Projects creating 97 new jobs in Galway, Donegal, and Kerry were approved at the first meeting of the new Board of Údarás na Gaeltachta this week.
The new board held its first meeting at the headquarters of Údarás na Gaeltachta in Furbo on Friday.
During the meeting, 97 jobs were approved in projects in the manufacturing, marine, food and drink and business development sectors.
Údarás na Gaeltachta chairperson Mary Uí Chadhain said, “I am delighted to have been appointed as chairperson of the board of Údarás na Gaeltachta and I look forward to working with the new board, both the members appointed at the beginning of the year and the newly-appointed members.”
“The breadth of expertise and experience on the new board will be immensely valuable, as we work to achieve the aims of Údarás na Gaeltachta’s 5-Year Strategic Plan 2021-2025. We will approach this task with ambition and courage.”
At the end of last month the government appointed five members of the Board of Údarás na Gaeltachta, including two Galway women.
The Minister also announced the extension of the term of Mary Uí Chadhain as Chair of the board until the end of this year, at which point she will leave her position as Chairperson but will continue to act as an ordinary member until the end of 2024.
Five other board members were appointed by local authorities earlier this year, with Cllr Padraig Mac an Iomaire nominated by Galway County Council.
Chief Executive Tomás Ó Síocháin said, “We are happy that Údarás na Gaeltachta has a complete board once again, to deal with the crucial issues of employment, development and language for the Gaeltacht.”
“At the beginning of this week, we had a significant employment announcement at the official opening of the new manufacturing facility of Freudenberg Medical in the Conamara Gaeltacht, at which the creation of a hundred new jobs were announced.”
“We have approved almost a hundred further jobs at this board meeting. The challenge now is to ensure that the Gaeltacht community is aware of the significant employment opportunities in their own areas and to assist the companies we are supporting to grow and develop, for the benefit of the Gaeltacht and the Gaeltacht community.”
