Analysis of BUDGET 2014
October 16, 2013
Budget 2014 was announced by Minister Michael Noonan T.D. this afternoon. A summary of the Budget documentation is available through Irish here: Achoimre ar Bhearta Bhuiséad 2014.pdf.
Below is a summary of the alterations in expenditure announced today which will effect Irish language and Gaeltacht matters in 2014.
Irish language, Gaeltacht and Islands
The budget allocated for the provision Irish language, Gaeltacht and Island services through the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht will be cut by 5% in 2014 from €42M to €40M.
Due to the overall cut to services, the current expenditure for Gaeltacht and Island services will be reduced by over 5% from €33,519,000 to €31,882,000 and capital expenditure will decrease 6% from €8,441,000 to dtí €7,973,000
Today saw the announcement of savings of €1.3M by the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in 2014 through a review of schemes, structures and organisations.
An Foras Teanga, Údarás na Gaeltachta and An Coimisinéir Teanga
An allocation of €13.6M will be made available to An Foras Teanga for 2014, a reduction of 7.3% from €14.6M in 2013.
Grants allocated to Údarás na Gaeltachta are divided between capital expenditure, administration costs and current expenditure. The body’s current expenditure grant will fall 13% to €3M, administration will be down 4.5% to €8.8M, and capital expenditure will be reduced from €6M in 2013 to €5.7M for the year 2014.
Oifig an Choimisinéara Teanga will receive €567,000 for 2014, down from €615,000 last year.
Minister of State for the Gaeltacht, Dinny McGinley T.D., said he believes the provision for Údarás na Gaeltachta, the Office of An Coimisinéir Teanga and the Language Body (Foras na Gaeilge and the Ulster-Scots Agency) will enable them to fulfil their statutory functions in 2014.
20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language
€0.5M will be made available to the Department towards the implementation of the 20 Year Strategy and in particular the Language Planning Process.
The Minister of State welcomed the announcement and said it is a “clear indication of the implementation of the commitment in the Programme for Government which states that the Government will support the Strategy and will deliver on the achievable goals proposed therein”.
“This funding will enable my Department to undertake various activities which will support the language planning process on the ground. This includes support for community organisations to assist them in preparing and implementing language plans under the Gaeltacht Act 2012” said Minister McGinley.
Statement by Minister of State Dinny McGinley T.D.
Regarding the total amount allocated to Irish language, Gaeltacht and Island matters for 2014, Minister McGinley said: “Although it was necessary to reduce the Departmental budget across the board, I am confident that we will be able to meet our priorities within the allocation provided. My absolute priority will be the protection of frontline services while making tough decisions in view of the reduced allocation. In that context, we will be focussing more than ever on achieving effectiveness and value for money from the Exchequer allocation”.
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