Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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389. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will ensure that there will be no cuts to Foras na Gaeilge in Budget 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26007/14]

Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware, Foras na Gaeilge is one of the agencies of An Foras Teanga, the NorthSouth Language Body, and its budget must accordingly be approved by the North South Ministerial Council. Foras na Gaeilge is co-financed on the basis of 75% from my Department and 25% from the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure in Northern Ireland. In addition, my Department provides certain additional ringfenced funding for Foras na Gaeilge in relation to Clár na Leabhar Gaeilge and Colmcille. As the Deputy is further aware, it was announced as part of Budget 2014 that comprehensive reviews of both current and capital expenditure would be undertaken by all Government Departments in this jurisdiction during 2014. These reviews underpin the Government's multi-annual budgetary framework and are conducted periodically to re-set Departmental expenditure ceilings in line with emerging Government priorities. These reviews are currently ongoing and will be considered by Government later this year with a view to underpinning expenditure ceilings for 2015 and beyond, as well as clarifying policy options and informing prioritisation decisions arising from the expenditure ceilings.

While my Department will continue to provide funding for An Foras Teanga, subject to the normal budgetary processes, I should point out that the Public Expenditure/Finance Departments in both jurisdictions have already agreed that minimum efficiency savings of 4% must be achieved by all North South Implementation Bodies in 2015.