Jobs in Údarás na Gaeltachta assisted-companies rose by 704 full-time positions last year, with a net decrease of 398 jobs overall. However in Mayo, while 48 new jobs were created in the Gaeltacht last year, taking job losses into account there was a net loss of 132 jobs in the county.
A total of 601 were employed full-time in Údarás-assisted companies in the Mayo Gaeltacht at the year end. A total of 45 new jobs were approved in 2010, which will involve an investment of €7.5 million when complete.
Job losses occurred due to the closure of Drimbawn Mushrooms Ltd in Béal an Mhuirthead where 70 jobs were lost. Companies in the tourism sector and companies related to the construction industry also reduced job numbers.
The figures published this week show a strong performance by export companies across the Údarás catchment area, reflecting the national trend, with a number of those companies continuing to invest further and expand their operations during 2010.
Full-time employment in Údarás na Gaeltachta assisted-companies now stands at 7,074.
While this is a reduction in the number of jobs created over the past two years, Údarás has said that experience from the previous years showed that a more substantial level of jobs approval is required to ensure that employment levels in the Gaeltacht are maintained.
Job losses were reduced during 2010 in comparison to the previous year. The majority of the losses occurred as a result of enterprises shedding staff numbers in order to cut costs, restructure, and consolidate. However Údarás expects that a significant number of these jobs will be restored when the economy returns to growth.
Smaller companies, especially those trading solely in the domestic market, and companies involved in the construction related sectors were most significantly affected due to the fall-off in domestic demand. Nearly half of the job losses over the past three years have occurred in enterprises that are related to the construction sector, which is in line with the figures nationally. Companies involved in the tourism industry also saw a reduction in employment.
A total of €2.8 million was approved in R&D projects during the year and the results of these projects will form the basis of expansion plans in the future.
In the year ahead An tÚdarás will be focusing on its enterprise development functions. Particular emphasis will be placed on protecting existing employment in its client-companies and working with them to stimulate further R&D and product development activities. The organisation has said it will continue its strategy of attracting new knowledge-based enterprises and investments and will work in co-operation with other State agencies to ensure the Gaeltacht receives the optimum benefit from national development initiatives and programmes.
