Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

128. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if after ten years of reduced funding for Foras na Gaeilge she will provide an additional €4.5 million in budget 2021 to Foras na Gaeilge to fund the projects agreed by 80 Irish language and Gaeltacht groups; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29910/20]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The budgets for all Cross Border Bodies, including An Foras Teanga, are approved by the North South Ministerial Council (NSMC). However, due to political circumstances in Northern Ireland, it has not been possible to hold NSMC meetings since mid-2016. Therefore, although the budgets for 2017 to 2020 have not yet been officially approved, from 2017, the Finance Departments in both jurisdictions have agreed that all Cross-Border Institutions would operate in accordance with the budgets approved by the NSMC for the year 2016.

This year, my Department will pay €11,087,184 (75% of the gross budget approved by NSMC) to Foras na Gaeilge. In addition, my Department will provide additional funding to Foras na Gaeilge in relation to ring-fenced matters such as Clár na Leabhar Gaeilge (€ 1,061,165) and Colmcille (€118,519). It is also worth noting that Foras na Gaeilge is allowed to retain the additional income generated from the sale of books and other items to be spent on its activities.

It is intended that NSMC meetings will be held again shortly, at which time the 2017 - 2020 budgets will be approved and that all aspects of the work of the Language Body will be discussed, including the budget for 2021. In this regard, the Deputy will be pleased to learn that an indicative increased allocation has been included in my Department's Estimate for 2021. This will be subject to further consultation with the Department for Communities in the north prior to a final allocation being agreed for 2021.