Hargey redirects Liofa funding into local summer youth programmes
Date published:
Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey has redirected over £30,000 of Líofa bursary funding into several local Irish language organisations to help increase capacity in summer schools and summer schemes.
Speaking after a visit to Irish language organisation An Droichead in south Belfast Minister Hargey said:
“The current public health restrictions arising from the Covid-19 pandemic have led to the cancellation of language courses in the Gaeltacht and the bursary for a second successive year. This has increased demand on an already over-subscribed programme of Irish language summer events.
“I am therefore delighted to be able to have been able to redirect this bursary funding to these local Irish language community organisations, such as An Droichead, which will help increase capacity in the summer schools and schemes. The broad programme of events through July and August will provide opportunities for language acquisition and enrichment opportunities for both adults and children in many locations across the north.”
The Minister concluded:
“I am hopeful that the Gaeltacht courses will return in 2022 and we have written to all successful applicants to the bursary scheme this year to inform that their offer of a scholarship will remain valid for next year.”
Tá maoiniú Líofa curtha ag Hargey i dtreo chláir áitiúla samhraidh don óige
Tá breis agus £30,000 de mhaoiniú sparánachta Líofa curtha ag an Aire Pobal Deirdre Hargey i dtreo roinnt eagraíochtaí áitiúla Gaeilge le cuidiú le toilleadh a mhéadú ag scoileanna samhraidh agus ag scéimeanna samhraidh.
I ndiaidh di cuairt a thabhairt ar an eagraíocht Ghaeilge An Droichead i nDeisceart Bhéal Feirtse, dúirt an tAire Hargey:
“Cuireadh cúrsaí teanga sa Ghaeltacht agus an sparánacht ar ceal den dara bliain i ndiaidh a chéile mar gheall ar na srianta poiblí reatha a tháinig ón phaindéim COVID-19. Mhéadaigh sé seo an t-éileamh ar chlár na n-imeachtaí samhraidh Gaeilge a bhfuil ró-eileamh air cheana féin.
“Tá lúchair orm, mar sin, a bheith ábalta an maoiniú sparánachta seo a chur i dtreo na n-eagraíochtaí áitiúla poiblí Gaeilge seo, ar nós An Droichead, a chuideoidh le toilleadh a mhéadú ag scoileanna agus scéimeanna samhraidh. Cuirifdh an clár fairsing imeachtaí le linn mhí Iúil agus mhí Lúnasa deiseanna do shealbhú teanga ar fáil agus deiseanna feabhsaithe do dhaoine fásta agus do pháistí araon i gcuid mhór áiteanna ar fud an Tuaiscirt.”
Dúirt an tAire mar fhocal scoir:
“Tá mé dóchasach go dtiocfaidh na cúrsaí Gaeltachta ar ais in 2022 agus scríobh muid chuig na hiarrthóirí uilig ar éirigh leo sa scéim sparánachta i mbliana le cur in iúl dóibh go mbeidh a dtairiscint ar scoláireacht go fóill bailí an bhliain seo chugainn.”
Notes to editors:
- Caption: - Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey is pictured (l-r) with Cllr John Gormley and An Droichead CEO Pól Deeds during a visit to An Droichead in south Belfast.
- The Líofa Gaeltacht Bursary Scheme was launched by the Department in 2011. The main purpose of the bursary is to provide around 100 mainly young people on low incomes with the opportunity to attend full board intensive Irish language courses that are held in the Donegal Gaeltacht each summer.
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- The Executive Information Service operates an out of hours service for media enquiries only between 1800hrs and 0800hrs Monday to Friday and at weekends and public holidays. The Duty Press Officer can be contacted on 028 9037 8110.
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Nótaí don Eagarthóir:
1. Photo 1 - Tá an tAire Pobal Deirdre Hargey leis an Chomhairleoir John Gormley agus Príomhfheidhmeannach An Droichead Pól Deeds sa phictiúr le linn cuairte ar An Droichead i nDeisceart Bhéal Feirste.
2. Sheol an Roinn Scéim Sparánachta Gaeltachta Líofa in 2011. Príomhchuspóir na sparánachta ná deis a chur ar fáil do thart faoi 100 duine óg ar ioncam íseal den chuid is mó freastal ar dhianchúrsaí Gaeilge lánlóistín i nGaeltacht Dhún na nGall gach samhradh.
3. Fiosrúchain ó na meáin a bhaineann leis an RP chuig DfC Press Office:
4. Tá seirbhís taobh amuigh de ghnáthuaireanta i bhfeidhm ag Seirbhís Eolais an Fheidhmeannais d’fhiosrúcháin ó na meáin amháin idir 18:00 agus 08:00 Luan go hAoine, ag an deireadh seachtaine, agus ar laethanta saoire poiblí. Is féidir teagmháil a dhéanamh leis an Phreasoifigeach Dualgais ar 028 9037 8110.
5. Lean an Roinn ar Twitter @CommunitiesNI