Minister Calleary announces funding of €2 million towards the teaching of Irish in universities in Europe
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From: Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht
- Published on: 1 July 2025
- Last updated on: 2 July 2025
- more than 20 universities received funding in the period 2022-23 to 2024-25
- the department has received 23 applications for the academic period 2025-26 to 2027-28
- €1.979 million funding approved by Minister Calleary for this round of the scheme – a 20% increase from the previous round
The Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary, is pleased to announce that he is approving up to €681,146 per academic year (€1.979 million in total) for the period 2025-26 to 2027-28 for the teaching of Irish in universities in Continental Europe and the United Kingdom under An Ciste Tríú Leibhéal Thar Lear, 2025-2028.
Funding is provided under this scheme for the teaching of Irish in universities in Europe outside the State. 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.
Announcing the funding today, Minister Dara Calleary said:
‘‘I am very proud that my department is able to announce three years of funding today for the teaching of Irish in European universities under An Ciste Tríú Leibhéal Thar Lear, 2025-28. Over the next three academic years, this scheme will continue to celebrate and encourage the use of the Irish language in universities in the UK and continental Europe. It is very pleasing that my department has already received 23 applications for this scheme and I hope that more universities will apply for support under the scheme in the future.”
Over 20 universities received funding in the period 2022-23 to 2024-25 with universities in Scotland, Wales, France, Germany, Austria, Poland, England, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Sweden participating in the scheme. That period is coming to an end this year and the department has received 23 applications again for the next period, from 2025-26 to 2027-28.
The grants being made available to the universities will cover the salary and administrative costs of the courses as well as 80% of the cost to students of attending summer courses in the Gaeltacht. Each university/student is responsible for the remainder of this cost.