Funding Package Approved for Bliain na Gaeilge 2018
Minister of State for the Irish Language, the Gaeltacht and the Islands, Joe McHugh T.D. has welcomed the decision by Foras na Gaeilge to make special funding of €450,000 available for Bliain na Gaeilge 2018.
“This is an opportunity to encourage the public to speak our native language and to put the language in centre stage,” Minister of State McHugh said. “As I have previously said, we have a very special year ahead of us in Bliain na Gaeilge 2018, and I am delighted to have been able to identify funding for this in Budget 2018. I strongly believe that all Irish people have some amount of Irish. We will, therefore, be focussing on creating the right environment to encourage people to give speaking Irish a go on a daily basis.”
Seán Ó Coinn, Chief Executive Officer of Foras na Gaeilge, backed the Minister of State’s comment. “The 2016 Census showed that 1.76 million people are able to speak the language, but only 73,803 speak it on a daily basis. I agree with Minister McHugh that, due to our education system, the majority of people have some knowledge of Irish, and I believe that this is a great basis for developing and promoting the language in 2018.
Dr. Niall Comer, President of Conradh na Gaeilge, said “125 years on from the revival, Bliain na Gaeilge will give us the opportunity to celebrate what has been achieved in relation to the Irish language since 1893. It also represents an opportunity to bring the Irish language, with all of its associated challenges, to the centre of public discourse. It is wonderful that groups across the world will be taking part in this celebration, and huge thanks are due to those groups who will be working diligently to organise events as part of the celebrations.”
The Chief Executive Officer of Údarás na Gaeltachta, Mícheál Ó hÉanaigh, also welcomed the announcement. “Údarás na Gaeltachta are happy to be part of this important campaign and to be working along with the relevant parties to promote the Irish language, Irish culture and the Gaeltacht. It is very important to embrace every opportunity to encourage and support Irish as the spoken language of the Gaeltacht and we are hopeful that the investment in Bliain na Gaeilge will assist greatly with this.”
A high level committee will now be put in place, including representatives from the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Conradh na Gaeilge, Foras na Gaeilge and Údarás na Gaeltachta to formulate and direct the programme for the year. As Minister McHugh has previously stated, he will be speaking with his Government colleagues in the coming weeks to obtain support across the state system for Bliain na Gaeilge 2018.
Conradh na Gaeilge will be announcing its programme for Bliain na Gaeilge 2018 at Oireachtas na Gaeilge tomorrow, Saturday.
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03/11/17Minister of State McHugh launches information campaign regarding a Language Support Package at Oireachtas na Samhna
Government Chief Whip and Minister of State for the Irish Language, the Gaeltacht and the Islands, Joe McHugh T.D., has announced (3 November) that his Department is implementing a specific measure in Gaeltacht areas in order to raise awareness among young families in the Gaeltacht of the advantages of raising children with Irish.
As part of the campaign, materials such as posters and pamphlets will be circulated to health centres and doctors’ surgeries across the Gaeltacht in order to highlight the matter as well as the language support package provided by the Department to young Gaeltacht families raising children with Irish or those who wish to do so. Information on the current campaign will also be disseminated among preschool services in Gaeltacht areas.
“This is an excellent opportunity to highlight the advantages of having Irish, and to tell people that support is available to them from my Department if they choose to raise their children with Irish,” said Minister of State McHugh as he announced the information campaign. “From feedback we received from the community it is clear that such a measure is needed. Young Gaeltacht parents have direct and regular contact with doctors’ clinics and health centres in the Gaeltacht and this is a wonderful opportunity to make them aware of the options they have regarding their household language.”
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Note to Editor
The aim of this measure is to reinforce the Irish language as the household and community language in the Gaeltacht, consistent with the 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language.
Under the initiative, a package of books, DVDs and other relevant material is provided, free of charge, to families who contact the Department. Since its introduction in 2012 5798 packages have been supplied to young families.
Further info:
02/11/17Minister Humphreys invites expressions of interest for national list celebrating Ireland’s living culture
- ‘National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage’ to be compiled to safeguard Ireland’s living culture in tandem with UNESCO Convention
- Intangible cultural heritage is a living form of heritage that cannot be touched (unlike, for example, our built heritage).
- It includes oral traditions; performing arts; social practices, rituals and events; knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe; and traditional craftsmanship.
Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Heather Humphreys TD, today (Thursday) launched an open, nationwide call for submissions to Ireland’s National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Once compiled, the list will acknowledge and promote Ireland’s living culture through official State recognition. In tandem with this, it will fulfil Ireland’s obligations under the 2003 UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, which Ireland signed up to in December 2015 to raise awareness of, and respect for, our unique living culture.
Intangible cultural heritage represents living forms of heritage that cannot be touched – unlike, for example, our built heritage. It refers to the practices, representations and expressions that are central to the lives and identities of our communities, groups and individuals.
Applications for Ireland’s National Inventory are being accepted in the following categories:
- Oral traditions and expressions, including language
- Performing arts
- Social practices, rituals and festive events
- Knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe
- Traditional craftsmanship
Minister Humphreys said: “The traditions and practices of our communities are the backbone of Irish culture and identity. They mould our past, inform our present and pave the way for our future. Up to the present day, they have been a source of great inspiration and pride to our people. I believe that it is our responsibility to acknowledge and celebrate them at a national level for the Ireland of tomorrow.”
Individuals or organisations seeking to be considered for inclusion on the National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage are invited to complete an Expression of Interest form. The deadline for applications is Wednesday 31 January 2018.
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Notes to the Editor
- Open Call for the National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage
The open call for the National Inventory will proceed as follows:
- Interested parties should fill out and submit the Expression of Interest form.
- Expressions of Interest will be evaluated by a national expert advisory committee to ensure they reflect the criteria set out in the Convention.
- Successful applications will be invited to develop their final submission that will become part of the National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
- Application Process for the National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage
- Expressions of Interest can be made by organisations, individuals, or groups of individuals, who are connected with an element of intangible cultural heritage. Cooperation from multiple interested parties on an application is encouraged.
- Expression of Interest forms can be downloaded via the following link and filled out in Irish or English: https://www.chg.gov.ie/arts/culture/projects-and-programmes/intangible-cultural-heritage/
- All queries and completed forms should be sent via email to nationalich@chg.gov.ie
- The deadline for submitting Expression of Interest forms is Wednesday 31 January 2018.
- 2003 UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage
- Ireland ratified the 2003 UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in December 2015.
- The text of the Convention can be found at https://ich.unesco.org/en/convention
- Successful applicants to the National Inventory may also consider seeking nomination by the State for inscription on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The State is entitled to make one nomination to this list every year.
- Applications for 2016 (Uilleann Piping) and 2017 (Hurling) are currently being assessed by UNESCO.
€69,196 sanctioned for Muintearas Teo. for an exercise and sports programme to be delivered on behalf of the Department for the 2017/2018 school year
Joe McHugh T.D., Government Chief Whip and Minister of State for the Irish Language, the Gaeltacht and the Islands, announced today (Thursday) that he has sanctioned a grant of up to €69,196 for Muintearas Teo. to enable them to run an exercise and sports programme for the 2017/2018 school year in 17 primary schools in the Conamara Gaeltacht.
The Minister of State said “With this exercise and sports programme administered by Muintearas, further support will be given to the schools taking part in the programme to create extra language acquisition and enrichment opportunities for children. Accordingly, this is a practical measure which supports both the Language Planning Process and the Gaeltacht Education Policy.”
This funding is being provided under the 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030.
Note to editor
The primary schools taking part in the programme are as follows:
|
Primary School |
| Scoil Náisiúnta Cholm Cille, Leitir Móir |
| Scoil Náisiúnta Rónáin, An Trá Bháin |
| Tigh Nan Dooley, An Cheathrú Rua |
| Scoil Mhuire, An Tuairín, An Cheathrú Rua |
| Scoil Náisiúnta Mhic Dara, An Cheathrú Rua |
| Scoil Náisiúnta an Ard Mhóir, |
| Scoil Náisiúnta Muire Gan Smál, Camus |
| Scoil Náisiúnta Mhuire, Turlach Beag, Rosmuc |
| Scoil Náisiúnta na hAirde Thiar |
| Scoil Náisiúnta Briocáin, An Gort Mór |
| Scoil Náisiúnta Naomh Ciaráin, Cill Chiaráin |
| Scoil Náisiúnta Mhuire, Carna |
| Scoil Mhuire, Corr na Mona |
| Scoil Náisiúnta Sailearna, Indreabhán |
| Scoil Náisiúnta Coilm Cille, Ros a’ Mhil |
| Scoil Náisiúnta na bhforbacha, Na Forbacha |
| Scoil Náisiúnta Choilm Chille, An Tulach |
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23/10/17€110,330 sanctioned for the GAA’s Comhairle Chonnacht for a football, hurling and handball training sheme to be delivered on behalf of the Department for the 2017/2018 school year.
Joe McHugh T.D., Government Chief Whip and Minister of State for the Irish Language, the Gaeltacht and the Islands, announced today that he has sanctioned a grant of up to €110,330 for the GAA’s Comhairle Chonnacht to enable them to run a Football, Hurling and Handball Training Course for the 2017/2018 school year in certain schools in the Conamara Gaeltacht and in Tuar Mhic Éadaigh.
The Minister of State said that he is pleased that his Department is in a position to provide Comhairle Chonnacht with this assistance to make language acquisition and enrichment opportunities available through sports programmes in certain primary and post-primary schools in the Connacht Gaeltacht. “As a result of the valuable work of Comhairle Chonnacht under this scheme over the past number of years, young people in the Gaeltacht have been given the opportunity to use and enrich their Irish in a fun sports environment,” the Minister said.
This funding is being provided under the 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030.
Note to editor
Instructors visit schools in the Conamara Gaeltacht, Árainn and Tuar Mhic Éadaigh teaching the pupils football, hurling and handball skills through Irish. The scheme is in operation in 36 primary schools and 10 post-primary schools.
ENDS
Schools under the Comhairle Chonnachta CLG administration – 2017/2018
| School Name | Reference No. of Language Planning Area |
| Primary Schools | |
| S.N. Thuar Mhic Éadaigh | 09 |
| S.N. Mhuire, An Tuairín, An Cheathrú Rua | 13 |
| S.N. Mhic Dara, An Cheathrú Rua | 13 |
| S.N. Seamus Naofa, Bearna | 18 |
| Gaelscoil Mhic Amhlaigh | 18 |
| S.N. Bhríde, Leitir Caladh | 12 |
| S.N. Cholm Cille, Leitir Móir | 12 |
| S.N. Rónáin, An Trá Bán | 12 |
| S.N. Tír an Fhia, Leitir Móir | 12 |
| S.N. Leitir Mealláin | 12 |
| S.N. Sailearna, Indreabhán | 16 |
| S.N. Cholm Cille, Ros an Mhíl | 13 |
| S.N. na bhForbacha | 16 |
| S.N. Cholmcille, An Tulach | 16 |
| S.N. Éinne, An Spidéal | 16 |
| S.N. an Aird Mhóir, Carna | 14 |
| S.N. Muire Gan Smál, Camus | 14 |
| S.N. Mhuire, Turloch Beag | 14 |
| S.N. na hAirde Thiar, Carna | 14 |
| S.N. Bhriocáin, Rosmuc | 14 |
| S.N. Naomh Ciarán, Cill Chiaráin | 14 |
| S.N. Cholmáin, Muigh Inis | 14 |
| S.N. Mhuire, Carna | 14 |
| S.N. Naomh Pádraig, An Chloch Bhreac | 15 |
| S.N. an Fhairche | 15 |
| S.N. Mhuire, Cor na Mona | 15 |
| S.N. Tír na Cille, An Mám | 15 |
| S.N. Bhaile Nua, Maigh Cuilinn | 17 |
| S.N. Inis Meáin, Árainn | 11 |
| S.N. Chaomháin, Inis Oírr | 11 |
| S.N. Rónáin, Inis Mór | 11 |
| S.N. Eoin Pól II, Inis Mór | 11 |
| S.N. Iosef, Rathún | 18 |
| S.N. Tuairíní, Maigh Cuilinn | 17 |
| Scoil Mhuire, Maigh Cuilinn | 17 |
| S.N. Thulach Uí Chadhain, Maigh Cuilinn | 17 |
| Iar-bhunscoil | |
| Coláiste Mhuire, Tuar Mhic Éadaigh | 09 |
| Scoil Chuimsitheach Chiaráin | 13 |
| Coláiste Chroí Mhuire, An Spidéal | 16 |
| Coláiste Cholmcille, Indreabhán | 16 |
| Coláiste Naomh Eoin, Inis Meáin | 11 |
| Gairmscoil na bPiarsach, Rosmuc | 14 |
| Scoil Phobail Mhic Dara, Carna | 14 |
| Coláiste Naomh Feichín, Corr na Móna | 15 |
| Coláiste Naomh Éinne, Árainn | 11 |
| Coláiste Ghobnait, Inis Oírr | 11 |
10/10/17
“Boost for arts, culture and creativity” – Minister Humphreys announces €300 million budget package for 2018
The Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Heather Humphreys TD, today (Tuesday) announced a funding package of over €300 million in 2018 towards the development of our cultural and creative heritage. The Minister has secured an increase in funding to her Department of €13 million, comprising €9 million in current expenditure and €4 million in capital expenditure. This includes an €8.5 million boost in funding for arts and culture to accelerate the Creative Ireland Programme, which is designed to mainstream creativity in the life of the nation. She has also secured an additional €90 million in capital funding between 2018 and 2021 to allow for multi-annual planning for the first time, to benefit our National Cultural Institutions in particular.
Key highlights of Budget 2018:
- An additional €3 million for the Arts Council, a 5% increase in its annual budget bringing it to €68 million (up 20% since 2014);
- An increase of €1.5 million for the Irish Film Board, a 9% increase in its annual budget bringing it to €18 million (up 29% since 2014);
- Department funding to Local Authorities for Creative Ireland initiatives doubled;
- €2m to the Creative Children initiative, including €1 million from the Department of Education and Skills;
- A 14% increase in funding for Culture Ireland (€3.5 million to €4 million);
- Boosts in funding for all of the National Cultural Institutions;
- Additional Capital Funding for a further round of the highly successful ‘Arts and Culture Capital Scheme’ in 2018;
- An extra €1 million for Waterways Ireland;
- A further €1.5 million for Heritage including measures to support biodiversity;
- An extra €2.5 million for the Irish language and the Gaeltacht;
- €90 million in capital funding between 2018 and 2021, an increase of almost 50% for that period.
Speaking today, Minister Humphreys said:
“It is an exciting moment for arts, culture and creativity in Ireland, from the opening of landmark exhibitions in our National Cultural Institutions to innovative community arts projects. Through Budget 2018, I am re-affirming my commitment to continued investment in the sector as the economy improves.
“The Creative Ireland Programme, which I launched last year, is already yielding positive results in both rural and urban communities, with more and more people engaging with creativity than ever before. I am determined to build on this momentum in 2018 by providing funding increases to key institutions, agencies and initiatives that deliver arts, creativity and culture right across the country.
“The additional funds will be used to further develop the Programme to increase citizen engagement with creativity in Ireland. I will also be working to build on our existing relationships with our various partners on the Programme.
“The Arts Council, which plays a crucial role in the direct funding and development of arts in Ireland, will receive an additional €3 million to enhance its support to artists and arts organisations of all sizes throughout the country. Although an autonomous body, the Council’s work builds on all pillars of the Creative Ireland Programme, and I look forward to continued successful collaboration with them in the year ahead.
“I am allocating a further €1.5 million to the Irish Film Board to build on its vital work in supporting Irish film, television drama, documentary and animation. Similarly, its work is key to the successful roll out of Pillar 4 of the Creative Ireland Programme, which is focussed on fostering Ireland’s potential as a centre of excellence in media production.
“Increasing access to arts, culture and creativity is the driving force of the Creative Ireland Programme, which is why I have allocated €1 million to accelerate the Creative Children initiative under Pillar 1 of the Programme. I am pleased to say that this will be matched by a further €1 million from my colleague Richard Bruton TD, Minister for Education and Skills, bringing the budget to €2 million for 2018. The programme will be delivered in partnership with the Arts Council.
“For the same reason, I will double my Department’s funding to local authorities in 2018 to support and build on the work of our local Creative Ireland Culture Teams, and have also secured additional capital funding to invest in regional arts and cultural centres. This will harness the energy of Pillar 2 of the Programme, ‘Enabling Creativity in Every Community’, which saw 750 events taking place across Ireland in 2017. It will also help to actively support cultural participation in rural communities, which is a key commitment in the Government’s Action Plan for Rural Development.
“Culture Ireland will receive an extra €500,000 next year, enabling an enhanced culture programme to be presented across Great Britain in 2018. This will build on the unique cultural relationship between the two countries and expand the reach of Irish culture to new audiences. It will also build on Pillar 5 of the Creative Ireland Programme, which hinges on extending our cultural footprint globally and highlighting our culture as a unique national strength.
“I will also continue to work with the Expert Advisory Committee and the All-Party Oireachtas Group on Commemorations to develop a respectful and appropriate programme of commemorations for 2018 and onwards.
“The Creative Ireland Programme is the implementation vehicle for a wider, all of Government policy on culture in Ireland, and also links to the heritage, Gaeltacht and Irish language sectors, where I have also increased funding for 2018.
“In addition to the 2018 funding envelope, I have secured additional capital funding of €90 million for culture, heritage and the Gaeltacht for the period between 2018 and 2021. This represents an increase of almost 50% in my Department’s capital budget over that period, and will, for the first time, allow for incremental planning on a multi-annual basis, to benefit our National Cultural Institutions and regional arts infrastructure, in particular.
“Our country is bursting with creativity. Today, I am demonstrating my continued commitment to bolstering and mainstreaming that creativity through the overarching framework of the Creative Ireland Programme, together with partners at national and local level.”
Minister of State for the Irish Language, the Gaeltacht and the Islands, Joe McHugh TD, said:
“Support of the Irish language and the sustainable development of our island communities will remain key priorities in 2018. Additional funding of €2.5 million will focus on the delivery of the 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030 to increase the use and knowledge of Irish as a vibrant community language.
“I have ensured the strengthening of the language planning process in 2018 through a significant funding increase of €1.4 million. Údarás na Gaeltachta, which provides crucial support for enterprise and community development in Gaeltacht communities, will also benefit from additional funds, along with Language Support Schemes outside the Gaeltacht.”
Funding for the National Cultural Institutions
Additional funding of €1.7 million has been secured for our National Cultural Institutions in 2018, with every Institution benefitting, in line with Pillar 3 of the Creative Ireland Programme, ‘Investing in our Creative and Cultural Infrastructure’. They will also be a priority in terms of the additional €90 million in capital funding between 2018 and 2021, with further details to be announced in due course. The Minister has indicated that she intends to make a further announcement in relation to the longer term, 10 year capital funding for the re-development of our National Cultural Institutions over the coming weeks.
Funding for Heritage
The Minister has allocated additional funding of €2.55 million for built and natural heritage, taking in €900,000 in current funding and almost €1.7 million in capital funding, including funding for Waterways Ireland. This means increased support for the Heritage Council; a supplementary €500,000 investment in heritage buildings across the country; and funding to support the national Biodiversity Action Plan and to target invasive species.
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05/10/17Minister Heather Humphreys launches Ireland’s 3rd National Biodiversity Action Plan, Actions for Biodiversity 2017 – 2021
- New Biodiversity Plan to strengthen Ireland’s endeavours to protect biodiversity nationally and globally
- 119 actions set out in framework of seven strategic objectives
- Minister to set up high-level group to monitor roll-out of Plan
Minister Heather Humphreys today (5 October 2017) launched Ireland’s 3rd National Biodiversity Action Plan, ‘Actions for Biodiversity 2017-2021’ in the National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin, Dublin. The Plan sets out actions through which a range of government, civil and private sectors will undertake to achieve Ireland’s ‘Vision for Biodiversity’, and follows on from the work of the first and second National Biodiversity Action Plans.
119 targeted actions are contained in the Plan, underpinned by seven strategic objectives. The objectives lay out a clear framework for Ireland’s national approach to biodiversity, ensuring that efforts and achievements of the past are built upon, while looking ahead to what can be achieved over the next five years and beyond.
They include:
- mainstreaming biodiversity across the decision making process in the State;
- strengthening the knowledge base underpinning work on biodiversity issues;
- increasing public awareness and participation;
- ensuring conservation of biodiversity in the wider countryside;
- ensuring conservation of biodiversity in the marine environment;
- expanding and improving on the management of protected areas and protected species;
- enhancing the contribution to international biodiversity issues.
Launching the Plan, the Minister said:
“We are lucky in Ireland to be surrounded by an abundance of nature. This natural heritage supports our livelihoods and enriches our lives on a daily basis. We also gain many fundamental benefits from a healthy biodiversity, with many of Ireland’s economic sectors depend on our natural capital.
“The new National Biodiversity Action Plan for 2017-2021 demonstrates Ireland’s continuing commitment to acting on its obligations to protect our biodiversity for the benefit of future generations.
“All sectors of society need to be engaged for the Plan to be a success. Local government and local community involvement, in particular, is crucial. I would like to see Local Authorities more involved in supporting the Plan through locally focussed biodiversity projects and will be considering options in this regard in the coming period.”
Turning to North-South co-operation, the Minister stressed that work should continue on an all-island basis, with programmes such as INTERREG, which is designed to promote greater levels of cross-border co-operation. The Minister said:
“Biodiversity knows no borders and we will continue to work with our colleagues in Northern Ireland towards the protection of our shared resource of wildlife.”
Minister Humphreys also highlighted the importance of Ireland’s role globally, and maintaining our commitments to a range of international organisations and conventions, at EU and UN level:
“Globally, biodiversity is declining and despite increased awareness and efforts to halt its loss, it remains threatened by human activities worldwide. The Plan includes indicators which facilitate reporting on Ireland’s progress towards national, European and global biodiversity targets. It is crucial that Ireland continues to make its voice heard for biodiversity on the global stage.”
Returning to efforts nationally to protect habitats and species in Ireland, Minister Humphreys stressed the importance of maintaining cohesion in the work being carried out by numerous agencies in the area of biodiversity. To assist this, she stated her intention to set up a high-level group to monitor the process of rolling out the Plan:
“Cohesion across government is central to the success of the Plan, and we are committed to working together, in cooperation with the many stakeholders across the heritage sector, to make the implementation of the Plan a success.
“I intend to convene a meeting with other Departments and State Agencies to set out my priorities for implementing the actions in the Plan.”
Minister Humphreys concluded by noting the contributions and continued efforts of the broad range of organisations involved in biodiversity conservation. This includes central Government Departments, State agencies, Local Authorities, the research community, national and local NGOs, local communities and individuals.
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*******The Plan is available on www.npws.ie/publications
Note for Editors:
Biodiversity is the term used to describe the full variety of life on earth including plants, animals and the ecosystems supporting them. Biodiversity is vital to human health and well-being and key ecosystem services provide us with products and services such as food, fresh water, clean air, raw materials, carbon storage and the genetic materials used in the development of many modern medicines.
The Plan reiterates Ireland’s Vision for Biodiversity: that in the future “biodiversity and ecosystems in Ireland are conserved and restored, delivering benefits essential for all sectors of society and that Ireland contributes to efforts to halt the loss of biodiversity and the degradation of ecosystems in the EU and globally”.
As a Party to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, Ireland has made a commitment to prepare Action Plans towards the achievement of the Convention’s targets: namely to secure the conservation of biological diversity; sustainable use of its components; and the equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilisation of genetic resources. Many of the targeted actions in the Plan also contribute towards Ireland’s obligations under EU environmental directives.
Government Departments and State agencies as well as the relevant sectors of society were invited to contribute to the drafting of this Plan. There was also a comprehensive public consultation process earlier this year.
The Plan’s seven main objectives are to:
- mainstream biodiversity across the decision making process in the State
- strengthen the knowledge base underpinning work on biodiversity issues
- increase public awareness and participation
- ensure conservation of biodiversity in the wider countryside
- ensure conservation of biodiversity in the marine environment
- expand and improve on the management of protected areas and protected species
- enhance the contribution to international biodiversity issues
Some of the key actions include:
- A number of legislative initiatives, including a National Parks Bill and the introduction of a requirement on public bodies to take consider biodiversity in policy and decision making
- Actions involving agriculture and forestry, which account for over 70% of total land use in the State
- Measures to tackle the issue of invasive alien species
- Engagement with local communities on biodiversity issues.
- a commitment on the integration of biodiversity concerns into Ireland’s Overseas Aid programme
Further information:
Biodiversity Policy and Awareness Unit
National Parks & Wildlife Service
Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
7 Ely Place
Dublin 2
IRELAND D02 TW08
Tel: +353 1 888 3248
Email: biodiversitypolicy@chg.gov.ie
www.npws.ie
Ráiteas Príomh-Aoire an Rialtais agus Aire Stáit don Ghaeilge, don Ghaeltacht agus do na hOileáin, Joe McHugh T.D. maidir le maoiniú do bhóithre
Is mian le Príomh-Aoire an Rialtais agus Aire Stáit don Ghaeilge, don Ghaeltacht agus do na hOileáin, Joe McHugh T.D. soiléiriú a thabhairt maidir le maoiniú do dheisiú bhóithre Gaeltachta ó chiste a Roinne.
De thoradh coigealtas a bhain le cláir chaipitil faoi leith de chuid na Roinne, fuarthas cead i mí Lúnasa an coigealtas sin a chur chun fónaimh le freastal a dhéanamh ar chláir chaipitil eile de chuid na Roinne. Sa chomhthéacs sin, cuireadh €1.5m breise in airgead caipitil ar fáil d’Údarás na Gaeltachta chun tacú leis an eagraíocht fostaíocht a chruthú do phobal na Gaeltachta agus cuireadh €0.5m breise ar fáil do chlár caipitil Gaeltachta na Roinne chun tacú le háiseanna pobail agus teanga a fhorbairt sna ceantair Ghaeltachta. Níor cuireadh aon airgead ar fáil do scéim bhóithre.
Tagann sé seo le cuspóirí na Roinne maidir le forfheidhmiú na Straitéise 20-Bliain don Ghaeilge mar a bhaineann sé leis an nGaeltacht.
Cé go n-aithnítear an gá le tuilleadh forbartha a dhéanamh ar bhóithre sa Ghaeltacht, aithnítear, ach an oiread leis an gcuid eile den tír, gur cúram é seo do na húdaráis áitiúla. Chuige sin, tuigtear don Roinn go bhfuil scéim nua bhóithre fógartha ag an Aire Gnóthaí Pobail agus Tuaithe lé déanaí.
CRÍOCH
29/09/17Minister of State McHugh turns the first sod today at new community centre in An Fál Carrach, Co. Donegal
Government Chief Whip and Minister of State for the Irish Language, the Gaeltacht and the Islands, Joe McHugh TD, turned the first sod today at the site of a new community centre in An Fál Carrach, Co. Donegal. Minister of State McHugh announced in August that he had sanctioned a grant of up to €466,000 for Coiste Forbartha an Fháil Charraigh, to help them build a new community centre.
Speaking at the event, the Minister of State said:
“I am delighted to turn the first sod for this centre, which will add significantly to the amenities in the area and will be an important support for local development, particularly in the context of the implementation of the language planning process.
“I understand that the local committee has been dealing with the development of this centre for some time, and I would like to acknowledge the great work they have done over the years. As Minister of State for the Irish Language and the Gaeltacht, I want to support the Gaeltacht community in preserving and promoting the language. In developing community facilities such as this in An Fál Carrach, we are supporting these efforts in a very practical way.”
This grant is being sanctioned under the action area: The Gaeltacht as part of the 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030.
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28/09/17€6,000 grant sanctioned by Minister of State McHugh for Scoil Naomh Eoin Baiste, Lios Póil, Co. Kerry
Joe McHugh T.D., Government Chief Whip and Minister of State for the Irish Language, the Gaeltacht and the Islands, announced today that he has sanctioned a grant of up to €6,000 for Scoil Naomh Eoin Baiste, Lios Póil, Co. Kerry to help them resurface the basketball court beside the school. The court will also be used by other local organisations such as Irish colleges.
Announcing the grant, the Minister of State said “I am pleased to assist with this practical proposal which will benefit both the school and the local community.”
This grant is being sanctioned under the action area: The Gaeltacht as part of the 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030.
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