Irish language bodies welcome report

IRISH LANGUAGE organisations have welcomed the contents of an Oireachtas report which recommends that funding for the sector should not be subject to competitive tender.

The focus of the report, published yesterday by the Committee on Environment, Transport, Culture and the Gaeltacht, was a funding model proposed by Foras na Gaeilge which would see an end to the existing grant-in-aid system to 19 Irish language promotion organisations that receive their core funding from the body.

Under the proposed model, the organisations would have to compete on a three-yearly basis for funds to implement schemes planned by Foras.

Critics say the new approach would result in a commercialisation of a sector that is community-based and would endanger the work and services offered by grassroots Irish language organisations.

Kevin De Barra, acting director of Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge, described the report as “a positive step for the Irish language voluntary sector”. He said the organisations and Foras now needed to “co-operate together to undertake comprehensive research on the current work of the Irish language voluntary sector.

“All parties must work to come up with the best possible way forward for the sector, so that services can be provided to the public in the most efficient and effective manner.”

Donnchadh Ó hAodha, president of Conradh na Gaeilge, said: “Conradh na Gaeilge and Aontas Phobal na Gaeilge are recommending a system of partnerships to ensure the public gets value for money and a more efficient service by encouraging organisations to work together, not to compete against one another.

“It is a great boost to have the support of the Joint Committee on Environment, Transport, Culture and the Gaeltacht for this recommendation.”

Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge and Conradh na Gaeilge have now called on Foras and the Ministers of the North-South Ministerial Council to incorporate the recommendations in any future discussions on a how the Irish language sector should be funded.