My Cabinet colleague, the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, and my predecessor Minister Hanafin announced in March 2007 that a support and development initiative for the Irish language under the aegis of An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta will be located at Coláiste Íosagáin and that four additional staff will be assigned to An Chomairle for this purpose. My Department is in discussion with the Department of Finance on the grading of these posts.
A Coordinating committee made up of representatives from An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta, Údarás na Gaeltachta and Foras na Gaeilge has been set up to advise on cooperative elements of the overall work to be carried out, both at Coláiste Íosagáin and in the context of a national strategy on Irish.