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Departmental Schemes

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 June 2021

Tuesday, 22 June 2021

Questions (89)

Ruairí Ó Murchú

Question:

89. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if consideration has been given to increasing the number of scholarships offered to students through Scéim na bhFoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge given the impact of Covid-19 on Gaeltacht regions and students alike; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33229/21]

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Written answers

My Department, via Scéim na bhFoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge, subvents the cost of attending summer college in Gaeltacht regions. Under the terms of the scheme, the Department provides a subsidy, currently worth €10 per day (equivalent to €220 per student for a three week course) which benefits over 26,000 students a year while staying in any of the c.700 Gaeltacht households approved under the scheme.

This represents a State investment of over €4m annually in support of the Irish summer colleges sector. Not only does this annual state investment yield benefits in providing language learning and enrichment opportunities to thousands of young people annually, it also generates economic benefits for Gaeltacht regions.

In addition to providing and administering this practical assistance, the Department also administers a number of further specific measures under the scheme, including: DEIS Gaeltachta.  Under this measure which was introduced in 2019, 50 scholarships are made available annually - worth c. €850 each - to qualifying students attending DEIS post-primary schools. The scheme is administered on behalf of the Department by Galway and Roscommon Education and Training Board.

Due to COVID-19, it was not possible to provide the scholarships last year nor indeed this year, following the recent decision not to proceed with recognised Irish summer courses, in the interests of protecting public health.

It is envisaged that the provision of scholarships under DEIS Gaeltachta will resume next year or as soon as it is safe to do so. The number of scholarships made available under the measure will of course be kept under consideration in the context of available resources and competing demands.  However, it is a stated priority of mine to expand this scheme in order to increase the availability of the Gaeltacht experience to students from all socio-economic backgrounds.

In the interest of completeness, the Deputy may be interested to note that both I and my officials are continuing to engage with the summer colleges sector on foot of the decision to cancel courses this summer. The overall purpose of this engagement, which includes discussions with a representative group of Gaeltacht accommodation providers, is to tailor insofar as possible, suitable stabilisation measures with a view to ensuring the sector is on a sound footing for a full and safe return in 2022.

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