Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 1 June 2023
119. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he intends on setting up a dedicated fund within his allocation to the Higher Education Authority to fund courses that would be taught through the medium of the Irish language, in order to ensure that it will be possible to fully implement the Official Languages Act 2003; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25488/23]
View answerThe Department distributes recurrent funding to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) for disbursement directly to the HEA's designated higher education institutions. The HEA distributes this funding as a block grant to the institutions. As autonomous bodies, the internal allocation of this funding, including expenditure on Irish-language education initiatives, falls to the individual institution.
The Higher Education Authority Act (2022) requires that institutions seek to promote the Irish language.
My Department sponsors the Conradh na Gaeilge initiative, ‘Gníomhaí Gaeilge’ which is run in conjunction with the Union of Students of Ireland. It offers Irish language clubs and societies with skills and mentorship in developing the use of the language within Higher Education.
Under the auspices of the Minister and Department for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport, and Media aims to ensure improved public services through the Irish language. This is done through the Act's provisions and regulations that apply to all public bodies under the Act. The Department may have additional information in that regard.
Ultimately, however, Higher Education Institutions (HEI) are autonomous, and determine themselves which Irish-language courses will be offered. While my Department will continue to be committed to the implementation of the Official Languages Act, it is not within my remit to direct a HEI as to the courses they offer.
