Investment in youth work on Aran Islands shows commitment to communities’ wellbeing – Kyne / Léiríonn infheistíocht san obair don aos óg in Oileáin Árann gealltanas d’fholláine na bpobal – Kyne

A first ever youth work service delivered on Inis Mór, Inis Meáin and Inis Oirr is an exciting new development for offshore island communities, a Fine Gael Senator has said.

Senator Seán Kyne, Fine Gael’s candidate in the upcoming Galway West bye-election, said the new four year pilot represents an investment of €300,000, which will go towards funding three part-time youth workers, who will be based on their own island community and will deliver locally led youth work services in Irish.

“But perhaps more significant is the acknowledgement from Government that communities living on the Aran Islands should be supported to reduce reliance on online or mainland services, and I wish to thank my Fine Gael colleague Minister Hildegarde Naughton for funding this initiative,” he pointed out.

Senator Kyne has been an advocate for offshore island communities throughout his political career, most recently putting forward the view that communities like this need investment to remain vibrant. Connectivity, housing, healthcare and support for the Irish language must be priorities, not afterthoughts, he says.

“Today’s announcement that the Oileáin Árann Youth Work service will be delivered as Gaeilge on the Aran Islands, is a very positive step towards ensuring young people living on the Aran Islands are properly supported and encouraged.”

The pilot initiative was developed following consultation with schools, local services and community stakeholders. It responds to challenges identified by young people living on the islands, including isolation and limited access to early intervention and non‑therapeutic mental health supports.

“Geography or language should never be barriers to opportunity or participation and today’s announcement demonstrates how the continuation of vibrant island life is important. I want work to continue on the Islands Strategy, which I initiated as Minister for the Islands, to ensure our islands and their communities thrive for decades to come.,” Senator Kyne said.

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An chéad seirbhís don aos óg riamh ar Inis Mór, Inis Meáin agus Inis Oírr, agus is léir gur forbairt nua spreagúil í do phobail na n-oileán amach ón gcósta, a dúirt Seanadóir de chuid Fhine Gael.

 Dúirt an Seanadóir Seán Kyne, iarrthóir Fhine Gael don fhothoghchán atá le teacht i nGaillimh Thiar, gur infheistíocht €300,000 é an treoirthionscadal nua ceithre bliana seo. Rachaidh an maoiniú seo i dtreo thacaíocht triúr oibrí óige páirtseaimseartha a bheidh lonnaithe ina bpobail oileáin féin agus a chuirfidh seirbhísí don aos óg ar fáil trí Ghaeilge faoi stiúir an phobail áitiúil.

“Ach b’fhéidir gurb é an rud is tábhachtaí ná an t-aitheantas ón Rialtas gur cheart tacaíocht a thabhairt do phobail Oileáin Árann chun an spleáchas ar sheirbhísí ar líne nó ar sheirbhísí mórthíre a laghdú, agus ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghabháil le mo chomhghleacaí i bhFine Gael, an tAire Hildegarde Naughton, as an tionscnamh seo a mhaoiniú,” a dúirt sé.

Le linn a ghairme polaitiúla go dtí seo, tá an Seanadóir Kyne tar éis a bheith ina thacaí láidir do phobail na n-oileán amach ón gcósta. Le déanaí, leag sé béim ar an dearcadh go dteastaíonn infheistíocht ó phobail mar seo chun go bhfanfaidh siad bríomhar. Caithfidh tithíocht, cúram sláinte agus tacaíocht don Ghaeilge a bheith ina dtosaíochtaí seachas ina n-athsmaointe, a deir sé.

“Is céim an-dearfach é fógra an lae inniu go gcuirfear seirbhís Obair don Aos Óg Oileáin Árann ar fáil trí Ghaeilge ar na hoileáin; cinnteoidh sé seo go bhfaighidh daoine óga atá ina gcónaí ar Oileáin Árann an tacaíocht agus an t-spreagadh cuí,” a dúirt sé.

Forbraíodh an tionscnamh treorach seo tar éis dul i gcomhairle le scoileanna, seirbhísí áitiúla agus páirtithe leasmhara sa phobal. Freagraíonn sé do na dúshláin a d’aithin daoine óga atá ina gcónaí ar na hoileáin, lena n-áirítear an t-uaigneas agus an rochtain teoranta ar luathidirghabháil agus ar thacaíochtaí mheabhairshláinte neamh-theiripeacha.

“Níor cheart go mbeadh an tíreolaíocht ná an teanga ina mbacainní ar dheiseanna nó ar rannpháirtíocht choíche, agus léiríonn fógra an lae inniu go bhfuil tábhacht ag baint le leanúnachas shaol bríomhar na n-oileán. Teastaíonn uaim go leanfaí leis an obair ar an Straitéis do na hOileáin, a thionscain mé nuair a bhí mé i mo Aire na nOileán, lena chinntiú go mbeidh rath ar ár n-oileáin agus ar a bpobail sna blianta amach romhainn,” a dúirt an Seanadóir Kyne.