Green Party Gaeltacht and Culture Minister Catherine has announced over €1m in funding for an Irish Language Network to support public sector workers in using and developing their Irish language skills.
The grant of up to €1,019,086 over a period of 3 years (2024-2026) was announced this week, and will go to Oireachtas na Gaeilge, to enable them to establish an Irish Language Network for public sector employees.
This network will provide more formal opportunities to speak the language for those in the public sector, providing 4 major events a year, and other regional events throughout the year.
These will be available to civil servants at government departments, doctors, nurses, teachers, engineers, Gardaí, and other State employees, and events will be available to individuals with a high level of competence in Irish, or those who are still learning and want to improve.
The aim of the network’s events will be to reach approximately 8,000 people per year and cater to individuals who use the Irish language as part of their job, or who wish to in the future. It will also simply help those who wish to improve their fluency in the language, and speak to other Irish learners or speakers on a regular basis to practise and hone their skills.
This is part of a target that the government has set to reach the point where 20% of recruits to public bodies will be competent in Irish by the end of 2030. There is also an aim that all public services in the Gaeltacht and for the Gaeltacht will be provided in Irish, and that every public office in the Gaeltacht will operate through the medium of Irish.
“The approval of this grant demonstrates…the government’s dedication to developing the language capacity of the public sector,” said Minister Martin of the policy.
“We now have a very positive message regarding the employment opportunities available to those competent in Irish, including those already in the system, and we have to seize every opportunity to spread that message far and wide and support those who may be interest in these opportunities.”
Expressions of interest in membership of the network will be sought in the new year.
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Another giant waste of taxpayer money. So glad I’m self employed. Pity all the PAYE people who don’t get to avoid tax
Depends on whether you consider 1 million euro over a 3 year period as ‘giant’. As a proportion of the state budget it would be miniscule.
Who are this crowd trying convince about their allegiance to Ireland, us or themselves. Literally destroying the country demographically and trying to pull this one.
Yawn