Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 545: To ask the Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs the amount that has been set aside for the years 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 for the promotion of the Irish language; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36262/10]

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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My Department is charged with promotion of the Irish language, as well as the economic, linguistic and cultural development of the Gaeltacht, which is the main source of Irish as a living community language. In order to achieve this objective, my Department supports and works closely with other agencies, particularly An Foras Teanga and Údarás na Gaeltachta.

My Department's budget, including the provision for the promotion of the Irish language, is published annually as part of the Estimates for Public Services. However, relevant data in relation to the promotion of the Irish language have been extracted for the Deputy's assistance and are set out in the following table:

* Based on provisional outturns

I should clarify that these figures comprise

· expenditure/allocations for capital, cultural and social schemes in Gaeltacht areas;

· funding for the activities undertaken by Údarás na Gaeltachta, An Foras Teanga and An Coimisinéir Teanga, and

· other support schemes for the Irish language.

I should also clarify that the annual allocations to An Foras Teanga also include funding from this jurisdiction in support of the Ulster-Scots Agency.

Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 546: To ask the Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs the reason for the delay in his Department in accepting the 20 year strategy for the Irish language; the costing per year for this action plan to be achieved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36264/10]

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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As indicated previously in reply to Questions in this House, the 20-year Strategy for Irish was published in draft form by my predecessor to facilitate a further round of public consultation on the proposals contained in it by the relevant Oireachtas Joint Committee. The Joint Committee held meetings with relevant interests, including one meeting in the Gaeltacht, and subsequently agreed a submission with a range of recommendations. I received the Committee's recommendations on 28 July 2010 and these have been under examination by my Department in consultation with other relevant Departments. I anticipate that these consultations will be completed shortly and that a final draft of the Strategy can be brought to the Cabinet Committee on Irish, and subsequently to Government, in the near future.

The question of the resources required by specific public bodies to fulfil their role in the delivery of the Strategy will fall to be considered as part of the annual budget and estimates process for each relevant year. The Strategy spans a 20-year period and will require a range of integrated actions across a number of policy areas, Departments and other public bodies. At this stage, the primary emphasis is on ensuring that we will be able to achieve measurable results with existing resources, both financial and institutional.