€1.27m fund to promote the Irish language in Kerry

The Government Chief Whip and Minister of State for the Gaeltacht and Sport, Jack Chambers T.D. today announced €1,273,904 in new funding to further promote the Irish language in Tralee and the West and South Kerry Gaeltacht areas.

A total of €713,094 has been allocated for Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne Teo.

In addition, €560,000 has been approved for the implementation of the Tralee Language Plan under the language planning process.

This is equivalent to €80,000 per annum over the seven year life of the plan.

3-year fund for Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne

Minister Chambers today visited Áras Bhréanainn, Baile an Fheirtéaraigh, where he announced a fund worth up to €713,904 over a three year period for Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne Teo.

This will help strengthen Irish as the main spoken language in West and South Kerry – especially among young people and families with children.

Following today’s announcement, Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne Teo will develop two new programmes:

• A Youth Ecology Pilot Programme which will promote a greater understanding of wildlife environmental issues
• A special programme to encourage and enable families to provide accommodation for those attending Irish language colleges in the area.

Minister of State Chambers said:

“Today’s funding announcement will support families in the West Kerry and South Kerry Language Planning Areas, who are raising their children through Irish, or who wish to do so, as well as implementing a range of other policies for the benefit of the Irish language in both areas.”

Tralee Language Plan

Minister Chambers also visited Gaelcholáiste Thrá Lí, where he confirmed that the language plan for the Gaeltacht Service Town of Tralee has been approved under the language planning process, with €560,000 allocated for the implementation of the plan.

This plan will be implemented under the direction of the Kerry Education and Training Board.

The Minister of State said:

“As with all the language plans already approved and implemented, in this case the people of Tralee are being given the opportunity to choose their own priorities under the plan, and to participate in its implementation on the basis of a partnership.

Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne Teo. Grant

This programme aims to provide language acquisition and enrichment opportunities for Gaeltacht young people in West and South Kerry.

Over the 3 year period the following actions will be taken:

Tús Maith Programme

• C. 65 families will be provided for each year and 42 of these families will be provided with 12 home visits c. 30 West Kerry and 12 South Kerry
• 50 Playgroups, 6 Scléip an tSathairn & 3 major events will be organised in November, at Christmas and at Easter
• 14 events will be held in Uíbh Ráthach for c. 8 families located outside the Gaeltacht but who send their children to schools that are recognised as a Gaeltacht school.

Traditional Arts

• 6 dance sessions and 3 art sessions will be provided for c. 600 pupils in 11 primary schools in West Kerry for 5/6 weeks per annum.

Resources/Advertising/Career Development

• 1 Irish language book will be published each year
• 4 training courses per year will be provided for home visitors, dance teachers and art teachers.

Pilot Youth Ecological Programme

• 3 facilitators will be employed in 5 schools in Corca Dhuibhne for 2 hours a week. If successful, it will be extended to other schools and to South Kerry.

Further information: https://www.oidhreacht.ie/ga/tograi-teangan/

Tralee Language Plan

• An annual fund of up to €80,000 will be made available for the implementation of the language plan. The lead organisation will be able to employ a Language Planning Officer with the fund assisting with the implementation of the plan.
• Of the 26 Gaeltacht Language Planning Areas, 25 plans have been approved to date.
• To date 4 Gaeltacht Service Towns have been approved under the language planning process: Letterkenny, Dingle, Galway City and Dungloe.
• To date, 3 Irish Language Networks have been approved under the process under Acht na Gaeltachta 2012 – Ennis, Loughrea and Clondalkin. It is also worth noting that 2 Irish Language Networks have been approved under the direction of Foras na Gaeilge in the North – Carntogher and West Belfast which do not fall within the direct scope of the Act.
• 21 Language Planning Officers (19 in Gaeltacht Language Planning Areas & 2 in Gaeltacht Service Towns), as well as 4 Assistant Language Planning Officers, are employed to date.
• In relation to the Gaeltacht Service Towns, the process of preparing plans is underway for the following towns: Caherciveen, Castlebar and Cork City.
• The Dungarvan language plan, which was brought before the Department recently, is being considered by the Department at present.