MORE TECH, LESS FISH IN WEST KERRY

A TEMPORARY decline in fish processing jobs and an increase in facilities for working through technology, as outlined in Údarás na Gaeltachta’s annual report, may indicate the direction in which employment is going in West Kerry.

The Údarás annual report published on Monday shows that 53 new jobs were created in Údarás funded companies in Kerry. However, although fish processing is still the largest employer in West Kerry, it has suffered a decline in the last year. This is temporary setback, according to Údarás Bainisteoir Réigiúnach Dónal Ó Liatháin and the Údarás aims to examine the causes for the decline and restore the number of jobs to previous levels.

Meanwhile, the Gaeltacht development agency recently opened a regional ‘gteic’ or technology hub at its premises in Milltown with the aim of fostering high-tech business startups by providing workspaces connected to 1Gb broadband, as well as mentoring and training. The facility has 18 workstations, five of which have already be taken up.

The Údarás has also been central in the plan to redevelop Dingle Hospital into a workspace for the future. Funding from the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund allowed a project manager to be recruited for the ‘Old Dingle Hospital’ project. Pádraig Ó Laoithe from Imileá, Baile ‘n Fheirtéaraigh, has been appointed to the post.

According to Dónal Ó Liatháin both the Dingle hospital project and another project to build a sports and training facility in Ballyferriter will be ready to start in 2021, subject to acquiring all agreements and the capital grants needed for the work.

Other keys area of development for the Údarás are community organisations and An Plean Teanga.

When it was formed in 1980, 40 years ago, Údarás na Gaeltachta was tasked with creating employment and providing commercial property . In recent years that portfolio has broadened to include language planning, community development, the creative industries, the gteic network and marine innovation.