Employment in Gaeltacht areas and Plean Fáis

Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh

Conradh na Gaeilge, endorsed by a myriad of Irish language groups, today launched its Plean Fáis, which is an investment plan for the future of the Irish language out to 2030. Something that might be of particular interest to the Minister is an aspect of that plan that is designed to unlock and create some 9,000 jobs in Gaeltacht areas chiefly through investment in Údarás na Gaeltachta. Has the Minister’s Department had an opportunity to brief him yet on the contents of the plean fáis from an enterprise, trade and employment perspective? Is he open to the possibility of increasing that targeted funding in terms of employment creation within our Gaeltacht areas where it is so sorely needed?

Minister Simon Coveney

I have not seen the detail of that yet but I would be very interested in it. We should be pursuing anything we can do to drive sustainable employment in Gaeltacht areas. The Deputy will certainly find an open door in my office to be helpful on that within reason, obviously.