Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 29 November 2017
276. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the budget allocations, capital and current, to Foras na Gaeilge in 2016, 2017 and 2018; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50944/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI would like to remind the Deputy that, as an agency of An Foras Teanga, the North/South Language Body, funding is provided to Foras na Gaeilge from my Department (75%) and the Department for Communities in Northern Ireland (25%) in accordance with budgets approved by the North/South Ministerial Council (NSMC). My Department also provides further ongoing funding to Foras na Gaeilge in respect of ringfenced activities relating to Clár na Leabhar Gaeilge and Colmcille. Budget allocations to Foras na Gaeilge are in respect of current expenditure only.
My Department provided overall current funding of €12.528m to Foras na Gaeilge in 2016, comprising the Department's share of the NSMC budget, ringfenced funding for Clár na Leabhar Gaeilge and Colmcille in addition to additional unmatched funding for one-off projects outside of the NSMC approved business plan.
In regard to 2017, as the Deputy will appreciate, it has not been possible to date to have Foras na Gaeilge’s business plan and budget formally approved by the NSMC. Therefore, as an interim measure, it was been agreed to proceed with an indicative budget based on the 2016 NSMC approved budget. In that context, I can inform the Deputy that an overall indicative provision of €13.989m was provided within my Department’s Vote for 2017 in respect of both agencies of An Foras Teanga, representing an increase of €0.788m over the Estimates provision in 2016. This increased funding was approved in the context of the significant cutbacks in recent years and to meet current challenges, in particular the one-off costs associated with Foras na Gaeilge's move to a new headquarters in 2017.
Similarly, the position regarding the NSMC 2018 budget for Foras na Gaeilge is not clear at this point in time. However, I can inform the Deputy that an overall indicative provision of €14.028m has been provided within my Department’s Vote for 2018 in respect of both agencies of An Foras Teanga. This increased funding includes a provision for Bliain na Gaeilge 2018.
