Minister of State Thomas Byrne TD has announced an investment of over €1.5m for Irish language publishing and dictionary projects.

An additional investment of over €1.5 million for Irish language publishing and dictionary projects has been approved by the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin TD, and the Minister of State for Sport, Physical Education and the Gaeltacht, Thomas Byrne TD.

The funding was announced on Tuesday, November 5 by Minister of State Byrne during a visit to Foras na Gaeilge’s book distribution agency, ÁIS, in Dunshaughlin, Co. Meath.

This funding from the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sports and Media will support schemes for publishers and writers through the Irish language books programme, Clár na Leabhar Gaeilge, along with marketing and research in those areas.

It will also enable Foras na Gaeilge to make vital investment in technological infrastructure and other aspects of the new Irish language dictionary projects currently being developed.

€900,000 extra is to be invested in Irish language publishing and writing through Clár na Leabhar Gaeilge and ÁIS, while €629,000 is to be invested in Foras na Gaeilge dictionary projects in 2024 agus 2025.

Minister Martin said: “Writing is an art and this additional investment will support those artists and their publishers through Clár na Leabhar Gaeilge. It is recognition of the challenges faced by the sector in recent years while also supports securing the future of the industry.”

Speaking during his visit to Foras na Gaeilge in Dunshaughlin today, Minister of State Byrne said: "I am very happy to have the opportunity during my visit today to Foras na Gaeilge’s facility in Dunshaughlin to provide this funding to Foras na Gaeilge to support these important projects, which benefit the public and the language.”

"This additional investment will provide further support to the Irish publishing and writing sector and will ensure that vital investment is made in technology, marketing and research which will assist the sector and the Irish-speaking community as a whole.”