Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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259. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her views on developing a facility for those who wish to learn Irish at their own level, independently of a class; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42970/17]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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My Department provides funding towards the following initiatives which are aimed at learning the Irish language:

Abair.ie

The ABAIR project, based in Trinity College, Dublin, is developing linguistic and speech technology resources for the Irish language. It has produced an online Irish language text-to-speech synthesiser which is freely available at www.abair.ie and which can be used in a learning setting.

VIFAX don Ghaeilge

VIFAX is an Irish language audiovisual learning resource based on TG4 news bulletins and produced weekly throughout the academic year by the Language Centre, Maynooth University. These exercises are based on sport, politics, language, community, technology, business and environment, among other topics. While these exercises are suitable for the classroom at secondary and higher levels, self-directed learners will also find VIFAX useful.

On-line Course in the Irish Language and Irish Traditional Culture

Under development by Dublin City University, this Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) is an online degree programme that will focus on the learning of the Irish language ab initio and on Irish traditional culture. It is expected to launch this programme early in 2018.

In addition, Foras na Gaeilge, an agency of the North South Language Body, which is co-funded by my Department and the Department for Communities in Northern Ireland, promotes 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 for the provision of courses and activities to help people improve or learn the language. For example, Foras na Gaeilge funds Scéim Pobal Gaeilge 2016-2020 which comprises a network of community-based Irish language development officers who engage directly with communities in order to develop the language at local level. Further information about the work of Foras na Gaeilge is available on its website www.forasnagaeilge.ie.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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260. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her views on allocating funds for scholarships for young persons to support the learning of Irish in their communities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42971/17]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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Foras na Gaeilge, in carrying out its legislative mandate both north and south of the border, provides support, advice and financial assistance to groups who promote the language, including for the provision of courses and activities to help people of all ages to improve or learn the language in their own communities.

Some schemes such as the Youth Events Scheme, the Summer Camp Scheme and the Gaelbhratach Scheme are specifically directed at promoting the language among young people in their communities.

I understand that An Foras also currently funds the allocation of a limited number of Gaeltacht scholarships to young people north of the border.

Further information about the work of Foras na Gaeilge is available on its website www.forasnagaeilge.ie.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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261. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her views on establishing an annual fund that various communities can draw upon to set up Irish language communities that would especially benefit the South; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42972/17]

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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262. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her views on increasing the number of Irish language community schemes available to local community committees in order to develop Irish in their own local areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42973/17]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 261 and 262 together.

The Deputy may be aware that the language planning process, as set out in Acht na Gaeltachta 2012, has, at its heart, the key principle of affording communities in Gaeltacht areas, Gaeltacht Service Towns and in Irish language networks, the opportunity to develop and implement language plans at local level which seek to underpin the development of the language as a community and household language within such communities. In order to underpin the successful implementation of the process which began in 2014, on-going financial and technical support is being provided by my Department, Údarás na Gaeltachta and Foras na Gaeilge where applicable, to assist communities to develop and implement agreed plans at community level within the process.

In order to further support the process and advance the overall implementation of the 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030,my Department, Údarás na Gaeltachta and Foras na Gaeilge also administer a wide range of supports, schemes, initiatives and measures which seek to further support the development of the language at community level and advance the overall objectives of the strategy.

My Department's Irish Language Support Schemes have as their objective the provision of financial assistance to a range of organisations and activities that support the promotion of the Irish language outside the Gaeltacht. Organisations that receive annual funding include Taibhdhearc na Gaillimhe, Gaillimh le Gaeilge, Gnó Mhaigh Eo and Gael Taca, Cork. These schemes also provide funding for small scale capital projects, associated with the promotion of the Irish language outside the Gaeltacht. Most recently, funding was provided to Gaelphobal Thamhlachta for the development of an Irish Language and Cultural Centre in Tallaght, Co Dublin.

Under its legislative mandate to promote the Irish language on an all-island basis, Foras na Gaeilge also funds the Irish Language Community Scheme, Scéim Pobal Gaeilge 2016-2020. This four-year scheme, with a total budget of c.€4m, comprises a network of community-based Irish language development officers with facilitation and networking duties in order to empower communities and lead to sustainable language development within the communities themselves.

Support for the Irish language and the Gaeltacht will remain as key priorities in 2018. In that regard, additional funding of €2.5 million which was announced in Budget 2018, will focus on further assisting the delivery of the 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030.