Only one Mayo person on Údarás na Gaeltachta board

Only one Mayo person on new ÚdarΡs na Gaeltachta board


Anton McNulty
antonmcnulty@mayonews.ie

Only one Mayo person will sit on the new board of ÚdarΡs na Gaeltachta after the Minister for the Gaeltacht, Dinny McGinley announced his nominees to the board.
Belmullet based, Ian Mac Aindriú will be the only Mayo representative on the board of ÚdarΡs na Gaeltachta after he was nominated by Mayo County Council. Mr Mac Aindriú is a former member of ÚdarΡs na Gaeltachta and was a Fine Gael candidate in the last local elections. He was nominated unopposed at the September meeting of Mayo County Council.
The new board is reduced from 20 members to 12 and is the first board not to be elected after Gaeltacht elections were scrapped under the new Gaeltacht Act. On previous boards, two members were elected to represent the Gaeltacht areas in Mayo.
Under the new format, seven members of the board will be appointed by the Minister for the Gaeltacht while the remaining five members will be appointed through the County Councils with Gaeltacht areas.
Last Tuesday, Minister McGinley announced his nominees which include three from the Minister’s home county of Donegal - including the new Cathaoirleach, Anna Ní Ghallchóir - and one each from Galway, Waterford, Cork and Kerry.
The ratification of Donegal County Council nominee, Fianna FΡil councillor David Alcorn has been delayed pending the outcome of enquiries regarding certain allegations of expenses irregularities that have been made.
Minister McGinley said that he was pleased to announce the appointments and that he is confident that the new board of ÚdarΡs na Gaeltachta will undertake their duties with diligence.
“While ÚdarΡs na Gaeltachta undoubtedly faces challenging times ahead, I am confident that the ability, experience and wide range of skills of all the board members will greatly benefit both ÚdarΡs na Gaeltachta and the Gaeltacht community in the coming years,” the Minister said.

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