of broadband throughout the State.

On the Deputy's first question, an allocation of almost €268 million has been made to Údarás na Gaeltachta since 2002 to enable it to develop the economy of the Gaeltacht. Údarás is allowed to reinvest its return from sales of assets in its capital programme. That has realised €26.5 million for Údarás na Gaeltachta in recent years. Working in the context of the national development plan, we are confident that significant progress can be made in creating new job opportunities in Gaeltacht areas.