From Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media
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Visiting Inis Meáin today, the Minister of State for the Gaeltacht and Sport, Jack Chambers, opened the new community centre and gteic at Carcair na Leacht. The centre cost over €550,000 to develop and his department approved €517,292 or 90% of the total cost. During his visit he attended the events of ‘Inis Iron Meáin 2022’, a famous road race which takes place on the island every year.
The grant for the Community Centre on Inis Meáin is in line with the commitment made in the National Development Plan and the commitment in the Community and Language Supports Programme - actions 2.13, 2.20, 2.22 and 2.21 of Action Plan 2018-2022 for the Irish Language. As well as serving as a community and gteic, the Centre provides playgroup and office space.
Opening the Centre, Minister of State Chambers said:
“I am delighted to be able to officially open this Centre today and I am pleased that my department has been able to support this work. Comhlacht Forbartha Inis Meáin has accomplished a significant feat in bringing this wonderful and beautiful facility to completion, I congratulate them on their great vision, planning and diligence. All of these efforts have resulted in the provision of a high quality community centre for the people of Inis Meáin which will support the promotion of business as well as the preservation of the Irish language and a vibrant Irish culture on the island.”
The gteic - Digital Network of the Gaeltacht - is expanding throughout the Gaeltacht as Údarás na Gaeltachta develops innovation hubs to provide facilities and workspaces with high speed internet access for remote workers to return to the Gaeltacht. This gteic was developed with significant assistance provided by the RRDF. Gteic @ Inis Meáin is one of 10 digital hubs being developed by Údarás na Gaeltachta in the Galway Gaeltacht.
Minister of State Chambers said:
“The digital hub is a great facility for Inis Meáin. It will provide opportunities for local businesses and entrepreneurs and encourage people to think about returning to the area or setting up a business here. Development like this is very timely with the new possibilities that have arisen for remote work.”
While on Inis Meáin he visited Coláiste Naomh Eoin where the Gardaí held a flag-raising ceremony. The department supports the College through ÁRAINN Gaeltachta, an initiative that provides funding of up to €150,000 over a 3 year period to enable up to 30 post-primary students per annum spend a full school year attending any of the three post-primary schools on the Aran Islands.