At an Údarás na Gaeltachta Board meeting in Na Forbacha today (1 March 2013) a number of projects, leading to the creation of 110 new jobs and a total investment of circa €5 million when up and running, were approved. Further information will be available in due course.
In addition, €1.56 million was approved for organisations involved in various language planning initiatives and activities:
- An administration grant of €580,000 was approved for Comhar Naíonraí na Gaeltachta as joint funding for the company’s 2013 work programme. The company currently operates 62 playgroup sessions which cater for approximately 850 children in addition to providing other services such as crèche and after-school childcare, breakfast club and parent groups, catering for a total of 450 children.
- An administration grant of €250,000 was approved for Óige na Gaeltachta Teo to assist in the implementation of its programme of activities for 2013. Óige na Gaeltachta Teo provides a youth service through Irish for young people between the ages of seven and eighteen throughout the Gaeltacht. The company administers 45 youth clubs which have 1,600 members in addition to running 4 drop-in centres catering for 200 young people.
- An administration grant of €400,000 was approved for Muintearas Teo for the operation of its 2013 programme of activities. Muintearas Teo is a subsidiary of Údarás na Gaeltachta and is funded for specific education, language, and personal development purposes and in particular projects focused on early education, youth work, training services, language development services, community and local services.
- A capital provision of €335,000 was approved for Ealaín na Gaeltachta Teo to jointly fund the implementation of its programme of activities and arts development schemes.
Arramara Teo
For some time now Údarás na Gaeltachta has been involved in a comprehensive process to explore the best options of sustainability and development which would secure the future of Arrarama Teo. A process was put in place to locate a partner which would develop and expand Arramara Teo and the company itself was given an opportunity to submit a business case. At an Údarás na Gaeltachta Board meeting today (1 March), it was agreed to sell the Údarás’s shares in Arramara to Acadian Seaplants Ltd. This agreement will be subject to the Ministers approval and legal conditions.