The Irish language film and television sector could receive €12 million in British government funds over the next three years, it emerged today.
Northern Ireland Secretary, Mr Paul Murphy confirmed the Northern Ireland Office was drawing up proposals and would be making an announcement soon.
And he also revealed work had now begun on the development of an Ulster Scots Academy as proposed in the British and Irish Governments' joint declaration.
Mr Murphy said: "I am pleased to announce that proposals to provide support for Irish language film and television are currently being developed.
"Subject to a satisfactory business case, a fund which will be in the region of €12 million over three years, will be confirmed during the summer months.
"I am also pleased to announce that, in line with the government's commitment in the joint declaration to encourage support to be made available to an Ulster Scots Academy, work has now begun on the development of a business case."
The funding was welcomed by the SDLP's Irish language spokesman, Mr Patsy McGlone who said it should be made available without much delay.
"The SDLP has been campaigning for the Irish language to receive the same recognition as Welsh which receives approximately €84 million per year and Scots Gaelic which gets about €12 million per annum," he said.
"It is encouraging to see that the (British) government is now doing something about this discrepancy in giving some support to the Irish language TV and film sector.
"We have been campaigning for more widespread availability of Teilifis na Gaelige/TG4 for some time. These channels play an important role in promoting the Irish language and should be available throughout the whole island.
Sinn Féin's Irish language spokesman Mr Sean Mac Giolla Cheara said the funding was "only the first step" towards making London and Dublin honour their commitments under the Agreement and the joint declaration to the Irish language.
The Magherafelt councillor said: "Sinn Féin put the implementation of equality commitments and language rights for Irish speakers high on the recent negotiations agenda.
"This is a welcome announcement but it is only the first step. It will enable the development of Irish language TV and film production.