Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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151. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the amount of funding made available from his Department in 2020 to Údarás na Gaeltachta; the programmes involved in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43081/20]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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My Department does not provide any money directly to Udaras na Gaeltachta. However, Enterprise Ireland and Údarás na Gaeltachta have an agreed Memorandum of Understanding to enable Údarás to optimise the resources available to its indigenous client companies through supports and programmes administered by EI.

The Enterprise Ireland and Údarás na Gaeltachta Memorandum of Understanding is built on the principles of client equality, clear communication and management of agency relationship, good co-operation between agency staff, clear dissemination of information of client supports, avoidance of duplication of client supports and cooperation on client transfer.

Údarás na Gaeltachta markets EI’s enterprise offers to clients based in the Gaeltacht. Access to EI’s administered programmes is available to eligible clients of Údarás na Gaeltachta under the broad headings of Market Research & Internationalisation Supports; Supports for Product, Process or Services Development including RD&I Funding; Supports to Enhance & Develop your Management Team; and Productivity and Business Process Improvement Supports, in addition to all existing and subsequent National and Regional Competitive Calls.

A protocol has also been developed to cover the 8 Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) that operate in counties where Gaeltacht areas exist. The rationale for the development of the protocol is to ensure that all client enterprises (of Údarás na Gaeltachta and LEOs) have equal access to services and funded programmes and will benefit from enhanced collaboration and information sharing between the organisations.

Údarás na Gaeltachta will continue to manage its client base in the Gaeltacht and will use its core funding (exchequer and own resources) to service existing commitments and Údarás led schemes (grant-based supports for employment and capital projects). LEOS in the eight Local Authority areas comprising of Gaeltacht and non-Gaeltacht areas will continue to operate in the county and city areas outside of the Gaeltacht and Údarás na Gaeltachta will continue to deliver enterprise support within the Gaeltacht. This protocol mirrors the existing MOU (& Addendum) operating between Enterprise Ireland & Údarás na Gaeltachta.