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€42m for Gaeltacht, the Islands and Irish language       printable version

16 Oct 2014: posted by the editor - Ireland

Almost €42m will be available to the Department in 2015 for Irish language, Gaeltacht and Island functions, in addition to a further €13.444m for An Foras Teanga (the North South Language Body). These are indicative figures which are subject to the Estimates being approved in due course and to the agreement of the North South Ministerial Council in the case of An Foras Teanga.

Minister of State for Gaeltacht Affairs, Joe McHugh said: "Overall, I am pleased that the funding being allocated to these subheads remains largely unchanged from last year. In fact, in some cases, such as the 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language and the Office of An Coimisinéir Teanga, additional monies are being provided. This is particularly welcome in light of the tight budgetary framework within which all Departments are required to operate in order to fulfil the Government's commitment to continued economic growth through fiscal prudence."

With regard to the total allocation provided for Irish language, Gaeltacht and Islands functions for 2015, the Minister of State said: "I am confident that this allocation will enable my Department to continue to deliver on its key priorities and to maintain frontline services, In my time as Minister of State for Gaeltacht Affairs, I have travelled extensively throughout Gaeltacht communities and I have witnessed first-hand the excellent work being carried out under difficult circumstances."

Mr McHugh continued: "The Estimates process does not end today and I will continue to make a strong case for extra resources over the coming weeks to ensure every tool is available to this Department in preserving work that is already ongoing and for future developments. There are great opportunities arising within the Gaeltacht and the potential for job creation is clear. I am fully committed to driving forward our agenda of increasing the importance and relevance of the Irish language and encouraging people of all ages to engage with the language."

Commenting on Budget 2015 the Minister of State said: "This Budget was never going to be a scatter-gun approach; it is intended to target those who have taken the brunt of previous cutbacks and tax increases, such as Gardaí, nurses, frontline services and those in the low to middle income thresholds. These people were centre stage to bringing about the recovery and were impacted heavily as a result. It is imperative that they feel the benefits of the recovery in their pockets now."

Finally, the Minister of State said that he believes that the provision for Údarás na Gaeltachta, the Office of An Coimisinéir Teanga and An Foras Teanga (Foras na Gaeilge and the Ulster-Scots Agency) will enable them to continue to fulfil their statutory functions in 2015.

Further details of the 2015 allocation are available in the appendices below.

Appendix 1: Estimates for 2015*

Irish Language, Gaeltacht & Islands (Programme C)*        €41.793m        (+1%)

Irish Language, Gaeltacht & Islands

2014

2015

% Change

Current

32,942

33,076

+0.41%

Capital

8,467

8,717

+3%

Total

41,409

41,793

+1%

An Foras Teanga (Programme D)*                                       €13.444m        (-1%)

An Foras Teanga

2014

2015

% Change

Current

13,578

13,444

-1%

Total

13,578

13,444

-1%

* Administration costs are included in these figures.

Appendix 2 - Breakdown of the current allocation for 2015 **

Irish Language, Gaeltacht & Islands

€000

C.3

GAELTACHT SUPPORT SCHEMES

6,100

C.4

IRISH LANGUAGE SUPPORT SCHEMES

3,600

C.5

AN COIMISINÉIR TEANGA

650

C.6

ÚDARÁS NA GAELTACHTA - ADMINISTRATION

8,798

C.7

ÚDARÁS NA GAELTACHTA - CURRENT

3,000

C.9

ISLANDS

5,900

C.10

20-YEAR STRATEGY FOR THE IRISH LANGUAGE 2010-2030

551

28,599

North South Cooperation

€000

D.3

AN FORAS TEANGA (NORTH SOUTH LANGUAGE BODY)

13,444

** Administration costs are not included in these figures (except in the case of An Coimisinéir Teanga, Údarás na Gaeltachta and An Foras Teanga).

Appendix 3 - Breakdown of the capital allocation for 2015 ***

Irish Language, Gaeltacht & Islands

€000

C.3

GAELTACHT SUPPORT SCHEMES

1,422

C.4

IRISH LANGUAGE SUPPORT SCHEMES

95

C.8

ÚDARÁS NA GAELTACHTA - CAPITAL

5,687

C.9

ISLANDS

644

C.11

TEACH AN PHIARSAIGH

750

8,598

*** Administration costs are not included in these figures.

Tags: Budget 2015

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