Grant of €365,000 approved by Minister of State O’Donovan for organisations in the Donegal Gaeltacht

Oideas Gael, Comhairle Uladh and Scoil Chonaill to receive support

The Minister of State for the Gaeltacht, Patrick O'Donovan T.D., announced today that he has approved a grant of up to €365,136 for three groups in the Donegal Gaeltacht. The Minister of State approved a grant of up to €255,000 or €85,000 per year for Oideas Gael over 3 years to assist the organisation in delivering Irish language courses for adults in the Gleann Cholmcille, Toraigh and Gleann Fhinne Gaeltachtaí. A three-year grant will be given to Comhairle Uladh, worth €100,316, to implement Clár na gCluichí Gaelacha in the Donegal Gaeltacht. Additionally, almost €10,000 has been approved for Coiste na dTuismitheoirí, Scoil Chonaill in An Bun Beag to install an accessible roundabout on the school site.

Announcing the grants, Minister of State O'Donovan said:

"As Minister of State for the Gaeltacht, I am dedicated to supporting the Gaeltacht community in the development and promotion of the Irish language and these grants are aimed at that objective. Clár na gCluichí Gaelacha will support the strengthening of the link between Gaelic games and the language and I am happy that this programme is now being implemented in Donegal in partnership with the GAA's Comhairle Uladh as in the other Gaeltacht areas. There is wide appreciation for the meaningful work being undertaken by the Oideas Gael organisation for many years to provide opportunities for adults from Ireland and further afield to learn Irish in the beautiful surrounds of Donegal. As a result of their work hundreds of people are drawn to the area annually, which contributes greatly to the cultural tourism and economy of the region.

"And in An Bun Beag, Coiste Tuismitheoirí Scoil Chonaill are doing great work to support that Gaeltacht school to the benefit of the whole community. I congratulate these organisations and this committee for their hard work in promoting the language."

Notes to the Editor

Comhairle Uladh

• This is a pilot programme co-funded by the GAA's Comhairle Uladh and by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.

• A full-time job will be created to manage and deliver the programme in a number of schools recognised under the Gaeltacht Schools Recognition Scheme in the Donegal Gaeltacht.

• More than half of the 42 schools recognised will be served under the pilot scheme and it is hoped that the scheme will be expanded to all of the schools if the scheme is successful.

• Training in Irish will be provided to primary and post-primary schoolchildren during normal school hours and in after-school sessions as part of the pilot programme and camps will also be held outside of school.

• This scheme is already underway in the Connacht and Munster regions.

Oideas Gael

• This grant is a renewal of a management grant over a period of 3 years.

• Oideas Gael provides Irish language courses to adults from Ireland and from around the world in Gleann Cholmcille, Toraigh and Gleann Fhinne.

• As well as language courses, the work of the organisation contributes greatly to the cultural tourism and the local economy in Donegal.

Coiste Tuismitheoirí Scoil Chonaill, An Bun Beag

• Coiste na dTuismitheoirí has been operating for a number of years to support the school.

• Their fundraising work helps greatly to implement the school's language plan.