The Sinn Féin spokesperson on Gaeltacht Affairs has said that the Gaeltacht minister should go before the Public Accounts Committee to explain his allocation of Gaeltacht grants.

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh said it seemed that a high percentage of the funding was spent in Minister of State at the Department of Arts, Heritage and Gaeltacht Affairs Joe McHugh's backyard (of the Donegal Gaeltacht).

He added that there was of clearing out the coffers for political gain in the run up to the general election.

Mr Ó Clochartaigh's comments follow a report from Irish language news website tuairisc.ie, which states that 93% of approved Gaeltacht grants were for Gaeltacht areas in Minister McHugh's constituency.

Mr Ó Clochartaigh said that he did not have any problem with projects receiving much needed funding but said he would like the decision-making process to be scrutinised.

"I would also like to find out how many projects from other areas, from other Gaeltacht areas, have been left on the desk that haven't been in receipt of funding.

"And there would also be concerns that we are only one month into 2016 - how much of the departmental funding in this area has been spent and does that mean that there won't be money available for the rest of the year for other worthy projects," he added.