Gaeltacht funding cut fears

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MFG Comhar Dhuibhne powers to be transferred to Údarás
Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Éamon Ó Cuív T.D. has announced that the powers of Meitheal Forbartha na Gaeltacht (MFG) are to be transferred to Údarás na Gaeltachta. The West Kerry Gaeltacht’s MFG Comhar Dhuibhne, who have an office in Dingle and is run by regional manager Máire UÍ Léime, is one of those to be effected. Meitheal Forbartha na Gaeltachta is a voluntary organisation which was founded in 1991 to implement the LEADER programme in Gaeltacht regions. MFG Comhar Dhuibhne had been receiving ongoing funding for various community projects in the region, including €100,000 from dormant accounts fund, to develop a youth café providing an alcohol free environment for young people. The future of many of these projects is now unclear. In relation to the transfer of powers from MFG to Udarás, Minister Ó Cuiv stated that he was of the opinion that the Gaeltacht needs a single strong statutory authority that would run a wide range of projects and that the remit of the voluntary organisation would be reduced. Local reaction to this has been mixed as it feared that this is only the tip-of-the-iceberg when it comes to the ‘ciorrú’ of Gaeltacht funding and community initatives.