Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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My Department engaged extensively with representatives of the organisation referred to by the Deputy in 2022 and 2023 in an effort to assist the organisation in putting proper governance and financial management structures in place within the organisation to allow the continuation of state funding to support its operations. Emergency funding was also approved at that time by the Department in order to clear debts accumulated by the organisation.

My Department also facilitated the provision of governance expertise at board level within the organisation at that time. However, I understand that, despite the aforementioned level of engagement and assistance, the Department was not in a position to satisfy itself that proper structures could be put in place within the organisation in order to continue state funding.

The Deputy should be aware that my officials are currently engaging with another organisation in the geographical area concerned with a view to providing services to the Irish language community therein. Included in the suite of services being considered is the allocation of Irish language assistants to the Irish medium schools in the area. The Department is confident that an agreement can be reached in this regard within the short to medium term.