Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 308: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the allocation made by his Department under all headings for the promotion of the Irish language for each of the past ten years; his priorities and allocation for 2006 to 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36954/05]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Funding is provided by my Department annually under a range of headings for promotion of the Irish language. The allocations and expenditures are set out in the Estimates volumes and appropriation accounts, as published, for the relevant years. As the Deputy will be aware the Abridged Estimates for 2006 have been published and final allocations will be set out in the revised volume to be published in the new year. It is not possible at this point to give an indication of the position beyond 2006.

My Department's strategy statement for the period 2005 to 2007 sets out the strategic goals for the Irish language for this period, namely to support the maintenance and strengthening of Irish as the principal language of both household and community in the Gaeltacht and to increase the use of the Irish language countrywide. Having regard to the strategy statement, my medium-term priorities are: to secure improved provision of public services through the medium of Irish on a phased, planned and agreed basis through the full implementation of the provisions of the Official Languages Act 2003. This objective will primarily be achieved through the implementation of agreed language schemes by public bodies; to work and co-operate with other relevant Departments and agencies in ensuring that appropriate resources are in place in order to comply with the obligations associated with the Irish language becoming an official and working language of the European Union and European institutions with effect from 1 January 2007; to progressively increase the availability of third level education through Irish, particularly outside the Gaeltacht and by institutions other than those that have already a tradition in this regard, in association with the Department of Education and Science, Údarás na Gaeltachta, Foras na Gaeilge and the Higher Education Authority and to continue to fund, support and co-operate with Údarás na Gaeltachta with a view to its achieving its overall objectives of developing the economy of the Gaeltacht and encouraging the preservation and extension of the Irish language.

Under its recently published statement of strategy, which is available on its website www.udaras.ie, Údarás sets out its principal areas of focus for the next number of years, which are: to continue to provide funding for the Gaeltacht improvement schemes which are administered by my Department, in order to continue with the programme of capital grants that are available to improve Gaeltacht marine works, improve Gaeltacht roads, and provide or improve community and leisure facilities such as community halls, playing fields and other such facilities. The aim of these grants, through developing infrastructure, is to improve the economic, social and cultural life of Gaeltacht areas as well as strengthening the Irish language as a community language in these areas; to continue to fund the Irish language schemes designed to conserve and promote the use of Irish in the Gaeltacht and to ensure that these schemes continue to be administered as efficiently as possible and reviewed and modernised where necessary; to continue to financially support Ciste na Gaeilge which provides assistance for the promotion of the Irish language through various agencies and projects. As part of Ciste na Gaeilge, I am establishing three subsidiary funds with effect from 2006 to promote the teaching of the Irish language in third level institutions overseas, to support partnership initiatives involving local authorities and the business community in the promotion of the Irish language in their local area and to promote research on the placenames of Ireland. Finally, Údarás will continue, as appropriate, to avail of the advice of Fóram na Gaeilge in overall pursuit of the stated objectives of the Department in relation to the Irish language in general while having specific regard to the Fóram's brief as set out on its establishment in 2004.