Deputy Pearse Doherty has today repeated his calls for Minister of State Joe McHugh to appoint a new board to Údarás na Gaeltachta without further delay.
The Donegal TD’s comments come amid growing frustration at the absence of a dedicated board at the agency which has been without one since last November.
The Sinn Fein TD said this is something which is all the more shocking considering that 2018 has been designated as ‘Bliain na Gaeilge’.
Deputy Doherty said “I think it is simply scandalous that I find myself once again having to publicly call on the Minister of State Joe McHugh to appoint a new board to Údarás na Gaeltachta.
“Yet, here we are in the first month of what is supposed to be ‘Bliain na Gaeilge’ and the Minister of State has still yet to make these appointments – this is not good enough.
“Only last month we heard the devastating announcement that 32 jobs were to be cut following the shock closure of SLM Éire Teo. located here in the Gaoth Dobhair Industrial Estate.
“Immediately following this news, I called on the Minister of State to appoint the new board without delay and yet he has still not done so.
“The Board has an important role and is responsible for setting the overall strategies and policies of the agency.
“Its members are also responsible for approving investments and supports for the purposes of incentivizing enterprise and job creation, whilst also promoting the Irish language, culture and the development of Gaeltacht communities as a whole.”
He added that the agency will also take on an important role as part of the many number of events and initiatives which will form part of Bliain na Gaeilge this year.
“I very much believe that the concept behind Bliain na Gaeilge is worthwhile however, there must be substance behind the initiative.
“Bliain na Gaeilge must be about promoting and nurturing the Irish language and must be more than a mere publicity stunt or vanity project.
“This is why I am once again urging Joe McHugh to appoint a new Board to Údarás na Gaeltachta without delay so as to ensure that the agency may fulfill its hugely significant function which is to develop the Gaeltacht regions.”
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