Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

71. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will report on the employment results of Údarás na Gaeltachta for 2021; the regional spread of same; the factors behind the level of job increases; the estimated level of job creation that is anticipated in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7048/22]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Údarás na Gaeltachta has informed me that 825 new full-time jobs were created in Gaeltacht companies in 2021, the highest number of jobs created in one year since 2008. When job reductions are taken into account, there is a net increase of 446 in overall employment – the largest annual net increase since 1996.

There were 7,809 full-time and 485 part-time jobs in companies supported by Údarás na Gaeltachta at the end of 2021. The table below sets out the regional spread and indicates the highest level of employment ever in client companies in Galway, Cork and Waterford. There was a 9.5% increase in employment in the Mayo Gaeltacht with the Meath Gaeltacht as the only area that experienced a decrease.

In order to further support Údarás in discharging their remit I have secured a capital funding allocation of €14.450m for Údarás na Gaeltachta again this year, an increase of 60% on the organisation's 2019 allocation. Údarás project that 400 new jobs will be created in 2022, bringing to 8,000 the total number of jobs supported by Údarás na Gaeltachta by the end of the year.

Despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, Gaeltacht companies have shown good levels of stability and the region witnessed a degree of recovery in terms of employment, driven by company innovation and the considerable growth of the medical devices and medical products sectors.

The most significant increases in employment during the year were in the medical devices, niche manufacturing and audio-visual sectors while companies in the food and drinks, traditional manufacturing and services sectors saw the majority of the job reductions.

Employment remained steady in 70% of companies, in addition to the 16% of client companies who saw an increase in employment during the year.

The largest employers in Gaeltacht companies, which receive support from Údarás na Gaeltachta, are in the services (35%), manufacturing (27%) and the food and drinks (15%) industries.

The Board of Údarás na Gaeltachta has approved a number of new projects which will create 379 jobs with an estimated State and private sector investment of €10.4m over the next number of years. These new jobs will predominantly be in companies in the health products, food, services and specialty manufacturing sectors.