John Connolly (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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2164. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the specific requirements placed on non-governmental organisations in receipt of Government funding to ensure that they cater for Irish speakers in Gaeltacht service towns and networks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57853/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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My Department supports a wide range of measures and initiatives aimed at supporting non-governmental organisations in promoting the active use of Irish in the community, both in the linguistic heartlands of the Gaeltacht and in Gaeltacht Service Towns and Irish Language Networks.

The Language Planning Process lies at the heart of this work. The Language Planning Process provides opportunities to language communities, the voluntary sector, and the public and private sector to work toward the common goal of supporting Irish as a language of work, home and community. Communities are given the opportunity to design and implement language plans at community level, with supports from my Department, to ensure ongoing development of the language.

Significant progress has been made with the Language Planning Process since its inception a number of years ago, with plans in respect of each of the 26 Language Planning Areas as well as the 3 Irish Language Networks in the south and 9 Gaeltacht Service Towns now approved and functional. As a result, there is now a significant network of Language Planning Officers working diligently across the Gaeltacht, in the Gaeltacht Service Towns and in the wider Irish Language Networks.

Implementation of the language planning process is assigned to Údarás na Gaeltachta within the Gaeltacht and to Foras na Gaeilge outside the Gaeltacht. In addition, funding is provided to support the process directly by the Department in the areas of family transmission, early-years, youth services and the language-based arts.

I was delighted to secure additional funding of €3m for Language Planning in Budget 2026.

I should also point out that an additional €2m has been allocated to my department's Scéimeanna Tacaíochta Gaeilge for 2026, bringing its total allocation to €12.7m. This will allow my Department to continue its support of the use of Irish in the business community through a variety of initiatives, as well as a wide variety of schemes in the fields of education, business, culture, technology and the arts in support of the language outside of the Gaeltacht.