Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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28. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the supports her Department will put in place for the development of the Irish language in County Clare. [37158/20]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the Programme for Government acknowledges the importance of the Irish language as the first official language of the State, as a living language and as a vital component of the heritage of this island. 

My Department provides significant funding to Foras na Gaeilge to carry out its statutory mandate to promote the Irish language on an all-island basis. One of its most successful schemes, Scéim Phobail Gaeilge (SPG) - the Irish Language Community Scheme - was introduced in 2005 to offer local voluntary community committees the opportunity to apply for financial assistance towards the costs of implementing a three year business plan for the development and enhancement of the Irish language among their respective target areas and groups.

An Clár as Gaeilge, in Ennis, Co Clare has received funding through this scheme for the past fifteen years, and has done tremendous work in promoting and developing the Irish Language in the area.  In addition, Ennis has been granted the status of Líonra Gaeilge/Irish Language Network under the terms of the Gaeltacht Act 2012.

My Department also supports the development of Irish-language centres in areas outside Gaeltacht areas through the Irish-language Support Schemes (Capital Programme), with an allocation of €632,000 for 2020 set to rise to €2m in 2021.

Community-based committees/organisations who operate through Irish outside the Gaeltacht, may make an application under this scheme. Funding can be provided to assist with the costs associated with building or upgrading Irish-language centres and for their fit out.

The purpose of the capital assistance provided under this fund is to strengthen the Irish-language as a community and family language in accordance with the objectives of the Gaeltacht Act 2012 and the 20 Year Strategy for Irish 2010-2030, which represents the cornerstone of the Government’s policy on the Irish language. 

I would also like to note that my Department has been in discussions on a number of occasions in recent months with Coláiste Eoghain Uí Chomhraídhe in Carrigaholt in relation to its plans to upgrade the property  which is recognised as one of seven residential summer colleges for the purposes of funding under the Department's Scéim na bhFoghlaoimeoirí Gaeilge. I understand that, on foot of these discussions, the college authority was considering submitting a business plan and formal application for capital funding under the Department's  Community and Language Supports Schemes.

The Deputy may be assured that my officials remain available to those community groups in Co. Clare wishing to promote and develop the Irish Language throughout the county and will offer guidance and advice, should such be required.