Galway takes largest share of Údarás grants at €16m

GALWAY was the big winner last year when it came to the approval of grants from Údarás na Gaeltachta, being awarded more €16 million.

This figure amounts to more than the combined total approved for Cork, Kerry and Donegal.

According to the Údarás annual report for 2006, published yesterday, Cork was approved for a little more than €2m in capital, employment, training and other grants while Kerry was approved for more than €2.1m and Donegal more than €10.5m.

The overall amount of grants approved by the Gaeltacht employment agency increased by €15m last year.

The agency’s chairman Liam Ó Cuinneagáin said: “An tÚdarás progressed its policy of developing modern services facilities and enterprise centres throughout the Gaeltacht and €10m was expended on capital projects. A capital budget of €18m has been allocated for 2007 and this will enable An tÚdarás to continue to implement a progressive building programme to meet the needs of new and expanding enterprises.”

Despite a good year for the Galway-based agency Mr Ó Cuinneagáin said it was a difficult year for the fish-processing sector, with 140 job losses.

“The indications are that it will be some time before landings return to historical levels and companies in this sector will have to be innovative to survive.

“Manufacturing projects in the Gaeltacht have held their levels of employment during 2006 and this would indicate that the high level of job losses experienced in this sector in recent years has stabilised.”

The report also shows €3.71m in respect of undertakings that Údarás members were connected to and that were disclosed by the members at board meetings.

A spokeswoman from Údarás said last night that each project is thoroughly examined and assessed by an Údarás executive and if it complies with the objectives of the organisation, the executive may make a proposal to the board.

“Each project proposed for grant aid must come before the Údarás Board or the Regional Committees depending on the project for approval. Our system is completely transparent,” she said.

“If a board member has a direct or indirect interest in any particular project they must declare so.

“They do not take any part in the approval procedures and are requested to leave the board meeting when the relevant project is being discussed.

“In fact they do not even receive a copy of the proposal document. They are not in any way involved in the process of assessing, proposing, discussing or approval of the project.”