Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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Comharchumann Ráth Chairn is the lead organisation which has responsibility for the implementation of the language plan approved for the Gaeltacht Language Planning Area of Ráth Chairn and Baile Ghib. A Language Planning Officer was appointed by Comharchumann Forbartha Ráth Chairn in 2019 to assist the organisation in implementing the plan of the Meath Gaeltacht. This post became vacant earlier this year and the recruitment process has been ongoing. It is expected that a new Language Planning Officer will be in place in the coming weeks.

Since work on the implementation of the language plan began, many Irish language-based initiatives and activities have been organised as part of the language planning process in the area. These include the provision of Irish language classes, the Gaelchara scheme which helps to mentor new speakers, activities for young people and families such as Comórtas Reatha na Gaeltachta, An Mhí faoi Bhláth, An Ghaeltacht faoi Bhláth, arts activities and festivals with a strong Irish language and cultural theme. With the appointment of a new Language Planning Officer imminent, it is expected that new activities will be coming on stream shortly.

Following an increase in funding announced recently for the implementation of language plans, Ráth Chairn and Baile Ghib will receive an annual allocation of €120,000 to fund the implementation of the language plan.

In addition to the above, both my Department and Údarás na Gaeltachta administer a wide range of schemes, initiatives and programmes, through which financial support is provided to assist in the implementation, at community level, of practical actions, interventions, initiatives and projects which have as their core objective the maintenance and development of Irish as the community language of the Gaeltacht as well as promoting enterprise and employment opportunities within Gaeltacht regions. Included in these initiatives are the services provided by Comhar Naíonraí na Gaelachta, Ealaín na Gaeltachta and Tuismitheoirí na Gaeltachta in the early years, arts and family sectors respectively.