Clir Seosamh Ó Cuaig, an elected member of Bord Údarás na Gaeltachta has reacted angrily to post-budget statements from Minister Éamon Ó Cuív to the effect that Údarás wiII not be adversely effected by the budget and he went on to describe the minister as "a master of spin, obfuscation and selective information".

Minister Ó Cuív issued a staternent last week in which he outlined how he believed projcts and bodies that come under the bailiwick of his Department would fare in the new economic climate. Clir. Seosamh Ó Cuaig contacted Glór Chonamara in response to the minister's brief reference to the future of Údarás: "The decrease of 7% in capital ftinding for Údards na Gaeltachta in 2009 will be offset by extra funding that is currently being provided to it in 2008. This will allow Údarás to continue with its comprehensive programme of development", the brief statement said.

Clir. O Cuaig has reacted angrily, stating that the Minister is clearly trying to decieve the people

"Minister Ó Cuív is a master of spin, obfuscatjon and selective information. He is now attempting to convince the public that the cutbacks are not cutbacks at all. There is no mention in his statement of the Govemment's attack on the aged, the sick and the children. He shows no regret for the decrease in the allocation for the Gaeltacht and the Islands [According to the Irish Ianguage newspaper "Foinse" it wiII amount to 15 million euro). As for Údarás na Gaeltachta, Minister Ó Cuív savaged our income from the State even when money was plentiful in the country. He then forced us to sell our assets in order to make up for the shortfall in funding - a short-sighted, blinkered view of regional development if ever there was one. We are now running out pf buyers for the assets and the Údarás is really being emasculated. sadly we have come to expect no better from the Minister or his government", he said.