Over €85 million secured for Irish language and Gaeltacht areas

Catherine Martin TD,  Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, today (13 October) announced details of over €1bn allocated to her Department in Budget 2022.

This includes a key focus on the Government Gaeltacht programme with additional funding of €7m to be provided for the Gaeltacht and Irish language sector next year bringing the total allocation to over €85.6m.

Commenting on the funding, Minister Martin stated;

“Is comhartha soléir é an leithdháileadh Buiséad sin don tacaíocht leanúnach atá ag an Rialtas do Ghaeilge agus do na ceantair Ghaeltachta. Cabhróidh an cistiú sin chun na pobail áitiúila sna ceantair sin a dhul chun cinn tar éis na pandéime. Táimid ag cur an méadú is mó riamh ar chistiú ar fáil go TG4 chomh maith. Tá méadú €7 milliún ar chistiú don Ghaeltacht agus don Ghaeilge – rud atá tábhachtach chun ár n-oidhreacht agus ár dteanga a chosaint agus a spreagadh i ngach cuid den tscochaí.”

“This Budget allocation is a clear sign of the sustained support to the Irish language and to Gaeltacht regions shown by this Government. This funding will help to support local communities in these regions to prosper in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic. We are also providing the largest ever single funding increase to TG4. Across the board, there is an increase of €7m in funding for the Gaeltacht and Irish language sector which is key to protecting and promoting our heritage and language across every part of our society.”

The budget also includes additional funding of €1.5m for Údarás na Gaeltachta, bringing total funding to €33.3m.

Spokesperson for Rural Development and Enterprise, Senator Róisín Garvey said;

“Tugann an méid atá luaite sa Bhuiséad an-dóchas dom ó thaobh ár dteanga náisiúnta, an Ghaeilge. Cuirim fáilte roimh an tacaíocht agus airgead breise atá ann do na Gaeltachta agus don Ghaeilge a chosaint agus a fhorbairt, do Údarás na Gaeltachta, don Foras Teanga, do Scéimeanna Tacaíochta Gaeilge agus don obair an-tabhachtach atá á dhéanamh ag TG4. Tá an tacaíocht seo ríachtanach má táimid dáiríre faoinár dteanga.

“The amount announced in the Budget for our national language, gives me a lot of hope. I welcome the support and extra money that is there for Gaeltacht areas, for protecting and promoting the Irish language, for Údarás na Gaeltachta, for Foras Teanga, for the Irish language Support Schemes and for the very important work done by TG4. This support is necessary if we are serious about our language.”