From Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media
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The feasibility of re-establishing a Gaeltacht Summer College in South Kerry is to be assessed as part of grant funding worth €30,646 announced by the Minister of State Jack Chambers TD during his two day visit to Gaeltacht areas in Kerry and north Cork.
On Thursday he held meetings with Comhchoiste Ghaeltacht Uíbh Ráthaigh, where he announced a grant of €5,760 to enable the Comhchoiste to explore the possibility of establishing an Irish College in the area. He met with Coiste Pháirc Spraoi Bhaile na Sceilge for which he approved a fund of €32,540 in 2020 for the development of the park and with St Michael's GAA for which he approved an additional €3,886 in addition to the €23,482 grant he approved in 2020, to buy gym equipment.
On Friday, Minister of State Chambers headed to Ballyferriter, where he met with representatives from Comharchumann Forbartha Chorca Dhuibhne and CLG na Gaeltachta. He then proceeded to Daingean Uí Chúis to visit Áiseanna na hÓige where he announced that he had approved a grant of €21,000 for the Committee to purchase a bus for the pre-school service they run.
In Baile Bhuirne in the Cork Gaeltacht, he visited Coláiste Íosagáin for whom €2.7m has been approved to Údarás na Gaeltachta under the Regional Enterprise Development Fund. He also visited the new facilities of CLG Naomh Abán who received assistance under the department’s Sports Capital Programe to develop their pitch and he visited Ionad Cultúrtha Bhaile Bhuirne who provide art classes and are funded by the department through Ealaín na Gaeltachta Teo.
The Minister of State said:
"I am really pleased to visit Cork and Kerry and to see for myself local committees and organisations active again in accordance with the latest COVID-19 guidelines. The funding I announce today will benefit these communities to develop important projects and provide social, cultural, linguistic and economic opportunities in the Gaeltacht. These initiatives demonstrate the ability of local committees to identify issues and develop plans to address the needs of their communities.
"This tour also gave me an insight into the work of Údarás na Gaeltachta and its client companies in these Gaeltacht areas. Community development and language planning are an integral part of the work of Údarás na Gaeltachta. The new strategy they have recently published highlights the important link with the community and the great pioneering work that is being done in conjunction with all Gaeltacht communities in strengthening the Irish language and preserving the legacy for the next generation."
The grant is being provided to Comhchoiste Ghaeltacht Uíbh Ráthaigh under the Community and Language Supports Programme to assist them in examining the potential of the area in terms of re-establishing a Summer College.
The capital fund is being approved under the department's Community and Language Supports Programme which supports various Gaeltacht organisations to carry out refurbishment and other works as well as the purchase of equipment. Learn more.