John Paul O'Shea (Cork North-West, Fine Gael)
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723. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the position regarding funding for the implementation of language plans in the Múscraí gaeltacht; the progress to date on supporting local Údarás projects; and whether additional resources will be allocated to strengthen Irish-language use in Gaeltacht areas, schools and community settings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67280/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The Gaeltacht Act 2012 provides the statutory framework for undertaking the language planning process on a coordinated basis. It is expected that the public, the voluntary sector, the public sector and the private sector will work together to support the Irish language in the various geographical areas recognised under the Act. In order to achieve this, the language will be supported as the community language of the Gaeltacht through the preparation and implementation of language plans at community level. Údarás na Gaeltachta is responsible under the Act for supporting organisations with regard to the preparation and implementation of these plans.

The language plan for Gaeltacht Múscraí was approved in 2017, with an annual allocation of €120,000 available for its implementation. This funding enables the employment of a full-time Language Planning Officer whose work underpins a wide range of community-led initiatives aimed at strengthening the use of Irish in the region and ensuring the long-term sustainability of the language in daily life.

To further support the language planning process, my Department provides funding to three separate organisations operating in the Gaeltacht. These are Tuismitheoirí na Gaeltachta, Comhar Naíonraí na Gaeltachta and Ealaín na Gaeltachta. These organisations provide supports to families who wish to raise their children through Irish, to the early years sector and to the traditional arts respectively.

In addition to language-planning supports, substantial resources have been directed toward enterprise and community development. To date this year, approximately €500,000 has been approved by the Board of Údarás na Gaeltachta to assist a variety of enterprise and community projects in the Múscraí Gaeltacht. This investment is contributing to enhanced employment opportunities, stimulating innovation and supporting essential community infrastructure.

Furthermore, circa €850,000 has been approved by the Board for a number of construction projects in the Múscraí Gaeltacht, thus ensuring the availability of high-quality facilities to meet the needs of local businesses and community groups. Currently, around 700 people are employed full-time in Údarás-assisted businesses in the region, demonstrating the strong economic impact of this ongoing support.

Significant progress has also been achieved on the Campás Íosagáin project, a key strategic development for the area. Phase 1 of the repurposing of the former De La Salle secondary school into a modern business and innovation hub is now nearing completion, representing an investment of approximately €9 million. This development will provide state-of-the-art facilities to support enterprise, entrepreneurship and job creation at the heart of the Gaeltacht.

In the sports arena, Clár na gCluichí Gaeltacha has been developed by my department in partnership with the GAA in order to promote the Irish Language through the medium of sport in local schools in the area that are participating in the Recognition Scheme for Gaeltacht Schools.

Also in local schools, the Language Assistants Scheme has been funded by my Department for many years within the Gaeltacht regions. Under this scheme, additional language acquisition and enrichment opportunities are provided to those attending Gaeltacht schools by employing language assistants. In this case, Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne is responsible for administering the Scheme in Gaeltacht Mhúscraí and has been awarded a grant for the 25/26 school year worth up to €392,986 to do so. As it applies to Gaeltacht Mhúscraí, all seven schools in the language planning area participating in the Recognition Scheme for Gaeltacht Schools benefit from the scheme.

Additionally, it is worth noting that the Language Assistants Scheme has recently been extended to Gaeltacht service towns located outside the Gaeltacht and that Irish-medium schools in Cork City's, as a Gaeltacht Service Town, will be able to avail of the scheme in the new year.

Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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724. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if changes can be made to the payment for Mná Tí to expand to other items as required by Mná Tí rather than only those outlined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67444/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The Programme for Government 2025: Securing Ireland's Future contains a commitment to 'maintain and where possible enhance support for Mná Tí at Gaeltacht summer colleges'. In this regard, my Department provides a number of supports for households providing accommodation for learners. The Department offers targeted support to the sector to ensure that the costs associated with necessary works and items are reduced.

Newly-recognised families may avail of a once-off starter grant. This grant supports households with the cost of works required to comply with fire safety requirements, including the installation of alarms and fire suppression systems, and the purchase of bed frames and mattresses as required. The grant is worth up to €6,000 or 80% of costs, whichever is the lesser.

My Department recently launched a short-term capital scheme for households recognised as accommodation providers for a number of years but who were unable to avail of the once-off starter grant. This upgrade grant provided targeted support to long-established households of up to €2,000 or 80% of costs, whichever is the lesser, against the cost of purchasing new bedframes and mattresses. As established households are required to routinely maintain compliance with fire safety requirements, and obtain engineer's certificates for their properties, these routine running costs were not qualifiable under the conditions of the upgrade grant.

Over 200 established households applied for this upgrade grant and my officials hope to process the vast majority of payments to qualified applicants before year-end.