The Fianna Fail General Election candidate for Galway West, Grainne Seoige, is pushing for a dedicated government department for the Gaeltacht in the next Dail Term.
A famous TV personality and a fluent Irish speaker, Seoige said that the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs had to be re-established in the next Government, to tackle the specific challenges faced by rural and Gaeltacht communities.
The native Galwegian is also seeking increased support for housing and infrastructure in Gaeltacht regions.
Following up by speaking on the importance of these reforms, Ms. Seoige illustrated the importance of a return to focus on rural, community, and Gaeltacht development.
“Re-establishing the Department of Community, Rural, and Gaeltacht Affairs would be a significant step towards ensuring that our rural communities and the Gaeltacht receive the attention they deserve. This Department should retain the current remit of the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Islands, but crucially, it must also take on the responsibility for the Gaeltacht and the Irish language,” she stated.
“To ensure the Gaeltacht and other under-served communities have a strong voice at the highest levels of government, I am calling for a Senior Minister at Cabinet to take direct responsibilities of this Department as happened before under Fianna Fail.”
A core pillar of Ms. Seoige’s campaign is her call for stronger assistance of housing in the Gaeltacht, especially for Gaeilgeoiri.
“We must support Udaras na Gaeltachta in providing housing for Irish-speaking communities,” Ms Seoige said. “Housing is a critical issue in maintaining and growing the population of Irish speakers in these areas. Without proper housing solutions, we risk losing the very heart of our Gaeltacht regions, which have long been the stronghold of our language and cultural traditions.
She also stated that”it is vital that Irish speakers are given the opportunity to live, work, and raise their families in their native language within their own communities.
“Supporting Udaras na Gaeltachta in this regard will help ensure the long term sustainability of these communities.”
“We need equal opportunities for rural, Gaeltacht, urban deprived areas, and island communities. Our Gaeltacht regions and rural communities are an integral part of our National heritage. We must provide them with the tools and resources needed to prosper. By re-establishing the department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, led by a Senior Minister at Cabinet, we can address these challenges head-on and ensure a vibrant future for these communities,” she concluded.
