Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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100. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when she plans to rectify the disproportionate increase in funding for Údarás na Gaeltachta vis-à-vis IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland since the financial crisis by increasing its funding; and her views on the growing divide. [27698/20]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, it is through the annual budgetary and estimates process that Exchequer funding is allocated to my Department and indeed to all Government Departments and agencies.  In this context, the Deputy will understand that the 2021 allocation for Irish Language and Gaeltacht organisations, including Údarás na Gaeltachta, is currently being considered as part of this process. 

My Department continues to increase funding for Údarás na Gaeltachta as resources allow. The core exchequer allocation from my Department to An tÚdarás in 2020 is €23.652m, which represents an increase of €1m from the previous year.

It is important to note that the Government has allocated substantial funding to Údarás na Gaeltachta from various other sources, such as an additional capital allocation of 10.484munder the Rural Regeneration & Development Fund and the Regional Enterprise Development Fund.

In addition, Údarás na Gaeltachta also receives current funding of circa €3m per annum from my Department in respect of cultural and language planning activities.

In light of the impact of Covid-19 on our society and economy, the Government has provided additional funding and supports to Údarás na Gaeltachta and its client companies, through both targeted national and sectoral measures.

The July Jobs Stimulus package includes a significant additional capital allocation of €8mfor Údarás na Gaeltachta in order to enable it to undertake essential upgrades to existing building stock and water treatment facilities, thereby facilitating the marketing of currently dormant factory spaces for modern job-creation projects.

This will create 40-50 new construction jobs across Gaeltacht communities in the short-term while the re-developed building stock will support the longer-term creation of 320 new jobs in Údarás na Gaeltachta client-companies.

Earlier this year, my Department secured access for Údarás na Gaeltachta client companies to an initial €5m available from the Sustaining Enterprise Fund, which is administered through the State’s development agencies following successful negotiations by the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation with the European Commission under the temporary state aid framework.

Prior to this, extra funding of €0.6m was secured for Údarás na Gaeltachta to administer the Trading Online Voucher Scheme in the Gaeltacht.

In addition to the funding allocated directly to Údarás na Gaeltachta to support new and existing enterprises in the Gaeltacht, it is important to note that the organisation also facilitates access to the schemes administered by the IDA, Enterprise Ireland and the Local Enterprise Offices in Gaeltacht areas.

Where a specific programme or scheme administered by Enterprise Ireland or the Local Enterprise Offices is not available from Údarás na Gaeltachta’s existing broad suite of incentives and programme offerings, arrangements are in place to ensure such programmes, supports and services are available to all indigenous Gaeltacht-based clients of Údarás na Gaeltachta on the basis of a Memorandum of Understanding between the organisations.

The Programme for Government clearly illustrates that the Government is committed to support and resourcing Údarás na Gaeltachta and a solid foundation has already been laid, as evidenced by the initiatives detailed above.