Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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29. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the action she is taking to ensure that Foras na Gaeilge can reopen the scéim forbartha líonra Gaeilge to accept applications from new entrants and where applicable, allow current beneficiaries to move up to the next tier; the reason, given the lack of a functioning executive in the north and the need for cross-border agreement on Foras na Gaeilge budgets, that her Department has not determined an alternative route for funding and support of scéim forbartha líonra Gaeilge-qualified groups, for example, through a ciste na Gaeilge; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3645/23]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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Scéim Forbartha Líonraí Gaeilge is Foras na Gaeilge’s multi-annual community scheme to promote, protect and engrain the Irish language in particular areas with an emphasis on the development and implementation of comprehensive language plans for the areas that are part of the scheme.

In accordance with government policy on the Irish language, the emphasis of this scheme is on longer term and more strategic planning following the principles of language planning. The scheme began in January 2022 and has funding committed up to December 2024. It is expected that a further iteration of this scheme will be advertised in 2024.

Structured progression has been built into this scheme with a focus on the current stage of development of the applicant. Three stages of development have been developed as part of this scheme: higher level, intermediate level and basic level.

There are currently 36 Irish language groups funded through the scheme, including 9 grantees within a number of the areas which have already been designated as Irish Language Networks / Gaeltacht Service Towns. The remaining 27 grantees under the scheme are at various levels depending on their current stage of development.

The basic level is focused on areas with groups or committees that are in the initial stages of their language planning journey. These organisations implement programmes that include three recognised language planning themes.

The intermediate level is focused on those areas that have long-established groups that have already laid the groundwork for language planning. These organisations implement programmes in which at least six recognised language planning themes have been included.

The higher level gives recognition to areas that have achieved status as Irish language networks or as Gaeltacht service towns through having had a language plan approved by my Department, if applicable, in accordance with the Gaeltacht Act 2012 in the south, or approved by Foras na Gaeilge in the north.

It would be hoped that groups at the basic and intermediate levels would progress over time to the next level subject to successful implementation of their agreed multi-annual programmes.

My Department co-sponsors An Foras Teanga, the North South Language Body, along with the Department for Communities in Northern Ireland. On this basis, all matters relating to the North South Language Body budget are jointly agreed with the Department for Communities and approved at North South Ministerial Council (NSMC) meetings.

My Department has again provided an additional allocation of €700,000 for North South Cooperation in its budget for 2023. Unfortunately, however, it is not currently possible to release this funding to the Language Body due to the absence of formal meetings of the NSMC.