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Another new funding model for Irish language organisations

September 5, 2012

It has been four long years since the term New Funding Model first cropped up in relation to proposed changes for the Irish language voluntary sector, but has anything been learnt in that time?

Since Foras na Gaeilge was first established under the Good Friday Agreement, the North/South body has provided annual funding for organisations across the country. A total of 19 organisations receive annual core-funding from An Foras, and in 2009, the North South Ministerial Council (NSMC) instructed Foras na Gaeilge to restructure the method in which funding is allocated to this core-funded sector.

Following the direction of the NSMC, Foras proposed a portfolio of schemes in 2010, for which they coined the term, “New Funding Model”.

Rather than providing organisational core-funding, Foras now intended to provide funding on a competitive scheme basis, which would provide funding to successful applicants for short term projects.

As time passed the funding model was gradually tweaked, schemes were added and subtracted which caused much confusion to the public trying to grasp the essence of the new model. Initially seven schemes were announced, which soon increased to ten, and later was reduced to eight before the model was eventually ditched.

With one winner proposed for each scheme, except for the community radio scheme which was deemed an exception, it was apparent that an axe was soon to fall on the number of Irish language organisations.

Not unexpectedly, the organisations themselves did not agree with the new portfolio from the get go. They demanded open discussion, participatory input, independent consultancy, transparency in the process, and above all they requested research based evidence to prove the new funding model was an improvement on the current model.

The Irish language organisations publicly demonstrated their dissatisfaction with the model again and again. The promotion of the Irish language over the past four years has not been helped by ongoing disagreements and tension within the sector between those funded by Foras na Gaeilge and Foras itself, the body which was established to provide leadership and drive the promotion of the language.

Foras na Gaeilge sought change, as according to them the current model is no longer sustainable, but the organisations took the model to mean that Foras na Gaeilge now wanted to fund the promotion of the language solely through short terms schemes which would last no longer than three years.

The organisations have repeatedly stated that they recognise the need for reorganisation of the sector in order to achieve the best results while providing greatest value for money. The organisations have also put forward their desire to engage with Foras in a participatory manner to develop a new model which will benefit Irish across the island.

Earlier this year, following a direction from the NSMC Foras initiated a public consultation process on its new funding model. The general public voiced their concerns about the model at each of the public consultation meetings. An Foras reported to the NSMC that 167 submissions were made, whereas the organisations claim their members submitted ten times that figure. A group of noted sociolinguists and language planners, both national and international, sent a letter to Foras na Gaeilge as part of the consultation in which they strongly condemned the model. While this letter was reported in national newspapers, it was not registered as part of the consultation and was not published on the Foras website as a submission. Tensions continued to rise as the public who were already unhappy with the portfolio of schemes became highly dissatisfied with a consultation process which was falling on deaf ears.

After the latest public consultation meeting, which concluded in early April 2012, the Dáil Joint Committee on the Environment, Transport, Culture, and the Gaeltacht issued a report on the future funding of Irish language organisations. This report recommended the continuation of core-funding of organisations and declared that funding should not be allocated based on a scheme of competitive tendering. The Joint Committee report followed a motion in the Northern Irish Assembly which expressed concern over the consequences of the new funding model.

In light of deepening political pressure, the board of Foras na Gaeilge, who were appointed five months previously, in June 2012 declared an end to the New Funding Model.

It is a shame so much time and effort was wasted over the past four years on a model which was declared unworkable by its intended benefactors. While that particular model has now been ditched, what can be learned by all parties from the past four years? Have the organisations, and/or the public lost all faith in Foras na Gaeilge? On the one hand, Foras na Gaeilge and its core-funded organisations now stand further apart than ever, while on the other hand the threat of the new model has seen organisations working together more closely, which in turn has lead to much organic co-operation.

While one funding model has now been shelved, An Foras are still answerable to the NSMC, who have requested a reorganisation of the sector.

In late July, with only a fortnight’s notice, the leaders of the core-funded organisations were instructed to put their own work programmes aside and participate in a series of workshops over a three day period, facilitated by Dónall Ó Braonáin of Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge. The workshiops had three main aims:

1. To identify gaps in the current provision

2. To identify fields of work within the current provision

3. To identify the fields which should be prioritised.

In addition to the workshops, Foras na Gaeilge have also invited organisations to meetings this week, under specific themes, to discuss their own field in the context of rationalisation.

Unfortunately, the clock is ticking faster than ever for the organisations, as an Foras has informed them that the new funding model will be written next Friday, circulated on Monday, with a four day window for feedback to be received, developed in the final week, and sent to the Board of Foras na Gaeilge by 18th September, for consideration at the Board meeting at the end of the month. If passed by the Board, Foras na Gaeilge will then prepare a business case to put before the NSMC in November 2012.

Organisations are hoping that any new funding model will be clearly linked to the defined concepts of language planning, and that the current provision of services will be analysed in detail prior to the development of a new model.

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