Uncertainty surrounding the short-term funding of Irish Language organisations
June 4, 2013
At a meeting of the North South Ministerial Council (NSMC) last March, Ministers agreed to extend the existing core funding arrangements to 19 Irish language organisations until 31 December 2013.
Addressing Dáil Éireann last Thursday, Minister of State for the Gaeltacht, Dinny McGinley T.D. confirmed this decision.
While the six month extension would provide brief relief, the organisations themselves are seeking a longer-term solution. The relief was not long lived however, as shortly after the NSMC meeting in March, Foras na Gaeilge informed organisations that they were now initiating a new process to deal with applications for funding for the extended period and outlined cuts of between 5% and 6% as guideline figures. These cuts were to be made on the overall core-funding figure, and would not be applied to all organisations in the same manner.
Foras na Gaeilge drafted new priorities, based on particular themes, and organisations were informed that funding would now be allocated based on these priorities only. Organisations were informed that the new funding process would see winners and losers amongst the 19 organisations as funding applications would only be processed in accordance with the new criteria.
The Board of Foras na Gaeilge will meet on 28 June 2013, to review the applications and approve funding for organisations for the period 01 July 2013 – December 2013. The date of this meeting means funding decisions will be made on Friday for the period beginning the following Monday, and organisations will not be aware of their funding allocation until the new period has already begun.
In a written response to a parliamentary question posed to him, Minister of State for the Gaeltacht, Dinny McGinley T.D., stated that new models of funding are being analysed by Foras na Gaeilge, in conjunction with the core-funded organisations, with other key stakeholders and with the public, through public consultations in both jurisdictions. The Minister noted again the decision by the NSMC to provide interim funding based on the current core-funding arrangements until 31 December 2013.
Speaking on this topic, Kevin De Barra, Director of Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge, the umbrella body for the Irish language voluntary movement, said “while the Minister has made efforts to clarify the situation, the waters are being muddied once more by information provided by Foras na Gaeilge which is at odds to that confirmed by the Minister”.
De Barra said he hopes the issue will become clearer over the next few weeks with a meeting of the NSMC scheduled next week, and said: “it is a pity that this situation has arisen again, where once again things are left to the last minute, with a Board meeting scheduled for Friday 28th June and the core-funded bodies clueless as to what allocation of funding they can expect to receive for a period which begins on the following Monday”.
Foilsithe ar Gaelport.com
