Non-Gaeltacht islands of Mayo receive funding increase for community development

The Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary TD (Fianna Fáil), has announced funding of more than €800,000 for community development companies on the non-Gaeltacht islands of Mayo, Galway and Cork.

This represents a once-off increase of 22.2% overall since 2024, bringing the funding in line with the Gaeltacht islands.

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This follows a review carried out by the Department of the funding structures for community development companies on non-Gaeltacht islands, which was a commitment in Our Living Islands, the national islands policy 2023-2033.

Comhar na nOileán manages the administration of the funding on behalf of the Department, and additional funding is also being provided to develop a support network and training for the community development officers on these islands.

Empowering Island Communities is one of the strategic objectives of Our Living Islands, and the community development companies are central to this. The funding provided to them annually directly supports the employment of community development officers and support workers on the offshore islands.

Their work programmes include 8 key areas of work, including the provision of day-to-day community services, supporting social enterprise and economic activity on the islands, and liaising with State bodies to develop infrastructure and ensure island communities have access to essential public services.

The Department of Rural and Community Development also provides over €10 million per year towards subsidised transport services to ensure our island communities can avail of reliable, affordable year-round air, ferry and heavy cargo services. Furthermore, funding of €1 million per annum is provided via Údarás na Gaeltachta for 7 community development companies on Gaeltacht islands.

Announcing the funding, Minister Calleary said: “Community development companies and co-operatives play a vital role in the delivery of daily services and projects of our offshore islands. I am delighted to fulfil a commitment given in Our Living Islands to review the funding structure. This revised funding announced today ensures that all our islands now have access to the same level of support, whether in the Gaeltacht or not.”

Welcoming the announcement, Máire Uí Mhaoláin, CEO of Comhar na nOileán said: “Comhar na nOileán welcomes this significant funding increase for the non-Gaeltacht islands to implement their work programmes. It is a positive sign that the Government is committed to supporting the islands and to delivering the Our Living Islands action plan. This funding helps to sustain these community-based bodies and their communities on the non-Gaeltacht islands. This is a step forward and we hope that this progress will be built on, on an ongoing basis in the years to come.”

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