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Press Release – Budget 2014 - Minister of State Dinny McGinley
The Minister of State at the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Dinny McGinley, T.D., today (15 October 2013) welcomed the proposed allocation for the Irish language, the Gaeltacht and the Islands functions of the Department for 2014.
The Minister of State indicated that almost €40m will be available to the Department in 2014 for Irish language, Gaeltacht and Island functions and over €38m for north south cooperation (the Language Body and Waterways Ireland). These are indicative figures which are subject to the Estimates being approved in due course and are subject to the agreement of the North South Ministerial Council in the case of the north south budget.
The Minister of State said: "I welcome the specific allocation of €0.5m for the
20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030. This 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."
With regard to the total allocation provided for Irish language, Gaeltacht and Island functions for the year 2014, the Minister of State 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."
The Minister of State said that he believes that 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.
Further details of the 2014 allocation are available in the appendices below.
Appendix 1: Estimates for 2014 *
Irish Language, Gaeltacht & Islands (Programme C) *
€39.9m
(-5%)
Irish Language, Gaeltacht & Islands | 2013 | 2014 | % Change |
Current | 33,519 | 31,882 | -5% |
Capital | 8,441 | 7,973 | -6% |
Total | 41,960 | 39,855 | -5% |
North South Cooperation (Programme D) *
€38.4m
(-5%)
| North South | 2013 | 2014 | % Change |
Current | 36,210 | 34,425 | -5% |
Capital | 4,080 | 3,958 | -3% |
Total | 40,290 | 38,383 | -5% |
* Administration costs (pay and pensions) are included in these figures.
Appendix 2 – Breakdown of the current allocation for 2014 ** | Irish Language, Gaeltacht & Islands | €000 |
| C.3 | GAELTACHT SUPPORT SCHEMES | 6,100 |
| C.4 | IRISH LANGUAGE SUPPORT SCHEMES | 3,600 |
| C.5 | AN COIMISINÉIR TEANGA | 567 |
| C.6 | ÚDARÁS NA GAELTACHTA - ADMINISTRATION | 8,798 |
| C.7 | ÚDARÁS NA GAELTACHTA - CURRENT | 3,000 |
| C.9 | ISLANDS | 5,900 |
| C.10 | 20-YEAR STRATEGY FOR THE IRISH LANGUAGE 2010-2030 | 500 |
| | | 28,465 |
| | North South Cooperation | €000 |
| D.3 | THE LANGUAGE BODY | 13,578 |
** Administration costs (except for the administration budget of Údarás na Gaeltachta) are not included in these figures.
Appendix 3 – Breakdown of the capital allocation for 2014 ***
| Irish Language, Gaeltacht & Islands | €000 |
| C.3 | GAELTACHT SUPPORT SCHEMES | 1,422 |
| C.4 | IRISH LANGUAGE SUPPORT SCHEMES | 95 |
| C.8 | ÚDARÁS NA GAELTACHTA - CAPITAL | 5,687 |
| C.9 | ISLANDS | 644 |
| | | 7,848 |
*** Administration costs are not included in these figures.