Nearly 10,000 employed in Údarás na Gaeltachta client enterprises as growth continues

 Link to 2025 End of Year statement : Tuarascálacha Bliantúla agus Ráitis | Foilseachán | Faoin Údarás | Údarás na Gaeltachta

Link to current vacancies: Folúntais – Eanáir 2026 | Údarás na Gaeltachta

Údarás na Gaeltachta, the regional development agency for the Gaeltacht, today (6th February 2026) released its Annual Report for 2025, highlighting a year of sustained growth, strategic investment and continued progress in strengthening enterprise, community and the Irish language across Gaeltacht regions.

Key highlights include:

●      681 new jobs created in Gaeltacht areas in 2025

●      9,716 people employed in Údarás client companies

●      Sales exceeding €1 billion for the second consecutive year

●      €697 million generated in exports and €570m in direct expenditure in the Irish Economy

●      Record €38.1 million secured under the Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund (DTIF)

●      Over €18 million investment approved for Gaeltacht capital projects

●      28 Language Plans supported with €3.9 million in funding

●      585 full-time equivalent jobs in social enterprises

●      436 people employed across 29 gteic digital hubs

●      €1.4 million invested in training and skills development

Enterprise and Employment

Client companies supported by Údarás na Gaeltachta achieved sales of over €1 billion for the second year in succession, underlining the resilience and international competitiveness of Gaeltacht-based enterprise. Exports reached €697 million, representing 60% of total sales and demonstrating the global reach of businesses operating from Gaeltacht communities.

In 2025, 681 new jobs were created, bringing total employment to 9,716 across seven counties, with growth recorded in four regions. A total of 214 vacancies at year end reflects continued demand for skilled talent.

Údarás client companies also secured a record €38.1 million under DTIF Call 7, contributing to over €70 million in competitive research funding across 14 projects.

Digital Innovation and AI

The gteic network expanded to 29 hubs, supporting 436 employees and providing 867 workspaces, with two further hubs due to open in 2026.

Progress continued on Irish-language AI development, including publication of a national roadmap and ongoing work with researchers in Trinity College Dublin, UCC, University of Galway and Mozilla Common Voice and Data Collective. This work includes a speech-to-speech proof-of-concept on publicly available data to help advance speech technology and AI-supported public services in Irish.

Community Development

€7.375 million was allocated to support 33 community development organisations across the Gaeltacht in 2025.

Research confirmed the strong economic role of social enterprises, contributing €21.53 million annually and supporting 585 full-time equivalent jobs. Housing initiatives also progressed, with a dedicated Housing Adviser appointed and Gaeltacht housing needs formally recognised in the Government’s Housing Plan 2025.

Language Planning

During 2025, 28 Language Plans were actively implemented across 26 Language Planning Areas and two Gaeltacht Service Towns, supported by €3.9 million in funding and 33 Language Planning Officers.

The Irish Language Development Scheme was launched for larger client companies, with 15 companies registered by year end, representing a combined workforce of 1,139 employees. The scheme supports increased use of Irish in the workplace and strengthens the integration of language and enterprise.

A comprehensive review of the language planning process was published by the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, with continued funding confirmed to ensure stability and refinement of the framework through to 2027.

Tourism and Cultural Investment

€4 million was allocated for new visitor centres on the Aran Islands and Cape Clear Island, in partnership with Fáilte Ireland, while the Emigrants’ Memorial Centre in Carna neared completion.

Joyce Country & Western Lakes Geopark received UNESCO Global Geopark status. The audiovisual sector generated 460 positions and contributed €4 million to the Gaeltacht economy.

Education and Training

An investment of €1.4 million supported training and skills development initiatives in 2025.

There are now 152 participants on the Apprenticeship Scheme, a substantial increase on the previous year. The GAIRM graduate programme, delivered in partnership with Atlantic Technological University, continued to combine professional placements with a Level 9 postgraduate qualification.

The CUMASÚ entrepreneurship programme supported 40 Gaeltacht women entrepreneurs during the year as part of a three-year initiative aimed at supporting up to 150 participants.

The Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary TD said:

‘I congratulate Údarás na Gaeltachta on another successful year. It is a remarkable achievement to have almost 10,000 people employed in the organization’s client companies and to achieve sales of €1 billion for the second consecutive year. This would not happen without the strategic work that has been done by the organisation over a long period. The organisation also had a central role in the language planning process last year, a role that will be expanded in 2026 with new schemes to be announced to embed language planning into Gaeltacht business affairs.'”

CEO of Údarás na Gaeltachta, Tomás Ó Síocháin, said:

“2025 was a landmark year for the Gaeltacht, with employment reaching nearly 10,000 people and our client companies surpassing €1 billion in sales for the second consecutive year. The creation of 681 new jobs, combined with record success in securing competitive research  funding, demonstrates the innovation and resilience of Gaeltacht enterprise. Our expansion of the gteic digital hub network and groundbreaking work in Irish-language AI development positions the Gaeltacht at the forefront of technological advancement while strengthening our language and communities. We’re building a sustainable future where enterprise growth and language vitality go hand in hand.”

Chair of the Board, Siobhán Ní Ghadhra, said:

“The fundamental objective at the Údarás isestablishing communities where Irish serves as the language of daily life.  Behind every statistic in this report lies an individual with deep ties to the Gaeltacht and a commitment to its future prosperity. We support entrepreneurs embracing the challenge to create something meaningful of their own, creating jobs and new opportunities.  The growth achieved in 2025 was once again remarkable and I wish to commend the entire team at Údarás na Gaeltachta for their exceptional contributions”