Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 394: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the amount of money his Department has spent over the past three years on financial aid for the teaching of or research on the Irish language in foreign countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6329/10]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 57 of 16 Nollaig 2009, in which I outlined that in 2006 my Department established a dedicated fund under Ciste na Gaeilge to provide funding for the teaching of Irish in 3rd level institutions overseas. Prior to the establishment of this fund, my Department had provided funding to a number of individual universities for this purpose. Details are set out below, in tabular form, on the total amount of funding provided by my Department for the promotion and teaching of Irish in 3rd level institutions abroad for the period 2007-09.

Some 40 3rd level colleges and universities have been supported with this funding, including Harvard, Cambridge, Oxford, New York State, St Thomas Heuston, Poznan, Mannheim and Marburg University in Germany, and - for the first time - University Beijing in China. The average annual grant is €20,000.

This funding initiative has proved extremely successful in raising the profile and perceived status of the Irish language at home and abroad, and in opening up opportunities for personal and career development for young Irish language teachers and other professionals. It also develops positive links at Governmental and university level between Ireland and other participating countries, as well as the interpersonal contacts that are so important in the long-term in ensuring a positive awareness of Ireland among our EU partners and further afield.

I would mention in particular the two-way exchanges promoted via our participation in the Fulbright Commission's programme and in partnership with the Ireland-Canada University Foundation. Aside from the value in terms of promotion of the language, there is a direct economic return in cultural tourism terms, as many of the international students who study Irish in their home institutions will continue their studies here in Ireland.