Gaeltacht residents are waiting on a review of the administrative structure and governance of Údaras na Gaeltachta, as well as a review into the process for nominations and elections to the Board of the Údaras, according to Sinn Féin TD’s Pearse Doherty and Mairéad Farrell. 

The Sinn Féin TD’s have criticised the Government for the lack of urgency in carrying out such a review, as was promised.

Speaking today, Teachta Doherty said:

“During the General Election campaign in 2020, the Taoiseach promised that there would be a review into how Údaras na Gaeltacht operates, and in particular with regards to restoring the elections to its Board.

“Almost a year on from that campaign, this issue no longer appears to be a priority for the Government and the people living in Gaeltacht regions have been left waiting once again.

“Following the latest figures published which show that there was a net reduction of 6.8% in full-time jobs in the Donegal Gaeltacht in 2020; this once again shows the need for a strong Údaras with the resources and power to tackle the issues in Gaeltacht regions.

“Sinn Féin spokesperson on Gaeltacht Affairs Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD, asked the Minister about plans and the projected timeline for such a review. No exact timeline was specified. This is not good enough and Sinn Féin will continue to raise this on behalf of the Gaeltacht population.

Teachta Farrell said:

“We are all acutely aware of the pressing need for this review of the structure, governance and elections to the Board of Údaras.

“Here, in the Gaeltacht region in Galway, this is something which the residents are raising with me.

“Sinn Féin believes that the scrapping of elections to the Board back in 2012 was a major step backwards. The connection between Gaeltacht residents and the Údaras was lost. This impacted negatively on the future of the Gaeltacht regions.

“This is stroke politics. It’s not a democratic process and it is the Gaeltacht residents who are most impacted. There is a serious need for a change in the way in which Údaras is managed. This is more difficult in the absence of a directly elected, democratic and accountable Board.

“Sinn Féin will be introducing our amendment Bill in the Dáil as soon as possible to restore elections to the Board. This Bill would allow for such elections to take place on the same day as the local elections. The current system of political appointments would be scrapped so that it is the will of the Gaeltacht population, which is given a voice at the table, as opposed to the will of the Government of the day.”

ENDS

Easpa práinn a thaispeáint ag an Rialtas ar athbhreithniú Údarás na Gaeltachta – Pearse Doherty TD agus Mairéad Farrell TD

Tá mhuintir na Gaeltachta ag fanacht ar an athbhreithniú ar struchtúir fheidhmiúcháin agus rialachais Údarás na Gaeltachta, agus ar an bpróiseas roghnúcháin/toghacháin i ndáil le Bord an Údaráis, dar le teachtaí Shinn Féin, Pearse Doherty TD agus Mairéad Farrell TD, agus níl cuma ar an scéal go bhfuil deifir ar bith ar an Rialtas seo a dhéanamh.

Ag labhairt ní ba lúaithe inniu, dúirt an Teachta Doherty:

“Gheall an Taoiseach le linn an olltoghchán go mbeadh athbhreithniú ar struchtúir fheidhmiúcháin agus rialachais Údarás na Gaeltachta, agus ar an bpróiseas roghnúcháin/toghacháin i ndáil le Bord an Údaráis ina tosaíocht don Rialtas seo.

“Seo muid anois chor a bheith bliain níos faide ar aghaidh ón olltoghchán sin, agus tá mhuintir na Gaeltachta i nDún nan Gall, agus i nGaeltachtaí eile ar fud na tíre, ag fanacht go foill.

“Indhiadh na uimhreacha is deanaí a foilsíodh, tchínn muid go bhfuil glanlaghdú do 6.8% taghtha ar líon na bpostanna lán aimseartha i nGaeltachtaí Dhún na nGall. Taispeanann seo an gá lé Údaras atá laidir agus a bhfuil na haiseanna agus an cumhacht aige lé dhul i nglic le fadhbanna sa Ghaeltacht.”

“Chur ár gcomhleacaí, Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD, ceist ar an Aire agus an Taoiseach faoi amlíne don athbhreithniú seo; ach níor tugadh freagra cruinn do. Níl sin maith go leor agus beidh Sinn Féin ag gníomhú ar seo, ar son mhuintir na Gaeltachta chomh luath.

Dúirt an Teachta Farrell:

“Tá a fhios againn uilig go bhfuil leasaithe ar ar struchtúir fheidhmiúcháin agus rialachais Údarás na Gaeltachta, agus ar an bpróiseas roghnúcháin/toghacháin i ndáil le Bord an Údaráis de dhíth le fada an lá.

“Anseo i nGaillimh, tá’n cheist seo i mbéal an phobail.

“Creideann Sinn Féin gur céim siar a bhí sa chinneadh fáil réidh leis na toghcháin don Údarás i 2012. Cailleadh an nasc sin idir lucht vótála na Gaeltachta agus na daoine a dhéanann na cinntí a imríonn tionchar ar thodhchaí na Gaeltachta féin.

“Is ‘stroke politics’ é seo.  Ní córas daonlathach é seo agus is iad muintir na Gaeltachta a bheidh ag fulaingt dá bharr. Tá géarghá le níos mó gníomhaíochta ón Údarás lena n-áirítear athruithe i mbainistiú na heagraíochta. Tá sin níos deacra gan an nasc díreach sin idir phobal na Gaeltachta agus an tÚdarás atá le fáil i dtoghchán daonlathach.

“Beidh bille leasaithe á chur isteach sa Dáil ag Sinn Féin chomh luath chun an córas daonlathach a chuir ar ais i lár Údarás na Gaeltachta. Thabharfadh an Bille seo na toghcháin ar ais mar a bhíodh, ar an lá céanna leis na toghcháin áitiúla. Ar an mórchuid, is iad ceapacháin pholaitiúla atá i mBordan Údaráis faoi láthair agus is minice go dtaobhann na baill siúd leseasamh an Rialtais seachas le leas mhuintir na Gaeltachta féin.”