Talks on Restructuring Irish Voluntary Sector
February 27, 2013
Foras na Gaeilge are to hold meetings this week with management of Irish language organisations to discuss the rationalisation of the voluntary sector.
In a letter sent by Foras na Gaeilge to senior management within the organisations, it is stated that Foras na Gaeilge wish to discuss the possibilities of the review process and that the language agency wishes to discuss the future of organisations following the end of the current funding period on June 30 2013.
Meetings will be held with 19 core-funded organisations on themes including facilities for Irish language education, language awareness and protection and representation with state authorities, events which promote the use of the Irish language and with the establishment of language networks, community development, developing opportunities for further language use for young people, community radio, Irish medium education/immersion education, Irish language pre-schooling, education in the English language sector and further education as well as developing language opportunities among young people
The letter says that a discussion document has been compiled by Foras na Gaeilge which is based on priorities of governmental language strategies including the 20 year Strategy for the Irish language; The business plan of Foras na Gaeilge, the Official Languages Act 2003, Líofa 2015 and the draft strategy for the Irish language in Northern Ireland.
Government departments north and south have instructed Foras na Gaeilge to implement rationalisation within the sector and within the current funding model for Irish language organisations.
A new proposal by Foras na Gaeilge for the sector was set to be tabled for discussion at a meeting of the North South Ministerial Council on December 12 2012.
Minister for Arts, Heritage and Gaeltacht Jimmy Deenihan TD as well as Junior minister for Gaeltacht Affairs Dinny McGinley TD met with their colleagues Minister for Culture, Arts and Leisure Carál Ní Chuilín MLA and Junior Minister Jonathan Bell MLA in Armagh. However the North South Ministerial Council postponed the decision until the next meeting which is due to held sometime in the spring.
Foras na Gaeilge have outlined that it expects to have another cut of 6% in the amount of funding for 2013 compared to 2012. Both departments have instructed Foras na Gaeilge to implement this cut in the overall budget of Foras na Gaeilge which includes core-funding for Irish language organisations.
The NSMC originally instructed Foras na Gaeilge to restructure the funding provided to the Irish language voluntary system back in 2009.
Foilsithe ar Gaelport.com
