Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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118. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her strategy to promote the use of the Irish language at an official level at national and European Union level; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2492/22]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The Department implements its Irish language strategy outside the Gaeltacht through the funding of a number of projects both within Ireland and internationally. These fall under the following headings and correspond to specific actions in the Government’s 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language, 2010-2030.

- Irish Language Support Scheme;

- Technological and Digital Initiative;

- Advanced Irish Language Skills Initiative;

- Universities abroad.

Additionally, the enactment of the Official Languages (Amendment) Act in December 2021 has added a great impetus to engage further with colleagues across the public service to increase the use of Irish and my officials are working to establish the necessary structures to successfully implement the provisions in the Act.

I welcome the end of the derogation on the use of the Irish language in the EU institutions at the end of 2021 and I am very committed to the promotion of the Irish language across the public service at home and in Europe and intend to ensure that it is embedded in the fabric of our public services.

To that end, my Department has been working to promote EU Irish language positions and continues to engage with the Public Appointments Service (www.publicjobs.ie) and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to promote all positions and to encourage various stakeholders to promote Irish language vacancies on their social media channels in order to reach potential candidates. 

Irish Language Support Scheme

On a national level, the Irish Language Support Scheme provides funding for a variety of projects for promoting the usage of Irish in domains as follows:

- Language supports for businesses - Gaillimh le Gaeilge, Gnó Mhaigh Eo, and the recently-launched, Baile Átha Cliath le Gaeilge;

- Youth development - TechSpace and Gluaiseacht;

- Theatre and Media - An Taibhdhearc and Raidió Rí Rá;

- Family - Scéim Teanga Tí de chuid Ghlór na nGael.

In addition, the Department has provided supports for initiatives to promote a diverse range of careers using the Irish language. For example, the Department funded the development of a range of video content on the Careers Portal website ‘Saol Oibre.’ These videos are available on www.saoloibre.ie 

Advanced Irish Language Skills Initiative

In 2006, the Department established the Advanced Irish Language Skills Initiative. This initiative was put in place in order to increase the number of qualified persons with Irish language skills in the context of the requirements arising from the status of Irish as an official and working language of the EU and also from the implementation of the Official Languages Act 2003.

The fund, which is administered by the Department in conjunction with the Higher Education Authority (HEA), provides funding for a range of specialised third-level Irish language courses in areas such as translation, interpretation, IT and law. Currently there are 12 courses, provided by various institutions, in operation. These programmes have had a major input into increasing the translation capacity of EU institutions, thus ending of the derogation on the Irish language’s status in the EU.

Aistritheoirí Óga

The fourth Aistritheoirí Óga competition for secondary schools has taken place in conjunction with the European Commission. A total of 68 secondary school students from 28 schools participated, with my Department sponsoring the prizes for all winners. I was delighted that the five winners could join me at a virtual ceremony held on Friday 30^thApril 2021 to celebrate their achievements and it is my hope that I can meet future winners in person in the years to come.

Internship scheme

The Internship scheme which launched in 2018 has continued to be a great success. A total of 40 applications were received in 2021. My Department appointed 7 interns to contribute to the work in the various institutions this year. Feedback from the EU Institutions has been overwhelmingly positive and many of the interns have been offered contracts for positions within the EU institutions.  

Universities Abroad

Also in the field of third level education, my Department provides funding for the Fulbright Ireland scholarship scheme in the USA and the Ireland-Canada University Foundation scheme. Under these programmes, successful applicants spend a year in U.S. and Canadian universities working as Foreign Language Teaching Assistants (FLTAs) and teach Irish language and culture. Students also have an opportunity to visit the Gaeltacht to learn Irish language and culture from native speakers. My Department also funds numerous universities in Europe in order to support the teaching of Irish.

Technological and Digital Initiatives

My Department provides funding for a range of initiatives for the promotion of Irish in the field of technology. A Digital Strategy for Irish is currently being prepared which addresses gaps such as speech-to-text and text-to-speech technology, machine translation and sharing of translation resources such as translation memories - all vitally important in the provision of public services. I look forward to launching the Strategy in the coming months and believe that this will add greatly to the career opportunities using the Irish language as well as the provision of resources for translators and Irish speakers.