Gaeltacht — funding allocations

Céad Míle Fáilte focuses on the benefits that new communities can derive from the Irish language – in terms of the importance of the language, the additional opportunities associated with it and integration into Irish society. It aims to encourage new communities in Ireland to learn and use the Irish language as a way of fostering a stronger Irish identity for themselves. This programme is being run by Conradh na Gaeilge across 2026 and 2027.

This programme actively supports the status of the Irish language as an official language of the European Union, in line with the 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030 , through the provision of internship opportunities to graduates.

Interns will experience working life in Europe, receive training in the Irish language units in the European institutions, and increase their skills to give them a better chance in future recruitment competitions. Interns also contribute to the translation into Irish of various types of documentation for the public.

• European Commission, Brussels (two internships)
• Council of the European Union, Brussels
• Committee of the Regions, Brussels
• European Parliament, Luxembourg
• Court of Auditors, Luxembourg
• Publications Office, Luxembourg

The application process is administered by the Centre of Excellence for Careers in the European Union.

This Scheme provides support to the business community in Dublin, Co. Galway, Co. Kildare, and Co. Mayo, encouraging them to use the Irish language as they provide products and services to the community.

Since its establishment in 1968, CONCOS has acted as an umbrella organisation for the Irish language summer colleges sector. They provide advisory services in addition to their work advocating for the sector.

Irish medium schools in Gaeltacht Service Towns and Líonra Gaeilge towns that have been identified under the language planning process will be able to avail of language assistant (Cúntóir Teanga) funding as part of the language planning process.

The scheme is managed on behalf of the department by Muintearas in Donegal and the Western Region, Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne in the Southern Region, and Glór na nGael in the Gaeltacht Service Towns and Irish-Language Networks.

€3.143 million funding has been allocated for four strategic projects administered by Maynooth University across the period 2025 to 2028. This includes funding to provide for standardised examinations and TEG certification for learners and skilled users of Irish, who wish to obtain independent assurance of their language ability and achieve a qualification that is recognised nationally and internationally.

The Scheme increases the subsidies payable to Gaeltacht families and residential colleges who provide accommodation for attendees of Irish-language colleges.

More than 500 families across the Gaeltacht who are registered with the department under the scheme will benefit from the increase, with effect from the beginning of the 2025 summer courses on 31 May 2025.

Funding is provided under this scheme for the teaching of Irish in universities in universities in Continental Europe and the United Kingdom.

The aims of the fund are to foster and promote goodwill towards the Irish language outside the State and to provide a platform for the accessibility and promotion of the Irish language as an international language. The fund is open to applications from overseas third level institutions wishing to provide Irish language courses as part of their academic programme.