Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 25 Jun 2003

Vol. 569 No. 4

Written Answers. - Irish Language.

Jack Wall

Question:

283 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the funding provided to organisations in regard to the development of the Irish language by same either directly or indirectly by his Department; the policy, in bilingual format, of the organisations for which the funding was provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18008/03]

Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (Éamon Ó Cuív)

Funding is provided directly by my Department for the development of the Irish language through Ciste na Gaeilge. A total of €2.4 million has been provided for allocation through Ciste na Gaeilge in 2003. The principal grants approved to date in 2003 from this source include:

	€
Bord na Leabhar Gaeilge, Ráth Cairn, Co. na Mí	922,240
Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, Baile na Manach, Co. Átha Cliath	524,000
Gael-Taca, Corcaigh	39,930
Gaillimh le Gaeilge, f/ch Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge	89,080
Iomairt Cholm Cille	85,355
Taibhdhearc na Gaillimhe, An tSráid Láir, Gaillimh	307,240
Tiobraid Árann ag Labhairt, An tAonach, Co. Thiobraid Árainn	41,920
An Fhéile Phan Cheilteach, Cill Chainnigh	19,050

Following also are details of all grants paid in 2002 from Ciste na Gaeilge for the Deputy's information.

Funding is provided by my Department to Foras na Gaeilge, a constituent agency of An Foras Teanga, a cross-Border implementation body established under the British-Irish Agreement Act 1999. The statutory function of Foras na Gaeilge is to support and promote the Irish language on an all-island basis. I understand from Foras na Gaeilge that allocations totalling €7.8 million have been approved towards various language initiatives in 2003 to date and that further funding may be approved in the near future.

All of the supports referred to are focused on organisations that work towards the advancement of Irish as a spoken language outside the Gaeltacht. With regard to Gaeltacht areas, the statutory remit of Údarás na Gaeltachta is to create and sustain employment and also to encourage the preservation and the extension of the use of the Irish language as the principal medium of communication in the Gaeltacht. Accordingly, funding provided by my Department to an tÚdarás also relates to the advancement of objectives for the Irish language. My Department is providing €32.72 million for an tÚdarás in this year's estimates. In addition, my Department funds a range of schemes designed to support Irish-speaking families and communities in Gaeltacht areas. The following allocations have been made to those schemes in the 2003 Estimates: Gaeltacht housing grants, €4 million; Gaeltacht improvement schemes, €10.294 million; social and cultural schemes, €6.88 million; island development €8.479 million, including certain expenditure on islands outside the Gaeltacht. However for most of the expenditure on Údarás na Gaeltachta, the Gaeltacht housing scheme, Gaeltacht improvement scheme, the social and cultural schemes and island development schemes there are equivalent non-Gaeltacht schemes funded by the Exchequer in non-Gaeltacht areas.

Payments made from Ciste na Gaeilge in 2002:

	€
Bord na Leabhar Gaeilge, Ráth Cairn, Co. na Mí	1,0550,000
Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, Baile na Manach, Co. Átha Cliath	550,000
Taibhdhearc na Gaillimhe, , An tSráid Láir, Gaillimh	300,689
Gael Taca, Scoil Neasáin, Port Uí Shúilleabháin, Corcaigh	38,100
Gaillimh le Gaeilge, 46 Sráid Chill Dara, BÁC	86,117
Ionad Oidhreachta N. Eoin, Lios Tuathail, Co. Chiarraí	11,429
Tiobraid Árainn ag Labhairt, An tAonach, Co. Thiobraid Árainn	52,697
Féile Phan Cheilteach, Cill Chainnigh	19,050
Iomairt Cholm Cille	223,932
Glór na nGael, 46 Sráid Chill Dara, BÁC 2	2,550
Áras Uí Dhálaigh, Léim an Bhradáin, Co. Chill Dara	18,161
Baile Átha Cliath le Gaeilge. 46 Sráid Chill Dara, BÁC 2	17,602
Coiste Bhunscoil Bheanna Boirche, Caisleáin Uidhlin, Co. an Dúin	1,219
Comhchoiste Réamhscolaíochta, Cearnóg Mhuirfean, BÁC 2	1,290
Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge, 46 Sráid Chill Dara, BÁC 2	16,576
Cluichí Pan Ceilteach, Béal Átha na Sionnaigh, Co. Dhún na nGall	30,000
Comhairle Chondae Dhún na nGall, Dún na nGall	10,972
Taighde ar Logainmneacha, Baile Átha na nEach, Co. an Chabháin	229
The European Language Initiative, BÁC	563
Gaelscoil Iarfhlaithe, Tuaim, Co. na Gaillimhe	2,539
Múinteoirí Rince Fhíor-Chéilí Thír Conaill, Co. Dhún na nGall	5,079
Pobal Páirtíocht IarDheisceart Dhún na nGall Teo	600
Togra Múineadh na Gaeilge-Southwark, Londain, Sasana	95,230.00