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Half of Údarás na Gaeltachta budget spent on former employees' pensions

Sinn Féin Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh said the government is doing “untold damage” to the future of the Gaeltacht.

HALF OF THE current budget of Údarás na Gaeltachta is being spent on former employees’ pensions, it emerged yesterday.

The information came to light at an Oireachtas Joint Committee where Minister’s Jimmy Deenihan and Dinny McGuinley were answering questions about expenditure in the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltachts.

McGuinley confirmed that from a current budget of €9.8 million in 2012, some €4.3 million was spent on pension payments to former employees of the agency which is responsible for the economic, social and cultural development of the Gaeltacht.

Commenting on the budget spending, Sinn Féin Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh said this raises “serious concerns” regarding the levels of monies being paid, who is receiving them and how many other State organisations are in a similar situation. He said he will be looking for a more detailed breakdown of expenditure.

“I nearly fell off the chair when I heard that almost half the current expenditure goes on pension payments to 136 people who are no longer employed by the organisation,” he said.

“Small wonder that the Údarás is not able to function more effectively.”

This news comes on foot of other disclosures at the committee that cutbacks of 68 per cent have been made to the Gaeltacht and Islands budgets in the department between 2008 and 2012.

“We cannot accept any further cuts in these areas in light of this information”, saidthe Sinn Féin Senator, “because Irish speakers and Gaeltacht residents have already shouldered their fair share of the burden for the sins of the bankers.”

“This government is doing untold damage to the life and future of the Gaeltacht with the cutbacks they are imposing.”

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41 Comments
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    Mute anto Byrne
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    Jul 1st 2013, 2:37 PM

    An absolute disgrace I have to sell yokes to keep me afloat.

    79
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    Mute Rick MacRory
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    Jul 1st 2013, 2:52 PM

    And the majority of fools will still blame our government . Its world wide recession. Foolish fools

    18
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    Mute NidgeWeasel
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    Jul 1st 2013, 3:00 PM

    No recession in my gaf.

    41
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    Mute Flippermac
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    Jul 1st 2013, 3:32 PM

    Dont forget to welcome all the unemployment from Croatia

    53
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    Mute Bobby Murray
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    Jul 1st 2013, 5:16 PM

    @ Rick, “foolish fools” I never heard of an intelligent fool, only a politicians fool and that is you and your “foolish” comments!

    23
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    Mute Tom Newell
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    Jul 1st 2013, 5:25 PM

    Yes rick the unemployment is all down to a world wide recession not mistakes made by governments and banks and greed and idiot decisions

    26
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    Mute Jonny Rigley
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    Jul 1st 2013, 8:55 PM

    What I’d like to see is the unemployment figures if Germany was excluded. I’d say that would give the figure a good jump

    4
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    Mute itchy willy
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    Jul 1st 2013, 3:51 PM

    Vote for the Lisbon Treaty – vote for Jobs

    66
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    Mute grease lightening
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    Jul 1st 2013, 5:30 PM

    What do you mean a No vote? Ve vant a Yes vote!

    23
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    Mute Niall
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    Jul 1st 2013, 2:43 PM

    An extra 4 unemployed people in Ireland? Ha!

    48
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    Mute Bobby Murray
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    Jul 1st 2013, 5:27 PM

    “26 million people in the EU unemployed” not to worry, they are welcome in Ireland and they can get Social Welfare, free housing, children’s allowance (no need to uproot your children), free medical, travel pass and anything you can think of that theIrish who were self employed are not entitled too! Immigrants get priority! If you feel you are not getting your entitlements when you arrive on these shores, just shout racism and you are entitled to free legal representation too.
    All welcome even if you are not European!

    34
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    Mute Jack Green
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    Jul 1st 2013, 6:19 PM

    Is your social welfare open for abuse? Are you that thick as a nation? Cannot sort it out? Ask for help,ask Germany.Angela Merkel will be more than happy to help ye,she will knock the common sense in your heads

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    Mute Marko Burns
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    Jul 1st 2013, 2:54 PM

    4 people? Malcolm Tucker has been massaging the DOSAC figures again.

    32
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    Mute Cipiatone
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    Jul 1st 2013, 5:31 PM

    This austerity thing is working a treat!

    20
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    Mute FlopFlipU
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    Jul 1st 2013, 3:43 PM

    Good grief

    17
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    Mute Pete Foley
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    Jul 1st 2013, 5:44 PM

    Plus one more if they take any more money from me.

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    Mute murphy 11
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    Jul 1st 2013, 6:58 PM

    Bet seasonally adjusted figures show about 750,000 unemployed.

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    Mute noel beggs
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    Jul 1st 2013, 8:11 PM

    Wait till Albania get in. God help us

    6
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    Mute grease lightening
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    Jul 1st 2013, 6:37 PM

    Anyone hear David Norris’s speech today? Worth a listen!

    5
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    Mute Jack Green
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    Jul 1st 2013, 6:18 PM

    Is your social welfare open for abuse? Are you that thick as a nation? Cannot sort it out? Ask for help,ask Germany.Angela Merkel will be more than happy to help ye,she will knock the common sense in your heads.

    3
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