Rory Hearne (Dublin North-West, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

2745. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if funding will be made available to support and strengthen the Irish language in non-Gaeltacht communities that have a number of Gaelscoileanna and a significant number of Irish speakers, such as Ballymun; the work being done at a national level in this respect; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44442/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

My Department is committed to promoting and supporting the Irish language outside of the Gaeltacht. In this context, a fund known as ‘Scéimeanna Tacaíochta Gaeilge’ (‘Irish Language Support Schemes’) is in place for many years now with the aim of fostering and promoting the Irish language outside the Gaeltacht.

The projects for which funding has been provided under this scheme include initiatives in the fields of education, business, culture and the arts. My Department works closely with Irish language organisations to identify opportunities for the promotion of the language outside of the Gaeltacht. The following are examples of some of the initiatives supported by this fund:

Raidió Rí-Rá

Raidió Rí-Rá is a national Irish Language radio station aimed at young people. Raidió Rí-Rá is already broadcasting online and part of the year on FM. The station has been funded by my Department since it was established in 2008 and is gradually growing and developing. A recent increased funding package for the station has enabled the station to provide a more complete service to its listeners and to increase its reach to young listeners all over Ireland.

An Ciste Spreagtha

Conradh na Gaeilge’s Ciste Spreagtha is a support fund linked to Seachtain na Gaeilge which gives local community groups the opportunity to apply for funding to hold an Irish language event in their local community. The aim of the fund is to encourage community groups inside and outside the Gaeltacht to organise community events that promote the Irish language during Seachtain na Gaeilge in March each year. My Department has funded An Ciste Spreagtha since 2022. In 2024 two hundred and seventy-five groups received funding to hold Irish language events in every corner of the country. The success of this initiative meant that a longer term agreement was reached with Conradh na Gaeilge which will see the fund in place each year until 2026.

Céad Míle Fáilte

My Department has agreed a two and a half year grant agreement with Conradh na Gaeilge for their Céad Míle Fáilte campaign. The aim of the Céad Míle Fáilte initiative is to attract people from different backgrounds who are now living in Ireland to gain a deeper appreciation of the Irish language and indeed to learn the language.

Gaelbhratach

Gaelbhratach is a support scheme administered by Gael-Linn for schools of all types throughout Ireland. Gaelbhratach focuses on the promotion of the Irish language in a structured, planned and enjoyable way throughout the school community in both primary and secondary schools.

The goal of the Gaelbhratach scheme is to encourage the use of Irish, not only within the classroom, but also as the spoken language of the school community. Emphasis is placed on communicative Irish and the importance of language awareness as a means of learning for children in particular.

Fondúireacht Sheosaimh Mhic Dhonncha

Fondúireacht Sheosaimh Mhic Dhonncha is a support scheme run by Glór na nGael and the GAA to promote the use of the Irish language in GAA clubs. My Department has funded the scheme since 2019. The aim of this scheme is to develop the use of the Irish language in participating clubs on a measured and planned basis, with Glór na nGael providing support and advice to enable the clubs to achieve goals in relation to the Irish language.

Cill Dara le Gaeilge, Gaillimh le Gaeilge, Baile Átha Cliath le Gaeilge & Gnó Mhaigh Eo

These organisations also have received funding under Scéimeanna Tacaíochta Gaeilge to promote the language in their cities and counties particularly amongst the business community, supporting them to have signage and other material available for their customers to use in Irish and encouraging the Irish language as a means to conducting business in these areas.

Strategy for the Language-based Arts

Research which formed the basis of the Strategy for the Language-based Arts, which my Department published last year, identified the need to establish a structure under which comprehensive support would be given to the development of Language-Based Arts in areas outside the Gaeltacht. It is recognised that there is a need for more support for the language-based arts throughout the country and for Irish language drama in particular. To address this my Department announced a significant three year funding package for Oireachtas na Gaeilge to implement an action plan in this area, thus benefiting from the experience and expertise of organisation in this sector. Significant funding was also committed to An Taibhdhearc, to fulfill the role of Nationa Iriah Language Theatre.

Foras na Gaeilge

In addition to projects funded under Scéimeanna Tacaíochta Gaeilge, my Department also provides funding to Foras na Gaeilge, one of the agencies of the North South Language Body, to fund and deliver various programmes on an all-island basis. Foras na Gaeilge work in a wide range of areas to include Language Planning, Education, Publishing (An Gúm), Lexicography, Terminology, the Arts, Community, Business and Media. Foras na Gaeilge administers over 23 different support schemes each year in these areas, developing and promoting the language. In addition to these support schemes Foras na Gaeilge also provides funding to its 6 Lead Organisations (Conradh na Gaeilge, Gael Linn, Gaeloideachas, Glór na nGael, Cumann na bhFiann and An tOireachtas) to deliver comprehensive work plans.

Fighting Words

The Fighting Words programme aims to increase the use of the Irish language, and to promote Irish language usage in the education system. The Fighting Words programme focuses on the use of the Irish language in the Gaeltacht while also looking at the entire country.

Gaeloideachas

Gaeloideachas is a national, voluntary organisation supporting the development of Irish-medium education.

Founded as Gaelscoileanna in 1973 to support Irish-medium schools, primary and post-primary, outside of the Gaeltacht, the organisation’s remit now includes the provision of support services for Irish-medium schools in Gaeltacht areas, and for Irish-medium preschools outside of the Gaeltacht. Gaeloideachas provides advice, assistance and support to people who wish to have their children educated through Irish, as well as support services and advocacy for those working in the sector.

The Department funds a strategic post in Gaeloideachas tasked with developing early years education through Irish nationally.

Kinia / Clár TechSpace

Kinia is a charity and social enterprise that provides training and resources for educators to enable them to deliver creative technology education to young people. The Irish language stream of the programme - Clár TechSpace - has been funded by the Department since 2015 to ensure that these valuable opportunities are available to young people who speak Irish all across the country.

Language Planning

The Gaeltacht Act 2012 gives statutory effect to the language planning process under which language plans will be prepared at community level in areas which could be recognised under the Act as Gaeltacht Language Planning Areas, as Gaeltacht Service Towns or as Irish Language Networks.

Communities are granted a period of time to prepare and implement language plans. Under the legislation, the department is responsible for evaluating language plans prior to approval.

Outside the Gaeltacht this takes the form of the Irish Language Networks, areas which have achieved a basic critical mass of community and State support for the Irish language and the Gaeltacht Service Towns which are not located in Gaeltacht Areas. Gaeltacht Service towns are towns situated in or adjacent to Gaeltacht Language Planning Areas and which have a significant role in providing public services, recreational, social and commercial facilities for the Gaeltacht Language Planning Areas.

Capital

As the Deputy will be aware, under the Irish Language Support Scheme (Capital), my Department currently provides supports for community-based committees/organisations, that operate through Irish outside the Gaeltacht. Funding can be provided to assist with the costs associated with building/repairing Irish language centres and the purchase of buildings for use as Irish language centres and/or the purchase of equipment for such centres. The purpose of the capital assistance that is provided under this fund is the strengthening of Irish 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.

I would also draw attention to my recent statement in which I announced the expansion of Scéim na gCúntóirí Teanga (the Language Assistants Scheme) which has been in place in 16 schools in non-Gaeltacht towns in Counties Dublin, Clare, Donegal, Galway, Mayo and Waterford since 2023. Under the expansion, 13 additional schools in two Gaeltacht Service Towns, Cork City and Donegal Town will be eligible for the scheme bringing it to a total of 29 Gaelscoileanna/Gaelcholáistí outside the Gaeltacht who receive vital assistance in the development of the Irish language for its pupils.

An Scéim Forbartha Líonraí Gaeilge

An Scéim Forbartha Líonraí Gaeilge is Foras na Gaeilge’s multi-annual scheme to promote, protect and ingrain the Irish language among communities, with an emphasis on the development and implementation of comprehensive language plans for those communities taking part in the scheme.

There are currently 36 Irish language groups, north and south, funded by Foras na Gaeilge 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.

Lastly, my Department remains active in supporting communities in non-Gaeltacht areas use and enhance the use of Irish and is continually engaging with organisations working in this sector to identify opportunities to promote the language and to make it accessible to all.