Ó Muirí sets out financial arrangements for Irish Language Strategy

At last Thursday’s meeting of the Council’s Strategy, Policy and Resources committee, Sinn Féin Councillor Barra Ó Muirí praised the work of the Irish language Strategy Cross-party Working Group and proposed a budget to help realise the Strategy.

Explaining that the committee had spent roughly eighteen months deliberating on the most efficient and cost-effective ways to roll out the strategy, Ó Muirí paid tribute to the Councillors and Officials who worked diligently to ensure the best opportunities would be provided for the residents of our District.

The proposal brought before the Committee was to establish two separate funding opportunities:

1) Scéim sparántachta na Gaeilge/ An Irish language Bursary Scheme

2) Scéim Chúnamh Airgeadais/ A Financial Assistance Scheme

The purpose of the Bursary Scheme is “to assist individuals to improve Irish Language skills through providing scholarships or bursaries for accredited Irish language courses, including Gaeltacht colleges, intensive courses and third level courses.” Parents or guardians will be able to apply for scholarships or bursaries for young people to attend Gaeltacht courses, and the scheme will allow applicants to apply for up to 50% of total fees for a course, up to a maximum of £300 in total, Ó Muirí explained.

The Financial Assistance Scheme will have two specific themes: 1) Irish language community renewal and development; and 2) Positively engaging the Irish language.

The first will provide an open call for projects/initiatives that encourage Irish language community capacity building, mentoring and volunteering. The second will be an open call for community engagement projects/ initiatives to build positive relations, address perceptions and promote respect for the Irish language.

Ó Muirí explained to the committee how repeated efforts were made to have Unionist representation on the Working Group, to no avail. He called for mutual respect and understanding for the language, and reiterated the Sinn Féin call for equality for all. “The Irish language has no political persuasion. It is neither green nor orange and the aim of every member of the Council should be to promote equality within our District. I hope these plans are recognised by all as being the intent of this council to provide increased opportunities for all residents of our District, young and old, to access and afford Irish language courses from now on.”

The committee were happy to second Ó Muirí’s proposal with support from almost all Councillors.

Ó Muirí has vowed to continue efforts to engage with the PUL community to highlight that the language belongs to us all.

Having passed the committee stage, the proposal now goes before full Council on Monday 4th December.

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