Irish-speaking areas saw a net gain of just 73 jobs last year, according to an end-of-year statement released by Údarás na Gaeltachta yesterday.

Pádraig Ó hAolain, chief executive of Údarás na Gaeltachta, said total employment in companies assisted by the agency topped 8,000 for the first time in six years.

He said that Údarás helped create 1,038 jobs in Irish-speaking regions in 2007, with employment rising to 8,026. However, 965 jobs were lost in the region over the 12-month period bringing the net gain down to just 73 jobs.

Mr Ó hAolain said the continuing decline in the traditional manufacturing sector was the major driver behind the job losses. He also cited the difficulties created for Gaeltacht com-panies by unsettled financial markets and the euro/dollar exchange rate.

He said that 2008 would be a challenging year but that growth in the services sector and areas such as pharmaceutical, biomedical and medical devices, would push up total job numbers.

"It will be a major challenge for us to meet the development and employment targets set out for us, but the level of business inquiries and projects in the pipeline for the first quarter of 2008 are positive indicators," he said.

He highlighted problems with infrastructure as a significant obstacle to creating jobs in Gaeltacht areas.

"Taking into account the rural and geographical location of the Gaeltacht regions, including seven offshore islands, the lack of broadband services in many Gaeltacht areas in which Údarás is endeavouring to establish business enterprises, continues to be a major cause of frustration.

"The agency continues to lobby for the provision of broadband services throughout the Gaeltacht," said Mr Ó hAolain.