Future of Irish organisations to be decided Wednesday
December 11, 2012
Ministers from the Irish government and the Northern Ireland executive will meet together in Armagh tomorrow, December 12th to decide the fate of 19 Irish language organisations currently core-funded by language body Foras na Gaeilge.
Organisations have expressed their dismay that the new funding model for the voluntary sector was not presented to organisations prior to the meeting of the North South Ministerial Council (NSMC) tomorrow.
The proposed funding model is the latest structure to be proffered by Foras na Gaeilge as a solution to the direction of the NSMC in 2009 to review the method by which funding is provided to groups core-funded by Foras na Gaeilge.
The 19 organisations include a wide range of educational, community, childcare, arts and advocacy groups.
A new funding model
Earlier this month, members of Fóram na nEagras Gaeilge, which represents 80% of the core-funded groups, wrote to both Minister of State for Gaeltacht Affairs Dinny McGinley TD and his northern counterpart Minister for Arts and Culture Carál Ní Chuilín MLA. The letter expressed dismay at the lack of consultation on the latest funding structure.
The letter stated that the organisations were “deeply concerned that the core-funded bodies have had no input into the process, the outcome of which will have significant implications for the sector, for the services we provide, and for the future of the Irish language on the island of Ireland”.
The letter also criticises manner by which this new funding model was created, which followed the side-lining of an earlier competitive model in the spring.
“Although there have been a number of individual and themed meetings between organisations and Foras na Gaeilge, An Fóram wishes to put it on record that there has been no meaningful engagement with the Sector regarding any new proposal/proposals. Requests for a meeting between the Sector and Foras na Gaeilge were not granted, and our requests for further information were repeatedly denied”.
Foras na Gaeilge has in the meantime taken the next steps in the process and has written to the management of the Irish language organisations instructing them not to enter in or engage in any temporary or permanent contracts with any other parties.
It has also come to light that a committee of Foras na Gaeilge recently explored its role in the pay-out of redundancy claims in the event of the closure of the organisations at a meeting of a steering committee on November 19th last.
What is the new funding structure?
Foras na Gaeilge has declined to publish any details of the new funding model but it is understood that that the new model is based around developing partnerships with a number of organisations in specific strategic areas.
It would appear that Foras na Gaeilge have selected the strategic areas in the context of the 20 Year Strategy for the Irish language, the proposed Draft Strategy for Protecting and Enhancing the Development of the Irish language in Northern Ireland, as well as the Gaeltacht Act 2012.
It is understood the below are the strategic work areas chosen by Foras na Gaeilge:
• Irish medium education
• Education through English and for Adult Learners.
• Community Development
• Development of Network and Usage Opportunities for Young People
• Activities to Support the Usage of Irish
• Language Awareness, and Representation
The work areas will be core-funded and the lead partner in each area will be allowed to pro-vide service level agreements for a period not longer than 18 months.
Foras na Gaeilge don’t expect the service level agreements to be still in place by January 2015, and by this time the lead partners will be expected to have accrued the necessary expe-rience, expertise and resources to carryout the work of the strategic area.
It has also come to light that none of the organisations who are based solely in Northern Ireland have been approached in relation to becoming a lead partner in any of the six strategic areas.
The ‘new’ funding model
Another model, ‘An tSamhail Nua Mhaoinithe’ was the focus of two public consultations in the past two years after it was first announced by Foras na Gaeilge in May 2010, following the prior approval of the NSMC.
The competitive model would see organisations compete for funding within separate portfo-lios including the arts, education, family support, community support, childcare and advocacy.
Fóram na nEagras Gaeilge and other Irish language groups expressed their disappointment at the lack of public consultation prior to this point and organisations disagreed with the new funding model criticising its competitive structure which would pit organisations against one each other for funding. They also highlighted a lack of understanding of the voluntary sector, the work of the volunteer and the lack of consideration for the principles of language planning.
The model was later subject to public scrutiny in another consultation period early in 2012 and was the subject of a review by an Oireachtas committee.
The Committee recommended that restructuring should take place but that provision had to be made for core-funding as well as partnership and co-operation between organisations. The report also acknowledged that the ‘new funding model’ would increase the control of Foras na Gaeilge over the resources of the organisations while reducing their independence.
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