At a meeting of the Board of Údarás na Gaeltachta in Na Forbacha, Co. Galway today (9 December), information regarding the provision of funding from the Exchequer, other funds and Údarás income sources for 2012, was provided to the members. A total of €18.8 million will be available from the Exchequer for capital and current expenditure, a reduction of 4% on the previous year. An estimate capital budget of c. €12 million (€6 million from the Exchequer and €6 million from the organisation’s own income sources) will be available for the approval of job creation/maintenance projects next year. This is close to the amount which was available to the organisation in 2011.
The Board discussed the reviews on Údarás na Gaeltachta’s functions and powers which were carried out during the year and the outcome of the process which resulted in Údarás maintaining its enterprise function. The Board agreed that this is a vote of confidence in An tÚdarás, its work regarding job creation and maintenance, the central role which it has in the implementation of the 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language in the Gaeltacht and in promoting community, social and cultural development in the Gaeltacht.
Discussions also took place regarding the process of appointing a chief executive for the organisation and the anticipation that this appointment will take place early in the new year; the importance of maintaining a democratic Board and the possibility of holding the Údarás election at the same time as the County Council elections or the referendum to reduce expense to the State, which the Údarás hopes to discuss with the Minister; and it was agreed to propose that the office of An Coimisinéir Teanga should remain in the Gaeltacht and its duties unchanged.