We need to support the spirit of innovation that is crucial to development of any area.

We need to incentivise economic investment in areas where population is in decline. Údarás na Gaeltachta needs to regain its place as the independent development authority for the Gaeltacht.  

Independent Ireland supports returning Údarás na Gaeltachta to its rightful place as the independent development authority for the Gaeltacht. The Government should increase its funding andto allow development of social, cultural and linguistic programmes. This will provide the socio-economic infrastructure that will allow people to continue living and working in their traditional homes. In this regard, Independent Ireland will:

• Increase core capital funding for Údarás na Gaeltachta to strengthen its capacity to support economic development and job creation in Gaeltacht areas. This should include a commitment to multi-annual funding to allow for long-term strategic planning and implementation of initiatives. Increases should be aligned with the post 2008 increases of the two other Irish development agencies, IDA (66% increase) and Enterprise Ireland (30% increase). 

• Provide additional resources to accelerate the rollout of high-speed broadband and digital hubs (gteic network) across all Gaeltacht regions. This should include a dedicated Gaeltacht Digital Connectivity Fund of €50 million over five years to ensure parity with urban areas. 

• Allow Údarás na Gaeltachta the funding and increased flexibility to purchase and divest land in order to address the critical shortage of affordable housing in Irish-speaking communities. Údarás should have the power to acquire land, fund housing schemes developed by strategic community partners, and implement Irish language conditions on new developments. 

• Create a Gaeltacht Innovation Fund, administered by Údarás na Gaeltachta, to support R&D and new product development in Gaeltacht enterprises. This fund should be allocated €20 million annually and include mentoring and expertise support alongside financial assistance. 

• Expand Údarás na Gaeltachta's social enterprise support schemes to foster community-led sustainable development initiatives. This should include a 20% increase in the funding for community development organisations, specifically to allow them to develop social enterprises that enhance Gaeltacht communities from the perspective of services, employment and quality of life;

• Provide increased funding of an additional €760,000 per annum for Muintearas to enhance its youth, education and training programmes in the Gaeltacht, and an additional €550,000 per annum for Ealaín na Gaeltachta to further develop arts and cultural initiatives in Gaeltacht areas;

• Establish a Gaeltacht Renewable Energy Agency under Údarás na Gaeltachta to drive community-owned renewable energy projects. This agency should have a target of developing at least one community-owned renewable energy project in each Gaeltacht area within five years; 

• Increase funding for Irish language planning initiatives coordinated by Údarás na Gaeltachta to strengthen Irish as a community language. This should include doubling the current budget for language planning and expanding the number of Irish Language Planning Officers, with a focus on creating a key Gaeltacht hub village/town in each Gaeltacht area;

• Provide a commitment to renew the Language Planning Process for an additional seven years, given that a number of plans will have reached their expiry in 2026;

• Provide Údarás na Gaeltachta with dedicated Local Enterprise Office (LEO) funding and powers. Údarás currently fulfils LEO functions within the Gaeltacht but does not receive specific funding for this function, leaving Gaeltacht areas at a disadvantage compared to non-Gaeltacht regions. This would require an initial allocation of €4.5 million per annum for LEO-type supports; 

• Allocate €7.5 million per annum over five years to Údarás na Gaeltachta for the development of outdoor recreation infrastructure in Gaeltacht areas, enhancing both community amenities and tourism potential. This funding would support the creation and improvement of walking trails, cycling routes, and swimming facilities, as well as associated signage and interpretive materials in Irish and English. The investment would not only improve quality of life for Gaeltacht residents but also boost sustainable tourism, creating new employment opportunities in the outdoor recreation and hospitality sectors.  Údarás na Gaeltachta would work in partnership with local authorities, Fáilte Ireland, and community groups to ensure these developments align with broader regional tourism strategies and language promotion initiatives.