Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 154: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the action he proposes to take arising from the value for money and policy review of Ciste na Gaeilge 2000 to 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33524/08]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the Value for Money & Policy Review of Ciste na Gaeilge during the period 2000 to 2005 has recently been placed before the Houses of the Oireachtas and is also available on my Department's website at:

http://www.pobail.ie/en/IrishLanguage/CistenaGaeilge/.

The Departmental response, which accompanies the report, indicates that the report and its conclusions have been noted. I should make the point that I have introduced significant changes in the focus of Ciste na Gaeilge since the period under review to ensure that it remains an effective mechanism for supporting current priorities in relation to support of the Irish language outside the Gaeltacht. These changes in focus include support for initiatives to underpin the status of Irish as an EU official and working language and assistance for the work of the EU Institutions in that regard, including translation of EU terminology into Irish, support for the teaching of Irish at 3rd level overseas, placenames research bursaries and support for development of DVDs for children.

I am confident that Ciste na Gaeilge will continue to have an important role in the future, particularly an important supporting role on the ground in Ireland, arising from the 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language that is in preparation at present.