A total of 109 new jobs were created in the Mayo Gaeltacht in 2011, according to the Údarás na Gaeltachta annual report just released. A statement issued by Liam Ó Cuinneagáin, chairman, Údarás na Gaeltachta, and Seán Ó Labhraí, acting chief executive, notes the following:
“Encouragingly in Mayo, there was a net gain of 74 jobs when job losses are taken into account, an increase of 12 per cent on the previous year. There were 675 full-time equivalent jobs in Údarás supported companies in the Mayo Gaeltacht at the year end. Companies involved mainly in the medical devices, services, and manufacturing areas saw growth in employment during the year.
“There were also 216 people employed on social employment schemes in the Mayo 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.”
Throughout the Gaeltacht areas in Ireland a total of 734 new jobs were created last year in Údarás na Gaeltachta client companies, according to the report which notes:
“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. We expect, with the resources available to us, that new projects creating circa 700 new jobs will be approved during the year ahead.”
In addition to enterprise projects, 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 more than 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.
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 more than 2,000 members. Support was also made available to 34 language learning centres where some 600 people attended Irish language classes/courses during the year.
Over the coming year of 2012, Údarás plans to 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”, the report notes.
