€240,000 Stabilisation Fund for Gaeltacht community halls announced by Minister of State Chambers

Government Chief Whip and Minister of State for the Gaeltacht and Sport Jack Chambers T.D. announced today (Wednesday 28 July) that a stabilisation fund worth c. €240,000 established by his Department to assist the relevant Gaeltacht community halls which have suffered as a result of the cancellation of Irish language colleges due to COVID-19 for the second year.

Under the established fund, financial assistance of up to €7,000 will be provided to Gaeltacht community halls which provide class, entertainment and sports accommodation for the Irish language colleges normally. The fund will provide assistance of €750 per week to community halls, run by eligible committees in respect of all summer courses, in which college events would normally be held if it wasn't for COVID-19.

This arrangement would be subject to a maximum payment of €7,000 in respect of each relevant hall, which would cover the cost of insurance, maintenance and fire certificates.

This will mean that a grant of up to €6,750 will be provided for a hall where there would normally be three separate Irish language courses. It is estimated that c. 42 halls / community centres are used by the Irish language college system each summer. The table below sets out the number of centres by county / college that are considered eligible under the measure.

The establishment of this funding follows on from the specific €2.2m fund recently announced to support Gaeltacht families who provide accommodation for Gaeltacht college students and to address the impact of COVID-19 on the summer college sector.

The fund was announced on the Minister of State's two day tour of the Tuar Mhic Éadaigh, Dúiche Sheoigheach and Cois Fharraige Gaeltacht areas.

The visit begins in the afternoon in Tuar Mhic Éadaigh, where he will meet with Coiste Pobail Thuar Mhic Éadaigh to get an insight into the work going on in the area. He will get a taste of the work being done on the Joyce Country and Western Lakes Geopark Project which is being developed in the area.

He will then visit Comharchumann Forbartha Dhúiche Sheoigheach in Corr na Móna, where he will meet the staff of the Comharchumann and the Language Planning Officer for the area. Later that day, he will have a meeting in Na Forbacha with representatives of Coláiste Lurgan in the company of senior executives of the Department and Údarás na Gaeltachta as well as a special meeting with the umbrella group of Irish language colleges: CONCOS.

Minister of State Chambers said: “It gives me great pleasure as Minister of State that I was able to make this special fund available for the benefit of Gaeltacht community halls which are suffering because the Irish Colleges have not been able to proceed for the second year in a row. As part of a consultation process organised by my Department at the beginning of the summer, the main stakeholders in the Irish language college system, including representatives of the directors of Gaeltacht community halls, were given the opportunity to give their views and suggestions about what should be done to help them as a result of COVID-19. These suggestions and comments have been taken into account as the basis of the fund that I have announced today. This is another step in helping the Irish language college sector which is suffering, for the second year in a row, as a result of COVID-19. Last year we relied on the colleges on a voluntary basis, to come to the aid of the halls they use. As a result of this measure there will be no need for them to do so. With the announcement of this fund and the previous specific fund aimed at the system's accomodation providers, the Department is gradually assisting the sector.

Note for the Editor

COVID-19 Stabilisation Fund - Gaeltacht Community Halls

The following table provides an overview of the geographical distribution of community halls that may be identified under the fund upon application for the Department’s assistance.

The directors of the relevant halls covered by the fund can request an information leaflet and application form for assistance under the fund by contacting: colaistigaeilge@tcagsm.gov.ie / 085 8813789