Nessa Cosgrove (Labour) | Oireachtas source

Is rud an-tábhachtach é seo. Foras na Gaeilge was established in 1999 under the auspices of the Good Friday Agreement and is responsible for the promotion of the Irish language throughout the whole island of Ireland. Conradh na Gaeilge is the democratic forum for the Irish-speaking community and has a much longer history than Foras, having been established under Douglas Hyde. I am raising this issue because a half-day strike has been called today to challenge both Governments, North and South, to reverse funding cuts of €820,000 announced recently by Foras which have been caused by the DUP directly blocking a revised funding structure.

Under the terms of the agreement, the Government in the Republic provides 75% of the funding and the northern Government provides 25%. Neither Administration can increase or decrease their contribution without upsetting the percentage balance. Agreement was reached between the two finance ministers, however, to allow either party to increase their budget without affecting the contribution of the other, but this has been blocked by the DUP. This has resulted in a situation whereby the Government in the Republic has funding ready to go but one political party, which got just 21% of the popular vote in the Six Counties, is vetoing a 32-county funding increase which would not cost it even a penny. This will impact on services. I have been contacted by a number of community services on the ground regarding the direct impact on paying for their heat and rent and the groups they run in schools. It is having an enormous effect on communities and small businesses.

Earlier in February, a group of community organisations affected by the €822,000 in cuts undertook the Solution Now, Fair Investment campaign, which calls for both Governments to immediately adopt the new funding agreement, along with a commitment from Foras that, should any increase in the grant be received, the first priority will be a reversal to all these cuts, and that Foras na Gaeilge be provided with at least an additional €20 million, as outlined in the growth plan.

It is nothing less than a scandal that these groups feel they have no option other than to go on strike. Some of them may be outside the gates of Leinster House today. We need to stand together in solidarity to ensure the Irish Government puts pressure on its counterpart in the North to resolve this issue immediately. This will not cost the Northern Ireland Assembly a penny, but it is being blocked purely by tribal politics. Is náireach an chás é sin agus tá súil agam that we will reach some kind of agreement.