Minister Calleary announces increase in payment to Gaeltacht families providing accommodation for students
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From: Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht
- Published on: 14 May 2026
- Last updated on: 14 May 2026
- Hostels/Residential Colleges also to receive increase under the scheme
The Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary TD, has today announced an increase in the subsidy payable to recognised families providing accommodation for students under the Irish Language Learners Scheme.
The subsidy, paid under the Department's Irish Language Learners Scheme to recognised families, will increase by €1.50 per student, per night. An additional €1.50 per student, per night will also be paid to hostels/residential colleges recognised to provide accommodation under the scheme.
The announcement by Minister Calleary will increase the subsidy for eligible families from €14.50 to €16 per night and from €10.50 to €12 in the case of Gaeltacht hostels/residential colleges recognised under the scheme.
Minister Calleary said:
"I am delighted to announce this increase to the oldest scheme administered by my Department, the Irish Language Learners Scheme. Following on from the €1.50 increase that I awarded last year, and knowing the value of the service provided by the families and hostel providers, I was very happy to approve the same increase again this year.”
This is the fifth increase in the scheme's subsidy since the beginning of 2022 resulting in a 60% increase paid to scheme families (from €10 to €16) and a 140% increase for hostels/residential colleges (€5 to €12).
This increase will come into effect from 30 May 2026 and over 530 families from across the Gaeltacht who are registered with the Department under the scheme will benefit from this increase.
As well as the increase in the regular courses, Minister Calleary has approved an increase in the subsidy paid under the other schemes that fall under the auspices of the Irish Language Learners Scheme. In addition, there are the Gaeltacht Island Scheme (ÁRAINN) and Gaeltacht ERASMUS as set out in the table below.
The overall objective of this announced policy is to support the Irish language and the Gaeltacht in line with the objectives of the 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030.
The table below provides a breakdown of the increases approved:
|
Subsidy |
2025 Rate |
2026 Rate |
|
Regular courses |
€14.50 |
€16 |
|
Hostel / residential college |
€10.50 |
€12 |
|
ERASMUS Gaeltachta |
€23.50 |
€25 |
|
Gaeltacht Island Scheme (ÁRAINN) |
€35.50 |
€37 |
Concluding, Minister Calleary said:
“The families who provide accommodation, as well as the colleges, deserve recognition for the valuable resource they provide to those attending Irish language courses. I am confident that the increase in my Department's support will help to cover the cost of providing accommodation and to attract more families to this important sector that will grow and develop in the coming years.”
Notes
The objective of the Irish Language Learners Scheme - the oldest scheme administered by the Department - is to support the provision of additional language acquisition and enrichment opportunities in the Gaeltacht for post-primary and third level school attendees in the country.
As a result of the announced increase, the Department will be investing an overall fund worth over €8m in 2026 for the benefit of the sector.
Increase in grant to €16 –
Example of the impact of the increase for a family identified for sixteen learners-
- 16 students x 20 nights x 3 three-week courses x €1.50 from the Department = €1,440 in additional income in 2026
- €16 per night for a three-week course (20 nights)
(equivalent to €320 per student)