Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

118. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht given the importance of job creation in helping to retain sustainable communities in Gaeltacht areas and given Údarás na Gaeltachta's confirmation that an increase in its capital budget to €12 million per annum would enable it to create an additional 1,000 new jobs over three years, if she will commit to this funding request; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22913/16]

Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Deputy will be aware that job creation in the Gaeltacht, through Údarás na Gaeltachta,is recognised as a key priority in the Programme for a Partnership Government.The programme also includes a commitment to an additional €300m, over the 5 year period 2017- 2021, for Enterprise Ireland and Údarás na Gaeltachta.I wish to reiterate that as Minister of State with responsibility for the Gaeltacht, I very much appreciate the importance of job creation in retaining sustainable Irish speaking communities in Gaeltacht areas. In that context, I wish to acknowledge the very important enterprise and employment function of Údarás na Gaeltachta as the regional economic agency for the Gaeltacht. In that role, Údarás na Gaeltachta, in conjunction with Enterprise Ireland and the IDA, will continue to work towards attracting investment to the Gaeltacht, in addition to supporting micro-enterprises and developing the skills base in the Gaeltacht.

In order to enable Údarás na Gaeltachta to fulfil its job creation and job retention role in the Gaeltacht, capital funding of €6.687m has been  provided by the Exchequer to Údarás in 2016, in addition to its own resources from the sale of assets and investments. I have also secured €2.4m in additional capital to an tÚdarás in 2016. This additional funding will allow an tÚdarás to progress a number of capital projects on hand, thereby protecting existing jobs and assisting in the creation of new jobs in the Gaeltacht.As announced in Budget 2017, a capital funding baseline of €6.687m will be provided by the Exchequer to Údarás in 2017.

I am, of course, well aware of Údarás na Gaeltachta's proposal to increase its capital budget over a period of time to €12m per annum. I am also very aware and supportive of the case advanced by the organisation that such an increase in funding would enable it to create an additional 300 jobs per annum. I can assure the Deputy that I will be continuing to seek additional capital funding for an tÚdarás in the future.