Michael Cahill (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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514. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to examine along with his Ministerial colleagues with responsibility for the named Departments (details supplied), the proposal that will not alone enrich students by encouraging a greater understanding and learning of our native language and culture, but will also encourage Gaeltacht areas themselves to grow and extend; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62326/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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My Department supports the Irish summer colleges sector to foster language acquisition and enrichment opportunities in the Gaeltacht for learners of the language. The Department provides a subsidy under Scéim na bhFoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge-the Irish Language Learners Scheme (SFG) payable to qualifying Gaeltacht households providing accommodation for those attending an Irish course in any one of the c. 40 Irish-language colleges operating under the scheme.

In keeping with the spirit of the current Programme for Government 2025: Securing Ireland’s Future which includes a commitment to ‘Maintain and where possible enhance support for Mná Tí at Gaeltacht summer colleges’, my Department announced an increase to the daily subsidy payable to recognised households in July of this year (backdated to 31 May). This subsidy is currently worth €14.50 per student per day for recognised households and €10.50 for recognised hostels and residential colleges. This is the fourth increase provided under the scheme since 2022. My Department also announced a capital grant in October of this year worth up to €2,000 per household to assist households seeking to upgrade items such as bunk beds and mattresses

Scéim na bhFoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge represents a state investment of c. €6 million annually in support of the Irish colleges sector. Departmental figures show that 27,394 learners participated in courses at Gaeltacht colleges in 2024. This represents an increase on the figure for 2023 which stood at 26,835, and also an increase on the pre-pandemic figure of 27,032 in 2019. The Department provided recognition for a total of 259 courses in 2024. Figures for 2025 will be available at year-end, when all courses have been completed.

My Department also funds a number of initiatives under Scéim na bhFoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge including the DEIS Gaeltachta scholarship scheme, scéim oileánda ÁRAINN Gaeltachta and ERASMUS Gaeltachta.

The DEIS Gaeltachta initiative commenced in 2019. The scheme provides scholarships to post-primary school students attending DEIS schools to attend recognised Irish summer colleges. Funding for DEIS Gaeltachta scholarships for 2025 was €900,000 and over 900 scholarships were made available to students from qualified second-level schools.

Under the ÁRAINN Gaeltachta initiative, funding worth up to €195,000 annually is provided so that c. 30 post-primary students per year can spend a full school year attending any one of the three post-primary schools on the Aran islands.

The ERASMUS Gaeltachta fund, worth €250,000, facilitates opportunities for up to 175 third-level students to spend three months immersed in the Gaeltacht.

In addition, funding from my Department is provided annually to the umbrella organisation for the sector Comhchoiste Náisiúnta na gColáistí Samhraidh (CONCOS), in order to further support the development of the sector.

The colleges sector caters to learners of all ages (from age 10 years upwards) and operates from January to December annually. The most widely known learners are those attending Summer college courses or coláistí samhraidh which cater to young people aged 10 years to 19 years.

These young language learners can avail of a wide range of activities and ways of learning offered by their chosen college. All of the coláistí samhraidh offer diverse activities such as teaching water sports through the medium of the Irish language. One college offering courses to the sector is currently the only venue with national accreditation from the Irish Sailing Association and The Irish Surfing Association. Language acquisition opportunities outside of the classroom at coláistí samhraidh include:

• Cultural pursuits – including Irish traditional music and dance and trips to local historical sites.
• Sporting pursuits – including Gaelic football, hurling, handball, as well as soccer and tag rugby, and trips to local beaches. Some colleges also offer water-sports such as sailing, canoeing, windsurfing and surfing.
• Contemporary music, dance and drama are also used to encourage language learning through the creative processes involved, in some cases producing videos of the final production.