A lack of financial advice and support is the biggest challenge facing food producers in growing their businesses, according to 70% of small to medium-sized producers.

Companies are paying exorbitant premiums to base their businesses in Gaeltacht areas.

Yesterday, Údarás na Gaeltachta made its contribution to what seems to be a growing sense that we have weathered the worst of the economic storm.

Anglers in the West of Ireland have raised concerns about why the State is continuing to provide grant aid to a group of Connemara fish farms when the businesses have persistently lost money and when fish farming provides little employment.

Following a protracted campaign during the seventies, which involved the Gaeltacht Civil Rights organisation, students from UCC, Cumann an Chadhnaigh, many Gaeltacht and cultural bodies and organisations around the country, the government of the day granted a democratically elected Údarás to the Gaeltacht.

Údarás na Gaeltachta has said it is actively seeking a partner to make use of the decaying Coláiste Íosagáin in Ballyvourney.

Coláiste Íosagáin has been a crumbling eyesore for Údarás na Gaeltachta since it acquired the Ballyvourney site in 1998.

Up to 120 jobs earmarked for Cork have been lost after a company claimed plans to develop an international training college were dashed by Údarás na Gaeltachta’s bureaucracy.

Údarás na Gaeltachta, the regional authority responsible for the economic, social and cultural development of the Gaeltacht, has announced net job losses for 2011 of 104, the lowest decrease in employment in a decade.

GAELTACHT areas will be identified in future by how much the Irish language is used instead of by geographical location, under a bill to be introduced by the Government.

Efforts are underway today to save as many jobs as possible at Gallagher's Bakery in Ardara, in Co Donegal.

EXPORTING companies led the way in job creation at Údarás na Gaeltachta firms last year, with the agency saying it is still capable of attracting new investment.

I REFER to the letter by Brian Hopkins headlined ‘It’s time to terminate FÁS-type lifestyle’ (November 6) in which accusations were made that “Údarás na Gaeltachta was doing a FÁS with public funds... ” and which also contained allegations of ‘fraud’.

IT was hardly surprising to hear Údarás na Gaeltachta was doing a FÁS with public funds — and yet again we can expect no one will see the inside of a courtroom as a result.

A DROP in funding means it will be difficult for Údarás na Gaeltachta to meet its employment targets over the next few years.

Údarás na Gaeltacha has approved a capital budget of €27m which includes a €12m building programme for 2009 — against the capital budget of €32.5m for 2008.

GRANTS approved by Údarás na Gaeltachta slumped by almost €4 million to €11.8m last year but more than €700,000 were approved to companies and entities associated with members of the board.

135 jobs are to be created in the Donegal Gaeltacht, the first major employment boost for the area since local TD Mary Coughlan was appointed Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise.

ÚDARÁS na Gaeltachta is expected to apply in the courts this morning to take the assets of a Scottish company into receivership in order to secure the money owed to both itself and the company’s 108 employees.

ALMOST two weeks after a financial services call centre suddenly shut its three Irish bases with the loss of 108 jobs, its employees have still not received hundreds of thousands of euro in owed wages.

JOBS created by the country’s leading job creation agencies dropped significantly last year.

The Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs has asked the Board of Udarás na Gaeltachta for a set of recommendations on the development of the Irish Language and Irish-speaking areas.

THE Labour Party spokesman for the Gaeltacht Brian O’Shea has called for an inquiry into the granting of a lucrative consultancy contract to the former chief executive of Údarás na Gaeltachta, Ruán Ó Bric.

The closure of a computer frame manufacturer with the loss of 89 jobs will be a major blow to the South Connemara region, it was claimed today.

MISTAKES made by Údarás na Gaeltachta in a major property deal ultimately cost taxpayers more than €300,000, according to a report by the Government’s top auditor.

When the new 550-seater Airbus A-380 debuts at the Paris Air Show next week, two Irish firms will have played their part.

SINN FÉIN yesterday won its first seat in elections to the Gaeltacht authority.

Polling stations have closed in the country's seven Gaeltacht areas where voters are choosing a fresh panel of representatives for Údarás na Gaeltachta.

Candidates in tomorrow’s Údarás na Gaeltachta elections will be linked to political parties for the first time, it emerged today.

OVER €1.5 million in grants was approved in 2003 by Údarás na Gaeltachta to companies and entities associated with members of the board of the gaeltacht jobs creation agency.

AN historic building in Dingle, Co Kerry, which has been at the centre of protests about its conservation, is to put on a list of protected structures by Kerry County Council.

ÚDARÁS na Gaeltachta has reversed a controversial decision to sell a holiday home complex to four Connemara-based businessman for €1.4 million despite receiving an offer for €1.9m.

A campaign has begun to save a house in the Republic which has links with beheaded French Queen Marie Antoinette.