Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 197: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the progress made in regard to the commitment given in the Programme for Government to establish a senior officials group between his Department and the Department of Education and Science to enhance the actions of both Departments and their agencies in addressing challenges in supporting the Irish language including strengthening the teaching of Irish throughout the education system. [18870/08]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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A high-level group has been established at Secretary General level between my Department and the Department of Education and Science and meets periodically to consider matters of common interest in the context of the Irish language and the Gaeltacht. Joint actions arising from the work of the group are advanced through regular engagement at Assistant Secretary level between the two Departments, as well as interaction with relevant agencies, including Foras na Gaeilge, Údarás na Gaeltachta and An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta.

Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 198: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the progress made in regard to the commitment given in the programme for Government to develop a comprehensive plan based on the linguistic study of the Gaeltacht with clear and effective measures for the continued preservation and development of the language in the Gaeltacht. [18873/08]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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A Cabinet level committee has been established to examine the issues in the context of the analysis and the recommendations made in the Report of the Linguistic Study of the Use of Irish in the Gaeltacht. The Committee, which had its first meeting on 10 April 2008, has been tasked with agreeing an integrated action plan within a year to ensure the preservation and development of the Irish language as a community language in the Gaeltacht.

Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 199: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the progress made in regard to the commitment given in the programme for Government to provide for an extension to the Irish language network of crèches in the Gaeltacht. [18874/08]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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In general, the primary responsibility for assisting crèches in the Gaeltacht and throughout the State rests with the Office of the Minister for Youth and Children. However, Údarás na Gaeltachta and my Department have also provided assistance for the provision of childcare facilities in the Gaeltacht in the form of capital funding and provision of suitable sites. In addition, an tÚdarás may also provide feasibility study grants to help community groups in Gaeltacht areas with design and other related preliminary costs associated with the building of such facilities.