Marcella Corcoran Kennedy (Offaly, Fine Gael)
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329. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the funding allocation to a group (details supplied); her plans to increase the level of funding awarded to the group [30101/17]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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Foras na Gaeilge, an agency of the North South Language Body, is the agency charged with promotion of the Irish language on an all-island basis. In carrying out its legislative mandate, Foras na Gaeilge provides support, advice and financial assistance to many groups who promote the language, including provision of courses and activities to help people improve or learn the language.

Following a decision by the North South Ministerial Council on 10 July 2013, a new era in the development of the Irish language was commenced with the announcement by Foras na Gaeilge, on 17 January 2014, of the lead organisations that would take responsibility for six major areas of work. The group referred to by the Deputy is one of these six lead organisations, charged with raising awareness, language advocacy and advocacy for the language with State authorities.

Decisions regarding grant schemes and funding are, accordingly, operational matters for both the group referred to by the Deputy and Foras na Gaeilge.