Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 November 2016
372. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if she will reverse some of the cuts in funding to the Irish language and Gaeltacht authorities since 2018 (details supplied). [35821/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI refer the Deputy to my replies to recent Parliamentary Questions in regard to the 2017 Estimate provisions. Almost €60m has been provided in the 2017 Estimates for the Irish language, Gaeltacht and Islands programme, including funding for An Foras Teanga. This effectively represents an increase of €2.3m over the 2016 provision when account is taken of capital developments such as Inis Oírr pier and Ionad Cultúrtha an Phiarsaigh, Ros Muc.
As I indicated in my response to Questions No. 285, 287 and 288 on 8 November 2016, the budget for Foras na Gaeilge is subject to approval in due course by the North South Ministerial Council, given its status as an agency of An Foras Teanga, which is a North South Implementation Body co-funded with the Department for Communities in Northern Ireland.
An indicative provision of €13.239m has been provided within my Department’s Vote for An Foras Teanga in 2017. In regard to funding for specific programmes of work, the dispersal of the budget will be an operational matter for Foras na Gaeilge within the framework of the NSMC-approved business plan and budget.
With regard to Údarás na Gaeltachta, an additional €1m in once-off capital funding had been secured as part of the 2016 Revised Estimates. This has been retained for next year, which means that €6.687m is the new capital baseline in Budget 2017 for Údarás na Gaeltachta – an increase of €1m on the baseline in Budget 2016. In addition, I have secured an additional allocation of €2.4m for Údarás for capital projects in 2016. I will continue to seek additional capital resources for Údarás over the coming period.
The Deputy may also be aware that in order to further underpin the implementation of the 20-Year Strategy and the language planning process, as set out in Acht na Gaeltachta 2012, a specific allocation of €1m has also been provided in the current year. As announced in Budget 2017, this allocation is being increased to €1.25m for next year and will further enable my Department, acting in co-operation with Údarás na Gaeltachta and relevant stakeholders at community level, to implement a range of specific and practical measures aimed at both supporting the implementation of the Strategy, as well as the language planning process in Gaeltacht areas.
A further increase of €1m in current funding provided in Budget 2017 for the Irish Language, Gaeltacht and Islands programme area will enable my Department to allocate extra resources to Gaeltacht support schemes such as the Irish Language Colleges and Gaeltacht community groups funded by Údarás na Gaeltachta.
The Deputy can rest assured that I will continue, insofar as I can, to seek additional funding for the Irish language, within the overall budgetary resources available to the Government.
