A total of 178 new jobs were created in the Galway Gaeltacht in 2011, according to the annual report of Údarás na Gaeltachta. There were 2,745 full-time equivalent jobs in Údarás supported companies in the Galway Gaeltacht at year end. New jobs were created during the year in companies operating in the audio-visual and digital media, medical devices, services and manufacturing sectors.
When job losses are taken into account, there was a net loss of 60 jobs in the Galway Gaeltacht. The majority of job reductions occurred due to companies shedding small numbers of employees.
Projects with a total investment of €10m were approved during the year. These are expected to create 141 new jobs when up and running, many of which will come on-stream in 2012.
There was also a total of 314 people employed on social employment schemes in the Galway Gaeltacht at the end of the year. The employment schemes are managed and administered by Údarás na Gaeltachta and funded through the Department of Social Protection.
Overall, a total of 734 new jobs were created in Gaeltacht enterprises in 2011, a similar level to that of the previous year. Companies involved in exporting, including businesses in the medical devices, audio-visual and digital media, financial services, and specialist manufacturing sectors, increased their employment numbers during the year, with some companies announcing expansion plans and further investment in R&D.
A most encouraging trend is the slowdown in job losses. The number of jobs lost over the past year is at a significantly lower level than that experienced over the last number of years, with a 40 per cent decrease in the number of jobs lost in 2011 compared to 2009. This is evidence that Údarás’ strategy, which over the past three years focussed on supporting existing businesses, is having a positive effect on job maintenance. The job reductions occurred mostly due to companies shedding a small number of staff in order to rationalise and reduce costs. Companies trading in the domestic market were those mainly affected.
New projects with total investment of ™21m approved
Notwithstanding the challenging economic business environment and reduced funding available from the exchequer, Údarás na Gaeltachta approved projects during the year which will involve an overall projected investment of €21m in Gaeltacht companies and are expected to create some 400 jobs when up and running. It expects that new projects creating circa 700 new jobs will be approved during the year ahead. Jobs are lost annually as a normal part of the business lifecycle as sectoral trends change, enterprises restructure and companies streamline to improve their competitiveness and it is therefore critical that new jobs are supported to ensure employment levels are maintained and provide a basis for growth into the future.
Research undertaken in 2011 by Forfás shows that total sales in Údarás client companies was in the region of €750m in the previous year, of which €399m of this was in export sales (54 per cent ), an increase of 13 per cent on the previous year. More than 40 per cent of Údarás client companies invested in R&D, amounting to €20m in expenditure.*
Social employment schemes
Údarás na Gaeltachta manages and administers a number of social employment schemes in the Gaeltacht. These include the Community Employment Scheme, the Rural Social Scheme, Tús and the Jobs Initiative, which are funded by the Department of Social Protection. In 2011, these social employment schemes employed over 900 participants, 47 supervisors in 46 schemes throughout the Gaeltacht, and provided €15m in income and materials to the local economy. In addition to providing work experience and training for the participants, these schemes play an important role in providing services and facilitating community development throughout the Gaeltacht.
Community development and language-based activities
During 2011, Údarás continued to support community and Irish language-based activities in the Gaeltacht. Support was provided towards the operation of 82 Irish language medium preschools and crèche facilities, with 950 attendees and assistance was provided towards 62 youth clubs and drop in centres which have some 2,000 members. Support was also made available to 34 language learning centres where over 600 people attended Irish language classes/courses during the year.
Enterprise strategy for 2012
During 2012, Údarás will focus its enterprise strategy on supporting its existing client base, seeking further investment from new and current clients, and supporting natural resource-based enterprises such as aquaculture, tourism, forestry, etc. Údarás will concentrate on replacing the employment lost in certain areas over the last number of years and begin to grow overall employment numbers in the Gaeltacht to previous levels.
