Preasráiteas / Press Release
Infheistíocht i nGlúin óg na Gaeltachta: Straitéis Úr Mhuintearais 2026-2029 seolta ag an Aire Calleary
Infheistíocht i nGlúin óg na Gaeltachta: Straitéis Úr Mhuintearais 2026-2029 seolta ag an Aire Calleary
Tá ré nua d’obair óige agus d’fhorbairt pobail sa Ghaeltacht fógartha inniu agus Plean Straitéiseach Mhuintearais 2026-2029 seolta go hoifigiúil ag an Aire Dara Calleary TD.
Mar chuid den phlean uaillmhianach seo, fógrófar dhá phost nua láithreach — Bainisteoir Óige agus Comhordaitheoir Oiliúna — le tús a chur le hathrú na heagraíochta ina seirbhís Gaeltachta náisiúnta.
Leagann an straitéis úr amach conas a leathnóidh Muintearas a chuid seirbhísí ó Chonamara agus Dún na nGall chun freastal ar gach ceann de na 26 Limistéir Pleanála Teanga (LPT) ar fud na tíre.
Príomh-Spriocanna an Phlean Straitéisigh
- Guth na hÓige i Lár an Aonaigh: Bunófar Tionól Óige na Gaeltachta, ardán náisiúnta a thabharfaidh deis do dhaoine óga Gaeltachta tionchar díreach a imirt ar bheartais óige.
- Sármhaitheas Oiliúna QQI: Forbrófar Muintearas mar chomhlacht oiliúna náisiúnta a thairgfidh cúrsaí creidiúnaithe don obair óige trí Ghaeilge, rud a neartóidh gairmiúlacht na hearnála.
- Ceannaireacht i gCumhdach Leanaí: Beidh Aonad Cumhdaigh (Safeguarding) Mhuintearais ar fáil feasta mar acmhainn oiliúna do gach eagraíocht phobail sa Ghaeltacht.
- Nuachóiriú Branda: Tá athnuachan iomlán á dhéanamh ar bhranda Mhuintearais, mar aon le suíomh gréasáin nua atá dírithe ar an úsáideoir, chun íomhá chomhaimseartha a thabhairt don eagraíocht.
Ag labhairt dó ag an seoladh, dúirt an tAire Dara Calleary T.D.:
“Tá áthas orm an Plean Straitéiseach seo a sheoladh inniu. Cuirfidh feidhmiú na straitéise seo go mór le hobair óige trí Ghaeilge sa Ghaeltacht chomh maith le freastal ar phobal na Gaeltachta trí chéile, trí chláracha, oiliúint agus seirbhísí a chur ar fáil dóibh. Cabhróidh sé seo go mór leis an bpróiseas pleanála teanga agus leis an Ghaeilge a dhaingniú mar theanga phobail ar fud na Gaeltachta. Le roinnt mhaith blianta anois, tá infheistíocht suntasach á déanamh ag mo Roinn i Muintearas ar mhaithe le Scéim na gCuntóirí Teanga, Scéim na gCampaí Samhraidh agus an Clár Aclaíochta agus Spóirt a riar sna Limistéir Pleanála Teanga Gaeltachta agus, mar léiriú ar mhuinín mo Roinne san eagraíocht, tá méadú d’ós cionn €0.5m in aghaidh na bliana tagtha ar an infheistíocht sin le dhá bhliain anuas chun a chur ar chumas na heagraíochta tús a chur le clár oibre chun seirbhísí óige a leathnú amach ar fud na Gaeltachta.”
Dúirt Elaine Scahill, Príomhfheidhmeannach Mhuintearais:
“Is cúis bróid dúinn go bhfuil an straitéis seo á sheoladh inniu, agus tá Muintearas ag súil go mór leis an straitéis a chur i bhfeidhm. Tá spriocanna uaillmhianacha leagtha síos sa straitéis agus tá muid ag tnúth le bheith ag obair chun iad a chur i gcrích. Ar cheann de na spriocanna sin tá an bonneagar a fhorbairt chun rochtain a chinntiú ar obair óige d’ard chaighdeán, agus chuige sin beidh post mar Bhainisteoir Óige agus post mar Chomhordaitheoir Oiliúna á fhógairt againn an tseachtain seo.”
Dhearbhaigh Tomás Ó Síocháin, Príomhfheidhmeannach Údarás na Gaeltachta, an tábhacht a bhaineann leis an bplean:
“Ní cáipéis amháin atá ann ach fís a mbeidh toradh le fheiceáil go soiléir i bpobail na Gaeltachta, i ndeiseanna nua don aos óg agus i mbuanú na Gaeilge mar theanga bheo phobail. Le tacaíocht leanúnach na Roinne Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail agus Gaeltachta, tá Muintearas in ann pleanáil go muiníneach don todhchaí. Cuirfidh an straitéis seo bonn láidir faoin obair atá ar bun ag Muintearas sna trí bliana amach romhainn.”
Ghlac Cathaoirleach Mhuintearais, Michelle Ní Chróinín buíochas leis an mBord agus leis an bhfoireann as a gcuid oibre ar fad chun an straitéis a fhorbairt:
“Is toradh é an creat straitéiseach seo ar phróiseas cuimsitheach comhairliúcháin a thosaigh ag tús 2025, agus gabhaim buíochas ó chroí le mo chomhghleacaithe ar an mBord agus leis an bhfoireann go léir as a gcuid físe agus tiomantais. Ní hamháin go leagann an plean seo amach treo nua dúinn mar eagraíocht náisiúnta, ach cinntíonn sé go mbeidh guth na hóige agus riachtanais an phobail i gcroílár gach cinneadh a dhéanfaimid as seo go ceann trí bliana.”
CRÍOCH
Breis eolais
Elaine Scahill, Príomhfheidhmeannach, Muintearas CTR
elaine.scahill@muintearas.com
Faoi Mhuintearas
Is fochuideachta de chuid Údarás na Gaeltachta é Muintearas, atá lonnaithe i dTír an Fhia, Co. na Gaillimhe agus a bhfuil oifig aige i nGaoth Dobhair, Co. Dhún na nGall chomh maith.
Tá Muintearas ag freastal ar phobal na Gaeltachta le níos mó ná dhá scór bliain. I measc na seirbhísí a chuireann an eagraíocht ar fáil tá seirbhísí óige, tionscnaimh forbartha pobail, cláir oiliúna agus oideachais, seirbhísí luathóige agus fiontair shóisialta.
Bainistíonn Muintearas scéim na gCampaí Samhraidh Gaeltachta agus feidhmíonn Scéim na gCúntóirí Teanga agus an Clár Aclaíochta agus Spóirt ar son na Roinne Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail agus Gaeltachta. Cuireann Muintearas clár obair óige ar fáil ar fud na Gaeltachta trí chomhordú agus tacú le líonra clubanna óige pobalbhunaithe.
Na Poist
An Bainisteoir Óige: Is post ag leibhéal Príomhoifigeach Cúnta é seo. Beidh an té a cheapfar freagrach as bainistiú foirne agus buiséid, chomh maith le pleanáil agus cur i bhfeidhm straitéis óige mar chuid de chlár oibre Mhuintearais.
An Comhordaitheoir Oiliúna: Is post ag leibhéal Ard Oifigeach Feidhmiúcháin é seo. Beidh an té a cheapfar i gceannas ar fhorbairt agus ar chothabháil chúrsaí oiliúna, ag cinntiú go mbíonn siad ar ardchaighdeán agus ag comhlíonadh riachtanais QQI.
Investing in the Irish-Speaking Generation: Muintearas Launches New Strategic Plan 2026-2029
A new era for youth work and community development in the Gaeltacht has been announced today with the official launch of Muintearas’ Strategic Plan 2026-2029 by Minister Dara Calleary T.D.
As part of this ambitious plan, two new positions will be created immediately — a Youth Manager and a Training Coordinator — marking the beginning of the organisation’s transformation into a Gaeltacht-wide service.
The new strategy sets out how Muintearas will expand its services from Connemara and Donegal to serve all 26 Language Planning Areas (LPAs) across the country.
Key Strategic Priorities
- Youth Voice at the Forefront: The establishment of a Gaeltacht Youth Assembly, a national platform enabling young people to directly influence youth policy.
- Excellence in QQI Training: Development of Muintearas as a national training provider, offering accredited Irish-language youth work programmes, strengthening professionalism within the sector.
- Leadership in Child Safeguarding: The organisation’s Safeguarding Unit will become a training resource for community organisations throughout the Gaeltacht.
- Brand Modernisation: A complete rebrand of Muintearas, alongside a new user-focused website, to present a modern and accessible organisational identity.
Speaking at the launch, Minister Dara Calleary T.D. said:
“I am delighted to launch this Strategic Plan today. Its implementation will significantly enhance Irish-language youth work in the Gaeltacht while supporting Gaeltacht communities as a whole through programmes, training, and services. It will also make an important contribution to the language planning process and help to strengthen Irish as a community language across the Gaeltacht. For a number of years now, my Department has been making a significant investment in Muintearas to administer the Language Assistants Scheme, the Summer Camps Scheme and the Fitness and Sports Programme in the Gaeltacht Language Planning Areas and, as a reflection of my Department's confidence in the organisation, that investment has increased by over €0.5m per annum over the past two years to enable the organisation to commence a programme of work to expand youth services throughout the Gaeltacht.”
Elaine Scahill, CEO of Muintearas, added:
“We are proud to launch this strategy and look forward to achieving its ambitious goals. Among these is the development of infrastructure to ensure access to high-quality youth work. The recruitment of a Youth Manager and Training Coordinator is a critical step in delivering this national vision.”
Tomás Ó Síocháin, CEO of Údarás na Gaeltachta, emphasised the significance of the plan:
“This is not just a document, but a vision whose impact will be clearly seen in Gaeltacht communities, in new opportunities for young people, and in the sustainability of Irish as a living community language. With continued support from the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Muintearas is well positioned to plan confidently for the future.”
Michelle Ní Chróinín, Chairperson of Muintearas, thanked the Board and staff:
“This strategic framework is the result of a comprehensive consultation process that began in early 2025. I sincerely thank my colleagues on the Board and staff for their vision and commitment. The plan not only sets a new direction for us as a national organisation but ensures that the voice of young people and the needs of the community will remain at the heart of every decision we make over the next three years.”
ENDS
For further information
Elaine Scahill, Muintearas
elaine.scahill@muintearas.com
About Muintearas
Muintearas is a subsidiary of Údarás na Gaeltachta and is based in Tír an Fhia, County Galway, with an additional office in Gaoth Dobhair, County Donegal.
Muintearas has been serving Gaeltacht communities for over 40 years. Its services include youth provision, community development initiatives, training and education programmes, early years services, and social enterprise initiatives.
The organisation administers the Gaeltacht Summer Camps Scheme and operates the Language Assistants Scheme and the Fitness and Sports Programme on behalf of the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht. Muintearas also provides a youth work programme throughout the Gaeltacht by coordinating and supporting a network of community-based youth clubs.
The Positions
Youth Manager: This is a position at Assistant Principal Officer level. The person appointed will be responsible for managing staff and budgets, as well as planning and implementing a youth strategy as part of the organisation’s programme of work.
Training Coordinator: This is a position at Higher Executive Officer level. The person appointed will be responsible for the development and maintenance of training courses, ensuring they are of a high standard and comply with QQI requirements.