Press release
400 Irish college scholarships announced for post-primary DEIS schools
From Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media
Published on
Last updated on
The Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin TD, and the Government Chief Whip and the Minister of State for the Gaeltacht and Sport, Jack Chambers TD today announced that they have approved a fund of €400,000 to substantially expand the scholarship fund for those attending the country’s post-primary DEIS schools to attend an Irish course in the Gaeltacht during the summer.
Under the additional fund approved under the measure entitled DEIS Gaeltachta - which began in 2019, up to 400 students per year from post-primary DEIS schools countrywide will be able to benefit from a learning period in the Gaeltacht, this is compared to 50 students up to this point. The scholarships which will be provided under the fund are worth up to €850 – and will be administered by the Galway and Roscommon Education and Training Board (GRETB) on behalf of the Department.
Minister Martin said:
“It is an objective of mine and of the Minister of State Chambers to create more opportunities for young people who would not normally have such opportunities, to attend an Irish course in the Gaeltacht. This practical package will not only be of benefit to the Irish language and the Gaeltacht but it will also be of benefit to society as a whole as relates to social inclusion.”
Minister of State Chambers said:
“As a result of the substantial increase in the DEIS Gaeltachta fund, up to 400 students from post-primary DEIS schools located outside the Gaeltacht will have the opportunity to attend an Irish course in the Gaeltacht every year, with help from my Department. Measures such as these are particularly important and I have no doubt that that which has been announced will be of great benefit.”
The DEIS Gaeltachta fund was established in 2019 at a time when €50,000 was provided to award those attending the country’s post-primary DEIS schools the opportunity to attend one of the Irish colleges recognised by the Department. As a result of the measures which have been announced, 400 scholarships will be available each year instead of 50 scholarships which were available from the time the initiative was established three years ago.
This step is consistent with the particular commitment in the Irish Language Action Plan 2018-2022 in relation to the Irish college sector and will be an additional support in the recovery of the sector which has been closed for two years now due to COVID-19. GRTEB is already working on arrangements to implement the measure.
This comes after the recently approved 10% increase to the daily grant payable to Gaeltacht households who provide accommodation to those attending Irish Colleges. This particular measures - worth c.€860,000 in total - means that approximately €5.2m in total will be invested hereafter by the Department each year in this sector under the Irish Language Learners Scheme which will be of benefit to the Irish language and the Gaeltacht.