Gaeltacht agency dubbed ‘mini-Fás’ over Vegas junket

THE body charged with bringing investment into the Gaeltacht has been described as a “mini-Fás” after it emerged that a senior executive travelled all the way to Las Vegas to meet officials from another state agency.

Údarás na Gaeltachta said a trip in April 2007 was for a meeting with the IDA – which has offices and staff all over Ireland.

Chairman of the Dáil’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Bernard Allen, yesterday asked officials from the Department of Gaeltacht Affairs: “What would be the purpose of a meeting between the IDA and Údarás na Gaeltachta in Vegas? Did alarm bells ring at all in your department?”