Gaeltacht Agency Strategy Faces Housing Criticism

Nine thousand, seven hundred and sixteen workers are currently employed by the client companies of the Gaeltacht Authority, a figure that anchors the new economic strategy released this week.

Minister for Rural and Community Development and Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary, unveiled the document titled 'Tá Muid Leat: Straitéis 2026-2030' at Oireachtas na Samhna. The five-year plan outlines a goal to create thirty companies where Irish is the working language. These entities will focus on sectors such as renewable energy, technology, and research. The strategy also targets a seventy percent usage rate for digital tools and supports fifty printing initiatives annually through 2030.

Deputy Donncha Ó hÉallaithe of the fine Gael party criticized the plan for its silence on housing. He stated that he was surprised the authority’s board approved the strategy without a clear statement on how it would improve housing supply for Irish speakers. Ó hÉallaithe noted that housing shortages were the most frequently cited issue during the consultation process. The new strategy only mentions seeking 'expressions of interest' for authority sites that might be suitable for housing, a step he viewed as insufficient.

The deputy highlighted a broken promise regarding a housing plan. Two years ago, the authority pledged to prepare a specific housing strategy, yet the new document contains no reference to that earlier commitment. Ó hÉallaithe argued that the board needs new members from Gaeltacht communities who can challenge management on the housing crisis. He warned that the authority cannot stand by and wait for other groups to solve the problem.

Tomás Ó Síocháin, the chief executive of the Gaeltacht Authority, defended the new direction. He described the core of the strategy as expanding opportunities for Irish language use and strengthening community resilience. Ó Síocháin emphasized that the future of the language is inseparable from the economic and social future of the Gaeltacht regions. The plan aims to improve productivity and financial sustainability for existing companies while preparing them for future challenges.

Minister Calleary cited the Iosagáin Campus in Baile Bhuirne as a model for inter-agency cooperation. He stated that such facilities will play a central role in meeting the training and public service needs of the Gaeltacht in the coming years. The strategy aims to maintain youth leadership and raise employment standards across the region.