Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
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105. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will provide an update on progress in relation to updating the North South funding structure for Foras na Gaeilge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55559/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The North-South Language Body, comprising Foras na Gaeilge and the Ulster-Scots Agency, is co-funded by my Department on behalf of the Government of Ireland, and by the Department for Communities on behalf of the Northern Ireland Executive.

The Government of Ireland provides 75% of the Foras na Gaeilge budget annually, with the remaining 25% coming from the Northern Ireland Executive, in accordance with the funding ratios agreed when the North-South Language Body was established.

Budgets for the North South Institutions, including An Foras Teanga, are approved by the North South Ministerial Council (NSMC). I chaired a meeting of the NSMC Language Body Sector in April, at which the 2025 Business Plans and budgets for Foras na Gaeilge and the Ulster-Scots Agency were agreed.

I also met with the respective Cathaoirleach and CEO of each agency at that meeting, having previously met with Foras na Gaeilge earlier this year specifically to discuss the funding challenges facing the organisation.

The agreed funding for 2025 includes a once-off payment of €630,000 from the Irish Government to Foras na Gaeilge in respect of historic pension costs, which has enabled Foras na Gaeilge to reverse cuts it announced earlier this year.

Preparations for the next corporate planning period for 2026-2028 are currently underway, including reviewing a range of governance and procedural matters, including the treatment of pensions costs within the agencies.

The Irish Government has provided increased current funding of €2 million in Budget 2026 for North-South co-operation on a number of fronts, including the work of Foras na Gaeilge, the Ulster-Scots Agency and Clár na Leabhar Gaeilge.

Officials in both the sponsoring Departments and the finance Departments North and South are working closely together and with colleagues in both Foras na Gaeilge and the Ulster-Scots Agency to prepare 2026 business plans, including dealing with the current funding challenges and working towards longer term resolutions.

The Irish Government is committed to examining all options in order find a resolution to the funding issues of Foras na Gaeilge, both in the short term and the longer term, having regard to the agreed funding ratios and recognising the different budgetary positions of each Government North and South.