Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 9: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the grants available to students, youth clubs or sports clubs to attend summer courses in Gaeltacht and other areas in order to develop their interest in the Irish language; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24948/08]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Under Scéim na bhFoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge, which is administered by my Department, a daily grant of €10.50 per student is available to approved householders in Gaeltacht areas who accommodate Irish language students from outside the Gaeltacht while attending Irish Summer Colleges in the Gaeltacht. This particular scheme benefits all students who wish to improve their Irish and is not targeted specifically on youth or sports clubs. My Department also provides assistance to local committees who organise summer camps through Irish in the Gaeltacht. The aim of this scheme is to further strengthen Irish as the normal everyday language among young people through a range of recreational and educational activities. A sum of €50 is paid for each participant attending a camp for 5 days and €100 for 10 days. While this scheme is aimed primarily at young people living in the Gaeltacht, up to 25% of places are available for those living outside the Gaeltacht who wish to participate.

In addition, there are two schemes administered by Foras na Gaeilge which are targeted specifically at encouraging the use of Irish among young people aged 3 -16. Both its Summer Camp Scheme (Scéim na gCampaí Samhraidh) and Youth Scheme (An Scéim Óige) offer grants of up to €5,000 (or £3,500 STG) on an all-island basis to groups wishing to organise appropriate events outside the Gaeltacht. The Summer Camp Scheme covers camps of 5 or 10 days duration, which offer a mix of formal classes and fun activities. The funding available is offered on the clear condition that it is to be used to keep participants' fees low. The Youth Scheme applies to events organised outside school hours which give students the chance to use the Irish language in a variety of activities, e.g. sport, computers, music, visual arts, etc.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 10: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the progress made in the development of an Irish language strategy; when this strategy will be finalised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25017/08]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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As I indicated in my response to Questions Nos. 14 and 16 on 15 May 2008, progress has been made on two fronts in respect of the public consultation process element of compiling a 20 year Strategy for the Irish language. Firstly, public meetings have taken place over the period 30 April to 14 May in Cork, Limerick, Dublin, Galway and Sligo. Secondly, a survey that was devised to facilitate input from people who were unable to attend the public meetings is available online (at www.plean2028.ie), both in Irish and English. In this regard, I would like to point out that, in order to facilitate people wishing to participate in the process but who have difficulties in operating or accessing technology, surveys can be completed in hard copy also.

In terms of the next steps in the overall process, it is proposed to commence preparation of a draft discussion document outlining principal issues for the proposed Strategy, taking into account the views and recommendations expressed by the public, both at public meetings and through the completed surveys, together with the views of other stakeholders. It is expected that this paper will be available for further public consultation in the autumn. Thereafter, my Department will prepare a draft Strategy for my consideration and for submission for Government approval by the end of the year.