Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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31. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the engagement she has had to date with Údarás na Gaeltachta with regard to its collection and dissemination of administrative data related to the take-up of Covid-19 and Brexit supports by Gaeltacht companies and the need for market diversification for these companies as highlighted in the recent spending review as areas in need of improvement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37350/20]

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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54. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the interaction her Department has had with Údarás na Gaeltachta on increasing awareness among Údarás na Gaeltachta client companies of available Brexit and Covid-19 supports particularly in view of the recent report carried out as part of the 2020 spending review which showed that 82% of Údarás na Gaeltachta client companies have not availed of Brexit supports and that Gaeltacht companies are significantly more exposed to a disorderly Brexit than the economy in general; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37347/20]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 31 and 54 together.

As with communities across the country, our Gaeltacht communities continue to struggle with the impacts of the pandemic. In light of Brexit, coupled with the economic impact of the pandemic, client companies of Údarás na Gaeltachta will continue to need support  which is being provided on an ongoing basis by Údarás na Gaeltachta.

Officials from my Department continue to work closely with Údarás na Gaeltachta to ensure that the range of supports being provided by Údarás,  including financial and technical support and advice, align with the needs of client companies.  I am assured that Údarás na Gaeltachta will continue to engage in this regard with its client companies in order to further develop awareness around the supports being provided to assist companies in dealing with the implications of both COVID-19 and Brexit.

As the Deputy will be aware, my Department recently completed a spending review and assessment of the impact of Brexit and COVID-19 on Údarás na Gaeltachta and its client companies. The work was carried out by the Evaluation Unit of my Department, which is an independent unit working with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the Irish Government Economic and Evaluation Service (IGEES). 

My Department engaged with both Údarás na Gaeltachta and a selection of its client companies in order to complete the assessment. The findings and recommendations were considered as part of the Estimates process and resulted in significant additional exchequer funding of €8.1m being provided to Údarás na Gaeltachta in Budget 2021 -  bringing its total allocation to €31.8m for the coming year.

Since the formation of this Government, I have been working tirelessly with Government colleagues to mitigate against the worst of the COVID-19 impacts. To that end, in July, we announced an additional €8m for Údarás na Gaeltachta on top of the existing capital allocation of €10 million for 2020. This additional funding is supporting a range of capital investments which will enhance the agency's capacity to further support the development of enterprise and is currently creating in the region of 40-50 new construction jobs throughout the Gaeltacht. It is expected that this additional  investment will ultimately support the creation of 320 new longer-term jobs in client-companies of Údarás na Gaeltachta.

It is important to note also that Gaeltacht enterprises also have access to the broad range of targeted national and sectorial measures put in place by Government since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and in preparation for Brexit. Furthermore, Údarás na Gaeltachta also has access to the schemes and funds administered by the IDA, Enterprise Ireland and the Local Enterprise Offices to ensure delivery within the Gaeltacht areas.