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Irish Language Colleges Sector
From Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media
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While the primary responsibility for their respective colleges rests with the directors of the Irish language colleges themselves, both the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts Gaeltacht, Sport and Media and the Department of Education play a key role in overall support of the sector as a whole.
The overall objective of the two Departments in this area is to promote compliance with the relevant statutory obligations of the directors of Irish language colleges, and to promote best practice in all other relevant areas as far as possible – including educational merit of courses. The statutory duties include:
The regulations and conditions pertaining to the operation of the sector from the perspective of the two Departments are set out in the Regulations for the recognition of Irish courses under the Irish language Learners Scheme 2019 (Amendment).
In this context the Department of Education provides advice, as well as monitoring and reporting on topics relating to teaching and learning, teacher qualifications and the general quality of courses.
In order to support language acquisition and enrichment opportunities in Gaeltacht regions for second and third-level students from all over the country in overall support of the Government’s objectives for the language as set out in the 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010–2030 , the Department administers a scheme, Scéim na bhFoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge (SFG), by which a daily subsidy is payable to eligible Gaeltacht families who provide certified accommodation for those who attend one of the c.42 Gaeltacht Irish language colleges recognised under the scheme.
This subsidy is worth €12 per day (equivalent to €252 per student for a three week course) and benefits over 26,000 students a year while staying in any of the households throughout the Gaeltacht which are recognised under the scheme. This represents a State investment of over €5m annually in the sector.
In addition to providing and administering this practical assistance, the Department also administers three separate funds under the scheme, for the benefit of the Irish language and the Gaeltacht, namely:
DEIS Gaeltachta – Under this initiative which commenced in 2019, 400 scholarships are offered annually worth c. €850 each to provide unique opportunities for attendees of DEIS post-primary schools throughout the country to attend a summer college in the Gaeltacht.
ERASMUS Gaeltachta – Under this initiative which commenced in 2019 an annual fund worth €250,000 has been created to give up to 175 third-level students the opportunity to settle for a university semester with Gaeltacht families while attending qualified third level course.
Árainn Gaeltachta – This initiative provides funding of up to €150,000 a year so that up to 30 post-primary students per year can spend a full year attending any one of the three post-primary schools on the Aran islands.
In addition, funding is provided to the Irish colleges umbrella/representative body CONCOS, to further assist the summer college sector.
The scheme is administered as part of the Community and Language Support Programme, for the benefit of the language planning process and the overall implementation of the 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010–2030 . Action Area 2 of the Action Plan 2018-2022 – published by the Department in June 2018, sets out what the Department is doing and intends to work with other stakeholders in relation to the sector.
SFG 2 - Foirm Iarratais ar Aitheantas faoi Scéim na bhFoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge
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Irish language colleges must seek recognition for Irish courses before a course can commence. All documentation relating to Irish Colleges seeking recognition for Irish courses is available for download below. This documentation must be completed and returned to the Department via email only colaistigaeilge@tcagsm.gov.ie