A HOUSING initiative to develop a model of affordable housing for Irish speakers on a site in Gaoth Dobhair has been approved by Údarás na Gaeltachta.
The board of Údarás na Gaeltachta is being supported by a capital allocation of €250,000 towards development and research costs to develop a model of affordable housing for Irish speakers on Údarás lands in Gaeltacht areas in Donegal, Waterford and Galway.
They are now seeking expressions of interest from local authorities, housing organisations and other relevant organisations to partner in the development of this model for the three identified sites.
In a statement Údarás said: “the level of demand among Irish speakers and existing supply will also be assessed as part of the planned work, to include ongoing and further engagement with relevant national and local stakeholders. The Board has indicated that Housing will be a standing agenda item until the work is brought to a further stage of development during the coming year.”
Údarás na Gaeltachta is involved with ongoing discussions with local authorities and other relevant stakeholders including Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage to progress the initiative.
Any development will draw on existing funding mechanisms in place under the Government’s ‘Housing for All’ programme.
Údarás na Gaeltachta Chairperson, Mary Uí Chadhain, said that “the Údarás housing initiative is at the core of the work of the organisation to support and develop sustainable communities where Irish is the daily spoken language. The housing crisis nationally presents a significant challenge to the next generation of Irish speakers who seek to live in Gaeltacht areas and such, is a threat to the continued use of the language as a living language in years to come.”
Tomás Ó Síocháin, CEO of Údarás na Gaeltachta said “Existing employment opportunities in Gaeltacht areas cannot be filled due to the lack of housing. It is also a barrier to those from the Gaeltacht, those with family connections in the Gaeltacht and to Irish speakers who want to live where Irish is the community language. This Affordable Housing Initiative marks the first step in finding solutions to that challenge.”
A dedicated email address has been established, tithiocht@udaras.ie, for anyone who would like to receive further information on this issue or regarding the three sites that have been identified at this stage of the project.
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