Seisiúin eolais ar thacaíochtaí athchóirithe do thithe folmha sa Ghaeltacht

TÁ tús curtha le sraith seisiún eolais ar na tacaíochtaí agus deontais atá ar fáil chun athchóiriú a dhéanamh ar theach folamh sa Ghaeltacht. Tá na seisiúin á reáchtáil ag Colm MacEachmharcaigh, atá ceaptha ag Údarás na Gaeltachta agus Comhairle Contae Mhaigh Eo mar chomhordaitheoir ar Thithe Folmha sa Ghaeltacht ó thús na bliana.

De réir staitisticí ó Dhaonáireamh 2022, tá 6,098 teach folamh sna ceantair Ghaeltachta, 11% den stoc tithíochta iomlán, atá níos airde ná an meán náisiúnta de 8%. Is í an aidhm leis na seisiúin eolais seo ná daoine a spreagadh le úsáid a bhaint as na tithe folmha sin.

Ar cheann de na príomhtheachtaireachtaí a scaipeadh ag na seisiún eolais, bhí sonraí faoin Deontas Athchóirithe Réadmhaoine Folamh, atá ar fáil trí na Comhairlí Contae i gcomhar leis an scéim Croí Cónaithe:

* Suas le €50,000 i ndeontas do thithe folmha atá le hathchóiriú mar áit chónaithe.

* Suas le €70,000 i ndeontas do thithe tréigthe, mar aitheantas ar an mbreis oibre agus caiteachais a bhaineann le tithe atá tréigthe ar feadh tréimhse níos faide a thabhairt ar ais chun caighdeáin chónaithe.

Dúirt Tomás Ó Síocháin, Príomhfheidhmeannach Údarás na Gaeltachta: "Is céim tábhachtach iad na seisiúin eolais atá á reáchtáil ag Colm. Tá postanna ar fáil sa Ghaeltacht agus cliantchomhlachtaí Údarás na Gaeltachta faoi láthair agus tá sé tugtha le fios ag na comlachtaí sin go bhfuil an easpa tithíochta ar cheann do na bacanna is mó ar earcaíocht faoi láthair.

“Ar an lámh eile, tá daoine ón nGaeltacht, daoine de bhunú na Gaeltachta agus daoine le Gaeilge araon ag iarraidh cur fúthu sa Ghaeltacht, áit go bhfuil tithe folmha agus tithe tréigthe ar fáil. Is céim í seo chun eolas cruinn a roinnt leis an bpobal faoi na tacaíochtaí atá ann, go spreagfar úinéirí na dtithe sin chun athchóiriú a dhéanamh orthu, agus go meallfar cainteoirí Gaeilge ar ais chuig an Ghaeltacht dá bharr."

Dúirt Colm MacEachmharcaigh, Comhordaitheoir ar Thithe Folmha sa Ghaeltacht: “Mholfainn do dhaoine a bheith ag caint lena gcomharsan, lena muintir, faoin easpa tithíochta sa Ghaeltacht agus faoi na deontais atá ar fáil. Tá sé ríthábhachtach go bhfuil tithíocht ar fáil do chainteoirí Gaeilge agus teaghlaigh óga sa Ghaeltacht, agus tá daoine le tithe folmha in ann cabhrú go mór leis sin.”

Beidh an chéad seisiúin eile ar siúl i gCois Fharraige ar an 8ú Meán Fómhair. Ní mór teagmháil a dhéanamh le Colm MacEachmharcaigh ag cmaceachmharcaigh@MayoCoCo.ie chun clárú nó le haghaidh tuilleadh eolais. Tá clár chruinnithe faisnéise curtha le chéile a fhreastlóidh ar cheantair Gaeltachta ar fud na tíre sna míonna amach romhainn le dátaí le deimhniú.

Information sessions on supports for renovating vacant houses in the Gaeltacht

A series of information sessions on supports for renovating vacant houses in the Gaeltacht are underway, run by the recently appointed vacant houses coordinator for the Gaeltacht, Colm MacEachmharcaigh, in collaboration with Údarás na Gaeltachta and Mayo County Council.

According to statistics from the 2022 census, there are 6,098 empty houses in Gaeltacht areas, 11% of the total housing stock, which is higher than the national average of 8%. These information sessions aim to encourage people to make use of these empty houses.

One of the key messages shared at the sessions is information on the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, available through County Councils, in partnership with the Croí Cónaithe scheme:

* Up to €50,000 in grants for vacant houses to be renovated as a place of residence.

* Up to €70,000 in grants for derelict houses, in recognition of the extra work and expense involved in bringing houses that have been derelict for a longer period back to a liveable standard.

Tomás Ó Síocháin, CEO of Údarás na Gaeltachta, said: “These information sessions run by Colm are an important step. There are currently jobs available in the Gaeltacht with Údarás na Gaeltachta client companies, and those companies have indicated that the lack of housing is currently one of the biggest barriers to recruitment.

“On the other hand, people from the Gaeltacht, people with Gaeltacht roots, and Irish speakers alike, all want to settle in the Gaeltacht, where vacant and derelict houses are available. These sessions are about sharing accurate information with the public on the supports available, so that the owners of these vacant houses are encouraged to renovate them, which will, as a result, draw Irish speakers back to the Gaeltacht.”

Colm Mac Eachmharcaigh, coordinator for vacant houses in the Gaeltacht, said: "I'd encourage people to talk to their neighbours and their families about the housing shortage in the Gaeltacht and the grants on offer. It's vitally important that there's housing available for Irish speakers and young families in the Gaeltacht, and people who own vacant houses can make a real difference there."

The next session will take place in Cois Fharraige on September 8. To register or for further information, contact Colm Mac Eachmharcaigh at cmaceachmharcaigh@MayoCoCo.ie. Further information sessions will be held across the Gaeltacht in the coming months, with dates to be confirmed.