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Irish Language.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 3 June 2004

Thursday, 3 June 2004

Questions (205, 206)

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

204 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the extent to which he intends to offer assistance to rural or urban community groups involved in promoting the Irish language and culture; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17067/04]

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Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

205 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the extent to which he or his Department have supported groups involved in promoting the Irish language and culture in 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17068/04]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 204 and 205 together.

Under my Department's Gaeltacht improvement schemes, capital grants are available for the development of piers and other marine works in the Gaeltacht, the improvement of Gaeltacht roads, and the provision and improvement of community facilities, such as halls and sports fields. These grants are aimed at supporting the social, cultural and economic life of the Gaeltacht areas, as well as promoting and strengthening the Irish language as the community language within these areas. A total of €9.975 million has been allocated for these schemes in 2004.

Annual assistance is also available for organisations working for the acquisition and maintenance of Irish in the Gaeltacht. A total of €3 million has been allocated for these projects in 2004. Funding is also provided for qualified households in the Gaeltacht who accommodate Irish language students attending a recognised college.

Under the community development programme, core funding is provided to over 170 community-based projects that target disadvantage and social exclusion. Pléaráca Teo, a project based in the south Connemara Gaeltacht, has been in receipt of core funding under the community development programme since 1997. The project's core budget for 2003 was €100,000. One of its key objectives is to enhance the power of the community and reinforce its awareness as a Gaeltacht community, by placing an emphasis on community arts as a means of community development.

Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge is funded under the funding scheme to support the role of federations, networks and umbrella bodies in the community and voluntary sector. Funding totalling €126,000 has been approved over the duration of the scheme, three years. Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge is the umbrella body for the voluntary Irish language organisations and comprises 21 member organisations.

Under the cultural sub-measure of the Leader programme, Leader groups can fund groups promoting the Irish language. In addition, my Department has appointed Meitheal Forbartha na Gaeltachta Teoranta as the Leader group specifically for the Gaeltacht regions.

My Department provides co-funding for Foras na Gaeilge, the Irish language agency established under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement, in the amount of €14,020,500 for 2004. Foras na Gaeilge provides extensive support on an all-Ireland basis to groups involved in promoting the Irish language and culture. The agency also receives funding from the co-sponsoring Department in Northern Ireland, the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure.

In addition, my Department provides financial assistance to groups involved in promoting the Irish language and culture through Ciste na Gaeilge. Commitments under Ciste na Gaeilge in 2004 to such groups amount to €2.6 million.

Under the CLÁR programme, Foras na Gaeilge and CLÁR jointly fund an Irish signage scheme. The funding is on a 1:1 basis for community signage up to a total cost of €4,000 per village. For private signage, a three way equal funding split operated between CLÁR, Foras na Gaeilge and the private individuals involved, subject to maximum of €1,000 each from CLÁR and Foras na Gaeilge. A bilingual townland signage scheme is also operational based on a three way equal funding split, involving CLÁR, Foras na Gaeilge and the local community, subject to maximum of €6,000 per parish-area. The Leader groups co-ordinate the projects for community groups and voluntary organisations and for private groups-businesses, while the county development board, CDB, co-ordinates the projects for townland signage.

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