Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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22. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her views on Údarás na Gaeltachta using the same assessment criteria as the county local enterprise offices, LEOs, in applications for assistance from small businesses and start-ups (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17248/20]

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I also extend my congratulations and best wishes to the Minister and the Ministers of State on their new portfolios. What are the views of the Minister and Ministers of State on Údarás na Gaeltachta? Is it using the same assessment criteria as county LEOs in applications for assistance for small businesses and start-ups?

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta as na beannachtaí. Le dul siar go dtí an iarratas ar eolas maidir le maoiniú i gcomhair Covid-19 ón Teachta Ó Snodaigh, tá an tAire, Teachta Catherine Martin, agus mé féin ag plé lenár gcomhghleacaithe sa Rialtas faoi láthair chun tacaíochtaí breise a sholáthar don Ghaeltacht mar chuid den phacáiste mhí Iúil atá le fógairt an tseachtain seo.

To return to the question asked by Deputy Dillon, Údarás na Gaeltachta encourages investment in the Gaeltacht to arrange financial and non-financial incentives for new and existing enterprises. The organisation also facilitates access to the services provided by IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and LEOs in Gaeltacht areas. As is the case with LEOs, these schemes are provided until the budget is exhausted. Given the hype and demand, an additional budget allocation of €600,000 was recently announced for Údarás na Gaeltachta to continue its online trading scheme. I will reply in further detail during the next round of questions.

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister of State for his detailed and informative response. I am sure he is aware, given his Mayo roots, that there are three Gaeltacht regions in the county, namely, Toormakeady, Achill Island and Erris. Excellent work is being done in those areas to support small and medium-sized enterprises in the food and drink, tourism and manufacturing sectors. Will the Minister of State outline how he intends to develop and roll out these support measures?

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy. Both of my parents are from the same county as the Deputy and I absolutely want to support the Gaeltacht region. The Minister and I hope to visit the area in the coming period. I acknowledge that there difficulties with the present funding situation. Officials in my Department are engaging with officials in the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation which funds the scheme. Those officials will continue to pursue this matter as a priority.

As the Deputy mentioned, Údarás na Gaeltachta is important to ensure that Irish remains the communal language of the Gaeltacht, promote enterprise in the region, develop job creation initiatives and support strategic language, cultural and community-based initiatives. An tÚdarás promotes productive employment through the development of local natural resources, skills and entrepreneurial abilities, and aims to attract mobile investment to the Gaeltacht. It also promotes and supports community development initiatives and a wide range of language, cultural and educational schemes aimed at strengthening the place of Irish as the principal means of communication among all sections and sectors of the community.

The Deputy asked specifically about the scheme and the funding shortage. Those matters are currently being actively examined, as I have referenced, with the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation which is involved in the scheme. We want to ensure that Údarás na Gaeltachta and LEOs can deliver on their remits. It is welcome that we have had such demand for the scheme during the pandemic and it is important that we support all businesses, particularly those in Gaeltacht regions, during this difficult period.

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I am glad to hear the Minister of State's reply. I acknowledge the work of Údarás na Gaeltachta.

These support measures will go a long way for businesses in the Gaeltacht and give them a chance to survive in the crisis and find new markets and an opportunity for them to provide innovative services and products.

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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Údarás na Gaeltachta has been engaging directly with Gaeltacht businesses to support them and their staff through these challenging times. The authority is working alongside Government, State agencies and the Gaeltacht community on a cohesive approach to the Covid-19 crisis. Údarás na Gaeltachta continues to advise clients on contingency planning, financial planning, liquidity issues and recovery strategies.

Údarás na Gaeltachta and the local enterprise offices have a good working relationship at local level. This ensures Údarás na Gaeltachta clients have access to the extensive expertise of the local enterprise offices through training and mentoring programmes.

If Deputy Dillon has any specific feedback on the Gaeltacht region in Mayo, he may wish to bring it to my attention and we can have an interaction with officials on any particular issues. I would be happy to assist him in that.