It should be noted that housing policy and housing supports or incentives are a matter for the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. That said, the provision of housing for those living and working in Gaeltacht areas is an extremely important issue as it is essential to developing the language, services, employment, entrepreneurship and other opportunities in the Gaeltacht. Minister James Browne and I have been working closely on this issue with our officials since my appointment as Minister. The recently published Government Housing Plan contains a commitment by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage to publish a National Planning Statement for the Gaeltacht in the first half of 2027, while also stating that the feasibility of Údarás na Gaeltachta working with Uisce Éireann and local authorities to support housing construction for Irish speaking communities will be examined. I have recently facilitated a meeting between Údarás na Gaeltachta and Uisce Éireann with a view to ensuring that progress is made on this matter without delay. It is worth noting, however, that Údarás na Gaeltachta has a secondary role in this space as the primary responsibility lies with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the local authorities. My Department provides a number of supports in County Kerry in order to support the Irish language and to strengthen its use as the main language of the Gaeltacht community. Earlier this month, I undertook a two-day visit to Kerry which incorporated visits to the West and South Kerry Gaeltacht language planning areas. I was delighted during my visit to launch and visit projects approved for over €12m in funding from my Department and its agencies. I was also pleased to announce 23 new jobs in Net Feasa Ltd, a technology company based in Daingean Uí Chúis. This will double the company's workforce within 3 years. In addition, I officially opened gteic Uíbh Ráthach in south Kerry - a facility built with over €2.5m of investment from my Department, with match-funding being approved by Údarás na Gaeltachta. Facilities such as this are key to ensuring Gaeltacht areas in Kerry remain accessible and appealing to those wishing to move back home to the Gaeltacht or indeed those wishing to do business in Gaeltacht areas. Údarás na Gaeltachta, as the regional authority responsible for the linguistic, economic, social, and cultural development of the Gaeltacht, provides various supports to the Kerry Gaeltacht. In 2025, Údarás na Gaeltachta supported various enterprises in the Kerry Gaeltacht including:
• Outwest Clothing Ltd in Daingean Uí Chúis
• Drioglann Uisce Beatha in Daingean Uí Chúis.
• Mara Beo Teo aquarium in Daingean Uí Chúis
• 911 people were employed in Údarás na Gaeltachta Kerry-based client companies in 2025, while 63 new jobs were also created in the county. The Gaeltacht Act 2012 provides the statutory framework for undertaking the language planning process on a coordinated basis. The public, the voluntary sector, the public sector and the private sector work together to support the Irish language in the various geographical areas as recognised under the Act.
Two Language Planning Areas, Ciarraí Thiar and Ciarraí Theas, are implementing language plans in the county. Annual funding of €180,000 is provided for the plan of Ciarraí Thiar and €120,000 for Ciarraí Theas. The Irish language in both Corca Dhuibhne and Uíbh Ráthach are supported by this funding and by the language planning process.
In addition, the following annual funding is being provided for the implementation of Gaeltacht Service Town plans in Kerry:
• €120,000 for Daingean Uí Chúis and
• €96,000 for the towns of Tralee and Cathair Saidhbhín.
In conjunction with the Language Planning Process my Department provides funding to a number of Irish Language organisations includingTuismitheoirí na Gaeltachta, Comhar Naíonraí na Gaeltachta, Muintearas Teo. and Ealaín na Gaeltachta to provide language-based services in the Kerry Gaeltacht. Language Planning Officers employed in the prescribed Gaeltacht Language Planning Areas and Gaeltacht Services Towns work in conjunction with these organisations to further implement and develop the approved language plans and the organisations' work programmes.
The Department’s long-standing schemes such as the Language Assistants Scheme, the Summer Camps Scheme and the Gaelic Games Programme are all available in the Kerry Gaeltacht thanks to funding provided by my Department.
In addition, current funding is provided to Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne to carry out an agreed programme of work for the benefit of the Gaeltacht community in the region. Capital funding is also available under the Community and Language Support Programme for Irish language/Gaeltacht community organisations and committees to provide community and language resources.
Also, it is anticipated that the employment opportunities offered through recruitment targets set out in the Official Languages Act, 2003, will have a positive impact on public bodies and society alike by ensuring that a sufficient number of suitably qualified personnel are available to provide public services through Irish to Gaeltacht communities and Irish speakers. This is particularly so in the case of those public bodies that have offices in the Gaeltacht and provide services in and to the Gaeltacht, as they will have a duty to provide those services through the medium of Irish, in addition to those offices operating through the medium of Irish.
In addition, a wide range of initiatives relating to the development of pathways to various roles with the Irish language are being examined under the Action Plan for Irish Language Public Services 2026-2028 published by my Department earlier this year, including apprenticeship programmes, internships, returneeships and work experiences. Given that a number of Irish-medium primary and post-primary schools are recognised as DEIS schools, both within and outside the Gaeltacht, and some Gaeltacht Language Planning Areas scoring below average on the deprivation index, it is expected that many of the measures included in this Action Plan will have a positive impact on jobs, particularly in relation to localised employment opportunities, particularly in Gaeltacht areas.
My Department is committed to supporting the Irish language and strengthening its use as the main language of the Gaeltacht community in County Kerry and this is clearly conveyed by ongoing investment in the area, the impact of the language planning process, and the impact of the Official Languages Act, 2003. The Department's policies also create opportunities for employment in Gaeltacht areas in Kerry.
