Fianna Fáil is hoping to maintain its dominant position within Údarás na Gaeltachta when voters elect a new board to the Gaeltacht development authority today.
A total of 44 candidates will be vying for 17 seats among an electorate of 79,600 within Irish-speaking areas of counties Donegal, Mayo, Galway, Kerry, Cork, Waterford and Meath. A further three seats, including the post of chair, are nominated by the Minister for Community,Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs.
The closest battle is expected to be fought in Galway city and county, where 20 candidates are running for six seats. Galway City Council has confirmed that some 30 houses in the townland of Clybaun within city limits were issued polling cards in error last week. The council has informed the householders of the mix-up.
Fianna Fáil took almost half of the 17 seats in the last elections in December 1999, including four in Galway. It is running six candidates this time, including Sinead Ní Neachtain, daughter of outgoing Údarás member and North-West MEP Seán Ó Neachtain.
Fine Gael is hoping to retain its one seat in Galway held by the late Pól Ó Foighil, who died two weeks ago, while sitting Independent Seosamh Ó Cuaig has competition from several other Independents, including Ros na Rún producer Trevor Ó Clochartaigh.
The Progressive Democrats, the Green Party and Sinn Féin are also fielding candidates in Galway, and the Fine Gael and Progressive Democrats leaders, Enda Kenny and Mary Harney, have been out canvassing in Connemara.
The fact that some 8,227 voters are within Galway city limits has been an issue of controversy during the election campaign in the west. English is acknowledged as the dominant language in official Gaeltacht regions such as Knocknacarra, and Irish use has also been on the decline in "Gaeltacht" suburbs of Moycullen and Claregalway in Co Galway. An Bord Pleanála recently ruled against imposing Irish language competency planning conditions in Claregalway as part of the Galway County Development Plan.
Turnout for the Údarás vote in 1999 was about 50 per cent, but fell to as low as 12 per cent in some city areas. Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Eamon Ó Cuív has warned that Galway Gaeltacht boundaries will be reviewed if certain Gaeltacht suburbs don't choose to exercise their franchise today.
