Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

They are fine words but the programme for Government states that the Government will increase investment in the Irish language, yet Foras na Gaeilge has had to reduce the number of Irish language summer courses. The public agrees that additional support should be made available and that has been shown in a Millward Brown survey, in which 61% of people in 2016 agreed that the State should provide additional support for the Irish language. It is our heritage. Only 18% were against it. The majority of Teachta Dála also agreed that €18 million should be invested in the plan brought forward by 80 Irish language and Gaeltacht groups. However, the proposed funding for the Irish language is truly disappointing.

How can the Minister's Department claim to be fulfilling its responsibility for the implementation of the 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030, which we all fought for, when, according to Conradh na Gaeilge, both the Foras na Gaeilge budget and the Údarás na Gaeltacht capital budget have been reduced by over 50% since 2008? Sin é an tslí. I also understand there is no new funding allocated for these budgets in 2017, while the operational budget for Seachtain na Gaeilge was reduced by 40%. We speak here gach bliain faoi cabhrú le Seachtain na Gaeilge, but there is no support for it. It cannot run on air. The Minister must do something in that area and give some tacit support.

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