The Irish government is allocating €1.7 million ($1.88 million) to organizations helping to implement Irish Language plans in 2019.
2018 was the official Year of the Irish Language (Bliain na Gaeilge), and 2019 is shaping up to be a good year too with some major funding announcements.
This most recent allocation comes in addition to €1.9 million ($2.1 million) in funding announced earlier this year.
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“This is a practical and influential measure that I expect will have a significant and positive impact on the health of the Irish language,” Sean Kyne, Ireland's Minister of State for Irish, the Gaeltacht, and the Islands, told Galway Daily.
Kyne and his office are responsible for the promotion of the Irish language, the implementation of Ireland's Twenty-Year Strategy on the Irish Language, and on ways to increase the use and visibility of Ireland's first official language across the country.
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Thus far, 15 Gaeltacht (primarily Irish speaking) regions have been approved, 12 have been officers appointed, and eight service towns are engaged in preparing language plans in connection with three Irish Language Networks.
Ireland's Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht is also providing €1.4 million ($1.55 million) to Údarás na Gaeltachta, Ireland's Gaeltacht authority, and €323,750 (357,600) to Foras na Gaeilge, the public body responsible for promoting the Irish language, for this year.
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Upcoming initiatives still awaiting funding allocation include implementing language plans within traditional arts, the household, and early learning in Ireland's Gaeltacht communities.
* This August, we're celebrating Gaeilge (the Irish language) and Irish music with a series highlighting those around the world speaking and learning Irish, and playing Irish music.
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