Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach Gníomhach. I thank Deputy Ó Cuív for raising this matter. I apologise for the response being as Béarla. I apologise on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donovan, who could not be here to take this matter here this evening.

The Irish-language learners scheme unit in the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media has assessed 76% of the payment claims the Department has received from recognised Irish colleges in relation to summer courses for 2023 and these have been forwarded to the Department's finance unit for payment. The unit is working on processing the remaining 15% of the payment claims that have been received in the Department. As it stands, the Department is awaiting completed paperwork from 9% of Irish colleges yet to submit a claim for courses held during the summer of 2023. In order to avoid delays, extra staff have been made available to the unit to assist with this process. It is expected that the remainder of the claims will be processed without delay.

The Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media provides significant assistance on an ongoing basis under the Irish-language learners scheme to support the Irish colleges sector. Under the scheme, assistance worth €12 per day is paid to recognised households towards each student coming to the Gaeltacht to learn Irish. Consequently, this grant indirectly reduces the fee charged by colleges to attendees. Almost 500 Gaeltacht families benefited from the grant last year and over 25,000 students and 40 Irish colleges benefited indirectly.

The following changes have been implemented by the Department over the past year to provide support for families who provide accommodation for those attending Irish colleges and for new families coming into the system: the start-up grant for new families or families who have left the system and want to return has been increased from €2,000 to €6,000, which is an increase of 300%; the grant paid in respect of students staying with recognised households under the Department's scheme for Irish-language learners has been increased by 20%; the maximum number of students allowed in recognised households has been increased from 12 to 16; the fund available under the DEIS Gaeltacht initiative has been significantly increased to provide additional opportunities by way of scholarships for DEIS post-primary school attendees from all over Ireland to attend an Irish-language course in the Gaeltacht, and these scholarships cover up to €850 for a three-week Gaeltacht summer college course.

To date this year, approximately 40 new families or households have been identified and registered under the scheme. As the Department is accepting applications on a continuous basis, it is expected that more applications will be received by the end of the year. Some 34 families registered under the scheme in 2019 and 39 did so in 2022, which indicates that the number of new families interested in registering under the scheme is increasing.

In addition to the aforementioned assistance provided for the benefit of the colleges and the sector as a whole, capital assistance is provided under the Department's language and community support programme. Many Irish-language colleges have benefited from this over the years, including colleges that are in private ownership. This assistance is provided to help colleges to upgrade their facilities and equipment. It goes without saying that the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media will continue to look at additional ways to further assist the sector in the future. The Department will also continue to engage with stakeholders on issues that may arise and will remain open to feedback and engagement with stakeholders on further supporting and developing the sector.

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