Minister Calleary announces increase in subsidy to Gaeltacht families and residential colleges under Scéim na bhFoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge
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From: Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht
- Published on: 1 August 2025
- Last updated on: 1 August 2025
The Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary, has today (Thursday, 31 July) announced that he has approved an increase in the subsidies payable to Gaeltacht families and residential colleges who provide accommodation for attendees of Irish-language colleges.
The Minister made the announcement during a visit to Colaiste Mhuigheo where he met with mná tí, teachers, students and staff.
The subsidy will increase by €1.50, from €13 to €14.50, typically paid under the department’s Scéim na bhFoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge [Irish-language Learners’ Scheme] to families recognised under the scheme. In addition, the grant paid to recognised hostels/residential colleges who provide accommodation under the scheme will increase by €1, from €9.50 to €10.50.
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.
The increase follows the nearly 30% increase to the subsidy rate payable to families and the 90% increase to residential colleges and hostels since 2022.
Today’s announcement also includes an increase to the subsidies payable under two of the department’s other schemes, Scéim Oileánda (ÁRAINN) Gaeltachta which provides students with the opportunity to spend a whole school year on one of the three Árainn islands and the ERAMUS Gaeltachta Scheme which gives third-level students the opportunity to spend a semester in the Gaeltacht.
The overall objective of this initiative is to support the Irish language and the Gaeltacht in line with the objectives of the government’s 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030.
The table below gives a breakdown of the increases:
|
Subsidy |
2024 Rate |
2025 Increase |
|
Ordinary Courses |
€13.00 |
€14.50 |
|
Hostel/Residential college |
€9.50 |
€10.50 |
|
ERASMUS Gaeltachta |
€22.00 |
€23.50 |
|
Scéim Oileánda (ÁRAINN) Gaeltachta |
€34.00 |
€35.50 |
Minister Calleary said today:
“Scéim na bhFoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge, which is the oldest scheme administered by my department, is of particular importance to both the Irish language and the Gaeltacht economy. The families who provide accommodation are the backbone of this scheme. In recognition of their role and of the increase in the costs they bear, I am happy to announce this grant increase which will help over 500 families. Additionally, the increase will help the residential colleges and indeed all of the colleges in their efforts to recruit and retain new families.”
Notes
The objective of Scéim na bhFoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge (SFG), which is the oldest scheme administered by the department, is to support the provision of additional opportunities for language acquisition and enrichment in the Gaeltacht for the country’s post-primary and third-level students.
As a result of the announced increase, there will be an overall fund worth around €6 million invested every year henceforth by the department to the benefit of the sector.
Increase in the grant to €14.50 – an example of the impact of the increase on a house which accommodates 16 learners:
16 learners x 21 nights x 3 three-week courses x €1.50 from the department = €1,512.
€14.50 per night (equivalent of €304.50 per student) for a three-week course (21 nights) with this subsidy.
Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht
The Department of Rural and Community Development is now known as the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht. Our Minister’s titles are Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary TD and Minister of State with Responsibility for Community Development and Charities, Jerry Buttimer TD. The above titles should be used when referring to the department and Ministers going forward.