Minister Calleary announces 23 new jobs and unveils projects worth €12 million on two-day visit to Kerry
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From: Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht
- Published on: 5 March 2026
- Last updated on: 5 March 2026
- 23 new technology jobs for Dingle
- Opening of new state-of-the-art gteic Hub in Uíbh Ráthach
- Turning sod on Carnegie Community Building in Cahersiveen
- Launch of Kerry Mountain Rescue vehicle in Killarney
- Project openings in Tralee, Listowel and Moyvane
Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary TD, has today (Thursday, 5 March 2026) begun a two-day visit to Kerry where he will open and visit projects that have been approved for over €12 million in funding from his Department and its agencies.
The Minister’s visit will begin with the announcement of 23 new jobs at Net Feasa Limited, a technology company based in Daingean Uí Chúis.
The new roles will include; software developers and engineers, Artificial Intelligence engineers, wireless network operations (NOC) and customer support roles.
A €345,000 employment grant from Údarás na Gaeltachta will support the recruitment.
Speaking about the jobs announcement, the Minister said:
“I am delighted to be here to celebrate this success story. The jobs at Net Feasa are high-quality well-paid roles in an exciting technology company.
“Net Feasa was founded in a rural Gaeltacht town, but it has a global reach with offices in Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan and the United States.
“With the wealth of talent available in rural areas and the support of my Department, and agencies like Údarás na Gaeltachta, we are working hard to create more opportunities like this.”
CEO of Údarás na Gaeltachta Tomás Ó Síocháin said:
“Employment, housing and digital infrastructure; these are the three pillars that are vital to keeping our Gaeltacht communities alive and growing. I am very proud of the progress we are making in partnership with the community and the entrepreneurs in the Kerry Gaeltacht. With the Net Feasa Job announcement, the new housing initiative with Comharchumann Forbartha Chorca Dhuibhne and the state-of-the-art gteic@UíbhRáthach digital hub, we are working hand in hand for the benefit of this area and the generations yet to come.”
While in Dingle, the Minister will also officially open the renovated St Mary’s Temperance Hall, which has been converted into a community hub with investment from the Community Recognition Fund.
The Minister will also turn sods for a new all-weather community astroturf pitch at the home of All-Ireland Senior Club champions, C.L.G. Daingean Uí Chúis, and a new playground in Dún Chaoin. Both projects are being supported through the LEADER programme out of the department.
Following this, the Minister will visit the site of the new housing project in Baile an Fheirtéaraigh that seeks to address the accommodation shortage for Irish Language summer colleges in the area. Built with a €274,500 grant from Údarás na Gaeltachta, this Comharchumann Forbartha Chorca Dhuibhne Teoranta scheme will have four three-storey, five-bedroom houses, with 12 Irish language learners in each. The houses will be rented to people who host Irish Language learners.
The final engagement on Thursday is the official opening of gteic @ Uíbh Ráthach in Baile an Sceilg (Ballinskelligs). The facility, built with over €2.5million of investment from the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, with match-funding being approved by Údarás na Gaeltachta, includes meeting rooms, an open plan hub and office spaces, all served by fibre broadband, has been operational since October 2024.
Friday’s events
On Friday, the Minister will turn the sod at the site of the Carnegie Community Building, which is being renovated and extended. These works are part of the Cahersiveen Town Centre Regeneration Project, which has received approval for over €8.5 million under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund.
Speaking about the Cahersiveen Town Centre Regeneration Project the Minister said:
“As Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, I am delighted that the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund has been able to support these projects around the town.
“It is a great privilege to turn the sod on this first phase of the Cahersiveen Town Centre Regeneration project. This will provide substantial community facilities in the centre of the ‘Daniel O‘Connell Quarter’.
“I am certain that when this project is completed it will be enjoyed by many for generations to come.”
Cathaoirleach of Kerry County Council, Cllr Michael Foley said:
“I warmly welcome Minister Dara Calleary to Kerry for a series of important engagements. The Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht has supported many projects and initiatives in Kerry in recent years, and I am pleased that the Minister will have the opportunity to see first-hand the very positive work being done across the county.”
The Minister will then travel to Killarney National Park to unveil a new vehicle for Kerry Mountain Rescue. This state-of-the-art 4x4 rescue vehicle, funded by the department through the Community Recognition Fund, will provide critical services to the community and visitors to the National Park.
Also on Friday, the Minister will officially open the Riverwalk in Castleisland, visit the International Resource Centre, Tralee Boxing Club and open the North Kerry Greenways in Listowel.
His visit to Kerry will conclude with the official opening of Fáilte Isteach Gach Duine, the Moyvane Village Hub, which received €250,000 in funding provided under Town and Village Renewal Scheme.
Notes
Breakdown of approved funding for projects opened / visited in Kerry
|
Project name |
Scheme |
Funding |
|
Net Feasa Ltd |
Údarás na Gaeltachta - Employment grant |
€345,000 |
|
St. Mary's Temperance Hall |
Community Recognition Fund |
€171,009 |
|
CLG Daingean Uí Chúis |
LEADER |
€139,875 |
|
Dún Chaoin sod turning |
LEADER - Láthair Seoigh Dhún Chaoin |
€149,224 |
|
Údarás na Gaeltachta - Deontas Caipitil Títhíochta |
€274,500 |
|
|
Teach Siamsa |
Town and Village Renewal Scheme |
€250,000 |
|
gteic @Uíbh Rathach |
Údarás na Gaeltachta - Employment grant |
€345,000 |
|
Carnegie Library, Caherciveen |
Rural Regeneration Development Fund |
€8,510,000 |
|
Kerry Mountain Rescue |
Community Recognition Fund |
€150,000 |
|
Castleisland Riverwalk |
Town and Village Renewal Scheme |
€243,631 |
|
Tralee International Resource Centre |
Community Recognition Fund |
€151,000 |
|
Tralee Boxing Club and URDF Tralee |
Community Recognition Fund |
€1,003,653 |
|
North Kerry Greenways |
Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme |
€199,807.20 |
|
Moyvane Garda Station |
Town and Village Renewal Scheme |
€250,000 |
|
Total |
€12,182,699 |
Rural Regeneration and Development Fund
Since 2018, the Fund has approved over €614 million for 273 projects across Ireland. To date, RRDF funding of over €19 million has been allocated to 15 projects located across Co. Kerry.