Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 July 2022
578. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the number of scholarships that are currently provided to support public service workers undertaking immersion courses in the Gaeltacht; the way that this funding is distributed; and the amount that a scholarship is worth. [41253/22]
View answerWhile my Department does not currently provide such scholarships as those mentioned, the Deputy may be aware of the following initiatives which my Department administers for the benefit of the Irish language and the Gaeltacht:
- DEIS Gaeltachta – Under this initiative which commenced in 2019, over 400 scholarships are offered annually worth c. €850 each in respect of 3-week summer courses to provide unique opportunities for attendees of DEIS post-primary schools throughout the country to attend a summer college in the Gaeltacht. Courses of two weeks duration are also covered under the initiative. This expanded fund which is worth €400,000 annually is administered by the Galway and Roscommon Education and Training Board (GRETB) on behalf of my Department. This social inclusion measure is providing greater opportunities than ever before to DEIS students who might not otherwise get the chance to attend a summer course in the Gaeltacht.
- ERASMUS Gaeltachta – Under this initiative which commenced in 2019, an annual fund worth €250,000 has been created to give up to 175 third-level students the opportunity to settle for a university semester with Gaeltacht families while attending a qualified third level course. A subsidy of €19 per day is paid by my Department to the host families under Scéim na bhFoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge. Students must apply through their own third level institution and must be enrolled on a course that has Irish as a core subject or be studying a subject that would require a high level of proficiency.
- Árainn Gaeltachta – This initiative provides funding of up to €150,000 over a 3 year period so that up to 30 post-primary students per year can spend a full year attending any one of the three post-primary schools on the Aran Islands. A subsidy of €30 per day is paid by my Department to the host families under Scéim na bhFoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge. The scheme is administered by the (GRETB) and the participation schools are, Coláiste Naomh Éinne, Inis Mór, Coláiste Ghobnait, Inis Oírr, agus Coláiste Naomh Eoin, Inis Meáin.
All of these measures are being undertaken in the context of the ongoing implementation of the Government's Five-Year Action Plan for the Irish Language (Plean Gníomhaíochta don Ghaeilge 2018-2022) and the overarching 20-Year Strategy For the Irish Language 2010-2030.
Finally, in recognition the Official Languages (Amendment) Act 2021, I established the Irish Language Services Advisory Committee on the 20 June 2022. One of the key roles of the Advisory Committee is to prepare a National Plan for the Provision of Public Services through Irish by 19 June 2024.
As part of the National Plan, current gaps in the existing level of public services available through Irish will be identified and a range of new policies and initiatives introduced to ensure we bridge these gaps and improve the level and quality of Irish-medium public services in general. In that context, the possibilities around measures such as that alluded to by the Deputy are being explored.
This project will present challenges across the public service no doubt, and it is precisely for this reason that a co-ordinated, systematic, planned and transparent approach has been provided for in legislation in order to resolve issues around the adequate provision of public services in the national language.
