South Connemara councillor Michael Leainde of Independent Ireland has said that elections to the board of Údarás na Gaeltachta have been delayed because the Government is afraid of how Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael will perform in them.
In the Dáil this week, the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht was unable to say when elections for Údarás na Gaeltachta will be held, despite the fact that the Údarás na Gaeltachta (Amendment ) Act 2026 was signed into law on July 1.
"It’s not surprising to me that the Minister for the Gaeltacht is putting this on this long finger because I personally believe that they are worried that independent people will be elected to the board of Údarás na Gaeltachta," Cllr Leainde said when speaking to the Advertiser.
"They’re worried that they won’t get many from the government parties on the board of the Údarás and that’s the main reason behind this."
The main purpose of the new legislation is to replace the current nomination and selection process for the board of the development body with a new system combining elections and appointments.
When Waterford TD Conor McGuinness (Sinn Féin ) asked Minister Dara Calleary about the Department's timeline for holding the elections, Minister Calleary was unable to say whether they would take place before next summer.
Minister Calleary said the Department of the Gaeltacht would now examine possible dates, but that the election itself would be the responsibility of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
He also said amendments would need to be discussed with officials in the Department of Local Government, while "other details relating to the elections" would be considered at Government level.
It is understood that the necessary technical amendments to the Electoral Act 1992, the Electoral Act 1996, the Litter Pollution Act 1997, and the Data Protection Act 2018 have now been completed. These provisions will be commenced by ministerial order by Minister Calleary.
The Department has been unable to say when the elections will take place or when such a decision will be made.
