€2.18 million funding announced to strengthen the Irish language in schools
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From: Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media
- Published on: 5 October 2023
- Last updated on: 12 April 2025
€2,183,226 funding approved by Ministers Martin and O’Donovan for the next 3 years to support the work of Gaelbhratach.
Minister Catherine Martin and Minister of State Patrick O'Donovan have approved significant additional funding of €2.18 million to strengthen and expand the Gaelbhratach scheme. Gaelbhratach is a support scheme, administered by Gael Linn, for schools across Ireland. Gaelbhratach focuses on the promotion of the Irish language in a structured, planned and enjoyable way in both primary and secondary schools.
The goal of the Gaelbhratach scheme is to encourage the use of Irish, not only within the classroom, but also as the spoken language of the school community. The scheme began in the 2012/13 school year and since then the scheme has had an impact on schools of various types throughout the country - both urban and rural primary schools where there is a need to reinvigorate the language, and Irish language and Gaeltacht post-primary schools where it is the main everyday language.
With the additional funding that has now been approved, Gaelbhratach will have the opportunity to appoint additional staff and attend many more schools around the country. 133 primary schools and 126 post-primary schools are currently involved in the scheme, and it is expected that these numbers will increase significantly with the additional funding being approved. Further information regarding the scheme is available on the Gaelbhratach website.
Minister Catherine Martin said:
"I am delighted about this additional funding that has been approved for Gaelbhratach. With this additional support from my department over 400 schools will have taken part in the scheme by 2026/2027. This scheme has a significant impact on the language habits of the students who take part in it and I understand that many former students who took part in the scheme are now active members of Irish Language Societies in third level colleges. That is a great source of pride and hope in terms of the development of the language and I look forward to seeing the impact of the additional money that has now been approved in the years to come."
Minister of State Patrick O’Donovan said:
"This additional funding approved for the Gaelbhratach scheme will have a tremendous impact on the organisation's work around the country. The Gaelbhratach team is providing extremely important and effective support to schools across Ireland in terms of the Irish language. It is wonderful that Irish is being promoted as a spoken language among young people in all types of schools and in all parts of the country. I commend the efforts made by all schools to promote the Irish language under this beneficial scheme."
Gaelbhratach is administered by Gael Linn and receives financial support from the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sports and Media, the Department of Education and Foras na Gaeilge.