Latest news with #ÚdarásnaGaeltachta
Irish Independent
10-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
New initiative launched to bring vacant homes in the Galway Gaeltacht back to life
An Spidéal and An Cheathrú Rua have the largest populations of Irish speakers in County Galway. To be successful in this project, a new position as the Coordinator of Empty Houses will be created whose job it will be to find homes and occupants eligible. ''This initiative stems from a decision by the Board of Údarás na Gaeltachta to facilitate and support existing Government schemes to address the housing crisis in Gaeltacht areas,' Údarás na Gaeltachta CEO, Tomás Ó Síocháin, said. 'Similarly, Údarás na Gaeltachta is supporting a number of communities to develop community housing initiatives and offering suitable sites from the Údarás land portfolio to support Irish-language-led sustainable housing development in Gaeltacht areas.' Recent figures show that Gaeltacht areas have a higher percentage of vacant homes (11pc) than the national average of 8pc. To combat this, the organisation will place a special focus on communities that are losing population. The Galway Gaeltacht makes up 26pc of the total Gaeltacht area at 1,225 km2. In March of 2025, The Irish Independent reported on protests by BÁNÚ at a County Council meeting stating four primary reasons people are 'pushing away from the area'. 'The lack of rental accommodation, high housing prices, planning restrictions on one-off houses in rural areas, and little or no schemes of houses being developed in Irish speaking areas by the housing authorities.' The goal is that these homes would be classified as long-term rentals to tenants who will hold Irish as the main household language. While this is a mandatory clause of the initiative, other details like incentives for dwellers in these homes have not been confirmed.
Irish Examiner
29-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Údarás na Gaeltachta looking to develop AI for Irish language
State agency Údarás na Gaeltachta is looking to develop the capacity for AI technologies to communicate as Gaeilge, new documents have shown. The body, which is responsible for the development of Irish-speaking regions of the country, is appointing consultants to provide guidance to its AI development team and support discussions with leading AI companies to advocate for Irish language service development. Its main goal is to create speech-to-speech capacity in the Irish language for generative AI tools like ChatGPT, which would see people able to speak to an AI in Irish and have it respond in the same language. It comes after Údarás na Gaeltachta first went to tender late last year for technology providers, researchers, and stakeholders to give feedback on how the presence and usability of the Irish language could be enhanced on such AI models. '[We seek] professional consultancy services to support the development of Irish language capabilities in AI technologies,' it said. 'The contractor will serve as a core member of Údarás na Gaeltachta's AI team, providing support in future strategy development and implementation.' The agency set out primary objectives for these consultants to focus on, which includes supporting the drafting of scope documentation for a platform delivering services in Irish. Speech-to-speech functionality in Irish It must also support the ongoing development of technical specifications for speech-to-speech functionality in Irish for generative AI products. Furthermore, it must also make efforts to maintain Irish language AI development a topic of industry discussion through the publication of its results, and establishing an authoritative source for ranking the Irish language capabilities of different AI systems. Údarás na Gaeltachta said: 'The contractor must support discussions with leading AI companies (including Anthropic, Mistral, and others) to advocate for Irish language service development. '[And support] developing a backlog of Irish language AI implementation opportunities.' It added that the contract, worth an estimated €40,000, would be valid for 18 months. Debate on the future of AI in Ireland has come to the fore in recent months, with an oireachtas committee established in this Dáil for the first time. Its remit is to make recommendations on Ireland's approach to the development, deployment, regulation, and ethical considerations of AI. Last week, it heard that software engineers, junior lawyers, and customer service roles will be among the first in Ireland to be affected by job losses to artificial intelligence. 'We cannot predict the exact pace, scale, or whether new jobs will replace those lost,' AI Advisory Council chairwoman Patricia Scanlon said. Údarás na Gaeltachta has been contacted for comment. Read More Government criticised for not doing more to roll out AI across civil service
Irish Independent
13-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Major €4.5m investment aims to secure the future of Business Park in Donegal Gaeltacht
The investment, by Údarás na Gaeltachta, aim to ensure the business park meets the highest standards to attract new businesses and support the 728 people currently employed there. Some of the current infrastructure has been in place for over 30 years and is reaching the end of its lifespan. The upgrade works will include a complete renovation of the Business Park's roads with new surfacing, line-marking and new signage. A new 4km water main network will be installed with new hydrants and valves to provide improved water services. Comprehensive upgrades will be made to footpaths and lighting columns as well as complete replacement of boundary fencing. A new drainage system will be implemented with manholes, service pipes and drainage channels, and comprehensive improvements will be made to signage and parking areas throughout the Business Park. The works will be completed in four phases over an 18-month period between 2025 and 2027. Micheal Mac Giolla Easbuig, Regional Manager of Údarás na Gaeltachta in Donegal, welcomed the major investment. "Gaoth Dobhair Business Park has survived every challenge it has faced since the sixties. 'This investment will help it adapt to the needs of this era and the future, ensuring it will survive and thrive in the years ahead,' said Mr Mac Giolla Easbuig. ADVERTISEMENT This investment is essential to ensure that safe continuous services are provided, to meet health and safety requirements, and to keep the business park competitive for new investment. As well as being an important employment hub, Gaoth Dobhair Business Park serves the diverse needs of the community. It houses a Public Library and Gallery (Áislann Ghaoth Dobhair) as well as a Créche and Naíonra, Community Playground, County Council Fire Service, Garda Station, Donegal Education and Training Board Training Centre, Health Service Executive Service Centre and various other facilities and services. Gaoth Dobhair Business Park was established in 1965 when five businessmen and an official from the Department of the Gaeltacht came together to create an Industrial Estate to put an end to the emigration that was damaging the Gaeltacht community. This was the second rural Industrial Estate to be planned in the Republic of Ireland. The first company, Amblers Limited, opened in 1968, and by 1970 there were 220 people employed on the Estate. At the peak of employment in 1998, 1,338 employees were working there.
