John Brassil (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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378. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the reason the budget for Foras na Gaeilge was cut despite an increase of 12% for her Department. [2707/17]

Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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The annual budget for Foras na Gaeilge is subject to approval by the North South Ministerial Council (NSMC), given its status as an agency of An Foras Teanga, a North South Implementation Body co-funded by my Department and the Department for Communities in Northern Ireland.

Once discussions between the Finance Departments in both jurisdictions on the budgetary position for 2017 have been finalised, Foras na Gaeilge’s draft business plan and budget for 2017 will be brought before the NSMC for approval.

In the interim, I am pleased to inform the Deputy that an indicative provision of €13.989m has been provided within my Department’s Vote for 2017 in respect of An Foras Teanga, representing an increase of €0.788m or a 6% increase over 2016.