Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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604. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the efforts her Department is making to ensure proposals from Foras na Gaeilge to extend the Irish language community scheme are discussed at the upcoming meeting of the North-South body; if she will confirm that the proposals have the support of her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27163/15]

Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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The primary objective of An Scéim Phobail Gaeilge(the Irish Language Community Scheme), which Foras na Gaeilge has been implementing for the past 10 years, is to support local voluntary communities in promoting the Irish language in their respective target areas and groups. Under the present scheme, funding is provided to 19 committees, 11 based in the North and 8 based in the South.

Following a review of the scheme, which included a public consultation process, Foras na Gaeilge proposes to introduce a revised scheme containing the following key features:

- An extension to the duration of the scheme, focusing on the development and sustainability of networks, rather than on the implementation of programmes of activities;

- An increase in the number of groups being funded which should lead to a more widespread geographic distribution of funded groups; and

- A new focus on sustainable development in the communities themselves which will empower groups to retain ownership within their own target areas and ensure that permanent outcomes result from the funding.

In addition, Glór na nGael, as the lead all-island organisation in the area of community and economic development, will have a role in fostering, sharing and encouraging good practice in funded projects through its network of development officers.

Discussions on the implementation of the revised scheme are at an advanced stage between Foras na Gaeilge and Sponsor Departments (my Department and the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure in Northern Ireland). It is envisaged that the revised scheme will be operational from 1 January 2016. In the meantime, funding under the present scheme has been extended to 31 December 2015 to ensure the continuity of existing services.