The overall objective of Údarás na Gaeltachta is to ensure Irish remains the main language of the region and is passed on to future generations. A governing board of 20 members, 17 of whom are democratically elected by the community, and a staff of 113 people implement the agency’s development brief.
 
Economic mission Údarás encourages investment in the Gaeltacht through a range of generous incentives for new enterprises and through support and assistance for existing businesses.

The organisation supports businesses in developing new markets, technologies, products and strategic alliances through research and development. Gaeltacht companies span a range of commercial sectors, including tourism, fish processing and aquaculture, renewable energy, food, life sciences, ICT, niche manufacturing, audio visual and digital media, arts and crafts.

Over 12,000 people are employed in Údarás na Gaeltachta client companies. Údarás aims to increase this number by enabling people living in the Gaeltacht to develop their skills and expertise. Údarás offers extensive programmes of training and education for groups, private individuals and companies.   Cultural mission All of the organisation's activities have the preservation and promotion of the Irish language at their core. Údarás funds a range of strategic language and cultural initiatives as well as supporting the Irish language through its own practices.

Údarás collaborates with individuals, community groups and companies which embrace Irish and provide the everyday settings in which the language flourishes. Údarás supports a number of language activities, including: Social mission Údarás facilitates community cooperatives and community development companies in the Gaeltacht. It also encourages the voluntary organisations, which provide the advice, assistance and financial support that support these community groups.

Údarás also works in close partnership with community groups to administer social employment schemes, manage youth clubs and pre-school groups and enhance the social infrastructure through activities such as the provision of assistance for the elderly and the disadvantaged.