Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 September 2020
351. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht if the low budget allocated to a service (details supplied) will be reviewed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21623/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy will be aware that in May this year my Department approved a once-off emergency measure worth €4.7m to support the stabilisation of the Gaeltacht Irish summer college sector.
The measure followed the cancellation, on 20th April 2020, of Irish summer college courses by my Department in the interests of protecting public health during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Under the stabilisation package, up to €3.1m is being directed at enabling college authorities to refund fees/deposits to parents in full in respect of 2020 courses, while a further €1.6m is being allocated towards supporting the c. 700 certified Gaeltacht householders who normally provide accommodation to the approx. 26,000 students who attend one of the 42 recognised colleges during the summer months. The majority of this funding has now been paid out by my Department.
The stabilisation fund is being provided as a specific once-off measure with the overall objective of ensuring the ongoing viability of the sector - thereby enabling it to continue to contribute to the systematic effort being made to support the language and Gaeltacht regions in line with the overarching objectives of the Government’s 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030 and the accompanying Plean Gníomhaíochta 2018-2022 (5-Year Action Plan for the Irish Language 2018-2022).
Based, not least, on the broadly positive feedback regarding the measure from relevant stakeholders within the Irish summer colleges sector, I am satisfied that the measure is proving to be effective and I look forward to working towards the safe return of Irish summer colleges in the future, and the ongoing contribution of our Mná Tí to the development of the Irish language and to sustaining Gaeltacht communities.
