Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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13. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will provide an update as to the progress that has been made as regards the commitment in the 20 years strategy to provide targeted language learning opportunities to be put in place to assist families where only one parent speaks Irish; if he will outline the nature of such targeted language opportunities; and the way these opportunities will be further developed. [19286/13]

Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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My Department's family language support programme - clár tacaíochta teaghlaigh - has as its key objective the further strengthening of Irish as a household and community language in the Gaeltacht in accordance with the 20 year strategy. It seeks to achieve this objective by way of a range of practical measures which will better support Gaeltacht families who are raising their children through Irish or wish to raise their children through the medium of Irish. Under the family language support programme, the Department has undertaken 12 specific measures to support such Gaeltacht families. These measures focus primarily on the following groups: Gaeltacht families who are expecting a child and wish to raise the child through Irish, in addition to Gaeltacht families who are raising pre-school children through Irish or wish to raise their pre-school children through Irish; Gaeltacht families who are raising primary school children through Irish, in addition to Gaeltacht families who wish to raise their primary school children through Irish; Gaeltacht teenagers; and certain communities outside the Gaeltacht, namely, parents raising their children through Irish or wish to raise their children through Irish.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House.

In addition to fostering new initiatives, the family support programme also encompasses improvements to existing measures and schemes administered by my Department, the systematic implementation of which will further underpin the programme and its effectiveness.

I should also highlight the role of other bodies and organisations in these matters. Foras na Gaeilge is part of the North-South Implementation Body An Foras Teanga and has the principal responsibility of promoting the Irish language in every aspect of everyday life throughout the island of Ireland.

Údarás na Gaeltachta provides financial assistance for organisations and co-operatives in Gaeltacht areas for the provision of Irish classes. These organisations provide an agreed schedule for Irish classes based on demand and the budget allocated to them. There are 34 language centres operating in various Gaeltacht areas and information on the classes can be sourced from these centres. A list of these organisations is available through the Údarás na Gaeltachta website at . Comhluadar supports households that use Irish or are trying to use Irish in the home. It provides a range of services for these households from advice to formal and social events.