The Minister of State for the Gaeltacht, Patrick O'Donovan, T.D., has now approved increased grant-funding of €518,259 over a two-year period for Conradh na Gaeilge to run their ‘Gluaiseacht’ project in 2023-2024.
Under the Gluaiseacht project, young people are encouraged to use their Irish in a conscious manner and are made aware of all the ways in which the language can be used along with all its various benefits. In that, emphasis is placed on the economic benefits and employment opportunities associated with the language. This is mainly done through the hosting of interactive workshops for young people attending post-primary schools, third level institutions or summer colleges.
The Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media have been supporting this worthwhile initiative since 2017 but with the enactment of the Official Languages (Amendment) Act 2021 at the end of December 2021, the importance of this project as an integral part of the Department’s efforts in achieving the ambitious objectives of the Act over the coming years is recognised now more than ever – particularly in relation to the recruitment target that 20% of recruits to public bodies will be competent in Irish by 2030.
It is to that end that a significant increase has been approved for this grant for the next two years – up 85% on the 2021-2022 grant (which was €280,000).
As part of the increased grant, it is intended to:
- employ an additional coordinator;
- deliver additional workshops as a result of the extra staffing resources;
- expand on the workshops offered to fifth and sixth year in post-primary schools; and
- attend national and other career fairs on behalf of the Department.
Minister of State O'Donovan has said this announcement represents a significant step forward in the implementation of the legislation:
"Conradh na Gaeilge are doing very important work in terms of fostering and bolstering the use of the language among the country’s youth, not only among those who are in or have come through the Gaelschooling system, but in young people in general who have a particular interest in the language.
With a budget of €1m of current funding allocated this year to accelerate the implementation of the Official Languages (Amendment) Act 2021, I am therefore very pleased to approve this increased grant for the ‘Gluaiseacht’ project today.With this grant the message that significant employment opportunities exist for those with Irish, particularly in the civil and public service can be delivered loud and clear to over 28,000 young people.
There will be challenges ahead in ensuring that a ready supply of people competent in Irish are available to the public sector so that public services stipulated under the Act can be provided through Irish, but I am determined that the statutory recruitment target will be achieved and the approval of this grant is another step in the right direction.”
Further information on the ‘Gluaiseacht’ project, along with a schedule of events to be hosted under it, are available on Conradh na Gaeilge’s website here.