From Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media
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Given that Foras na Gaeilge will kick-start a new lexicographical project in 2022, which will be ongoing for the next five years, the Minister of State for the Gaeltacht and Sport, Jack Chambers, is delighted to announce that specific funding is being provided by the department for the project, in addition to the Foras’ usual budget.
€365,000 has been provided in 2022 to kick start the development of the new project and to update and supplement the current lexicographical resources on focloir.ie and teanglann.ie.
Furthermore, additional once-off funding of €300,000 is being provided by Minister Chambers’ department for the Irish Language Books Programme. The bulk of this funding will go towards the Irish language publishers, with a total fund of €250,000 set aside to help the publishing houses bounce back even stronger after the effects of COVID-19. Foras na Gaeilge will also be adding to the available fund to develop the Mentoring Scheme and other training opportunities during 2022.
Announcing this additional funding, Minister Chambers stated:
“There is a particular importance attached to lexicography and publication for languages such as the Irish language. I am very happy to be able to provide €300,000 in additional funding to the Irish Language Books Programme 2022 in order to support the publishing sector further, a sector which had particular challenges to contend with over the past two years.
“In terms of lexicography, €365,000 has been provided to Foras na Gaeilge in 2022 by my department in order to properly kick-start the new lexicography project, through which substantial modern Irish-Irish and Irish-English dictionaries will be developed. These dictionaries will place the Irish language on an equal footing with the other primary languages in terms of lexicographical delivery.
“This investment is in the best interest of the entire community of the island. Because of this investment, the entire Irish language community, learners and proficient speakers alike, will have access to the highest standard of lexicographical aids. In addition, further supports will be provided to those who publish in the Irish language and will enable Foras na Gaeilge in supporting the advancement of the language among the public in the year ahead.”
Seán Ó Coinn, Chief Executive of Foras na Gaeilge stated:
“This is great news for Foras na Gaeilge in relation to our work in the field of lexicography and publication. There is a particular importance attached to the written word in any language and this additional funding will allow us to build upon the foundation which has been set in recent years with the publication of the New English-Irish Dictionary, which is now in its second printing and which draws 2.5 million users annually to its online version.
“In relation to the Irish Language Books Programme, this additional funding will allow us to add to the Mentoring Scheme and this further support will give Foras na Gaeilge the opportunity to support the development of the language among the entire community on the island.
“We thank Minister Chambers for the department’s continued support.”