Latest news with #ForasnaGaeilge
The Independent
27-02-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Irish language group workers strike over funding cuts
Irish language group workers took part in strike action across Ireland on Wednesday over a funding crisis. The action involved more than 40 groups on both sides of the border. including in Londonderry, Dublin, Galway and Donegal. Some of them claim they are having to choose between paying bills or providing services. A number of people also gathered outside Culturlann McAdam O Fiaich in west Belfast. The strike action comes after the cross-border Irish language body Foras na Gaeilge announced funding cuts of 820,000 euro (£679,608). The cuts will directly impact Irish language groups across Ireland, and are expected to result in many community schemes having to be cut in the coming months. Padraig O Tiarnaigh, from Conradh na Gaeilge, said Foras na Gaeilge has suffered a real-time funding cut of 45% over the last 20 years. He said the latest cuts will leave groups unable to offer classes or services. 'We're all at breaking point,' he told the PA news agency. 'Some of these groups have told us that they're now having to choose between whether to pay for their heating or their broadband, cancel their youth clubs or close their premises altogether. 'It is now an existential crisis for groups that have done a huge amount of work to develop the Irish language and offer vital community services.' However, he also said there is funding available from the Irish Government if the Stormont Executive agreed to a new framework. He said Foras na Gaeilge, the north-south body tasked with promoting the Irish language, depends on a match-funding mechanism that must be agreed by both Stormont and the Irish Parliament. 'We believe there is a solution on the table. We know there is extra money available in the south, but that money cannot get through to Foras na Gaeilge due to the funding mechanism that requires match-funding from the northern Executive,' he said. 'Over recent months, both finance ministers agreed a new framework to reform that funding relationship which would allow either Government to provide Foras with additional funding without the need for the equivalent match-funding from the other government. 'There is a big question now for the Executive, particularly the DUP, who have blocked, over the last four or five months, a proposal to amend the north/south funding mechanism. 'They don't seem willing to budge on that, and that is putting the groups here under a lot of pressure through the funding cuts from Foras na Gaeilge.' West Belfast People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll joined the strike action. 'I support the sector, and my kids avail of Irish language education services and will probably be impacted directly by these cuts,' he said. Mr Carroll also said the current funding model for Irish does not work, and described the sector generally as underfunded. 'A lot of that is the fault of the Stormont Executive, there is lip service towards supporting the Irish language sector but when it comes to the funding of organisation, of Irish medium education, it is not enough,' he said.
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Irish language group workers strike over funding cuts
Irish language group workers took part in strike action across Ireland on Wednesday over a funding crisis. The action involved more than 40 groups on both sides of the border. including in Londonderry, Dublin, Galway and Donegal. Some of them claim they are having to choose between paying bills or providing services. A number of people also gathered outside Culturlann McAdam O Fiaich in west Belfast. The strike action comes after the cross-border Irish language body Foras na Gaeilge announced funding cuts of 820,000 euro (£679,608). The cuts will directly impact Irish language groups across Ireland, and are expected to result in many community schemes having to be cut in the coming months. Padraig O Tiarnaigh, from Conradh na Gaeilge, said Foras na Gaeilge has suffered a real-time funding cut of 45% over the last 20 years. He said the latest cuts will leave groups unable to offer classes or services. 'We're all at breaking point,' he told the PA news agency. 'Some of these groups have told us that they're now having to choose between whether to pay for their heating or their broadband, cancel their youth clubs or close their premises altogether. 'It is now an existential crisis for groups that have done a huge amount of work to develop the Irish language and offer vital community services.' However, he also said there is funding available from the Irish Government if the Stormont Executive agreed to a new framework. He said Foras na Gaeilge, the north-south body tasked with promoting the Irish language, depends on a match-funding mechanism that must be agreed by both Stormont and the Irish Parliament. 'We believe there is a solution on the table. We know there is extra money available in the south, but that money cannot get through to Foras na Gaeilge due to the funding mechanism that requires match-funding from the northern Executive,' he said. 'Over recent months, both finance ministers agreed a new framework to reform that funding relationship which would allow either Government to provide Foras with additional funding without the need for the equivalent match-funding from the other government. 'There is a big question now for the Executive, particularly the DUP, who have blocked, over the last four or five months, a proposal to amend the north/south funding mechanism. 'They don't seem willing to budge on that, and that is putting the groups here under a lot of pressure through the funding cuts from Foras na Gaeilge.' West Belfast People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll joined the strike action. 'I support the sector, and my kids avail of Irish language education services and will probably be impacted directly by these cuts,' he said. Mr Carroll also said the current funding model for Irish does not work, and described the sector generally as underfunded. 'A lot of that is the fault of the Stormont Executive, there is lip service towards supporting the Irish language sector but when it comes to the funding of organisation, of Irish medium education, it is not enough,' he said.
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
First Irish language 'strike' over cross-border cuts
An Irish language "strike" is taking place for the first time in protest at cuts to cross-border language funding. More than 40 language organisations in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland will take part in the action on Wednesday. Organisations in areas like Belfast, Londonderry, Dublin, Galway and Donegal will be among those to close their doors on Wednesday morning. The half-day strike has been prompted by cuts by the all-Ireland Irish language agency Foras na Gaeilge. Founded in 1999 as a result of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, Foras na Gaeilge is a cross-border body responsible for the promotion of the Irish language throughout the island of Ireland. Around a quarter of its funding is from the Stormont Executive and around three-quarters is from the government in the Republic of Ireland. Foras na Gaeilge has said it has to make savings of more than €800,000 (£669,000) in 2025 and that will mean funding cuts to some groups operating in Northern Ireland. The cuts subsequently led to a dispute between the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and Sinn Féin over funding for North-South bodies. Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly, of the DUP, denied blocking the then-Finance Minister Caoimhe Archibald's plans to change the funding arrangements. But Sinn Féin accused the DUP of "holding up" new funding proposals for cross-border bodies. The strike on Wednesday morning will mean that venues and organisations like the Cultúrlann McAdaim Ó Fiaich and Glór na Móna in Belfast and Cultúrlann Uí Chanáin in Derry will close from 09:30 GMT to 13:00. The Advocacy Manager of Conradh na Gaeilge, Conchúr Ó Muadaigh, said that it was the first time that the Irish language and Gaeltacht community had taken strike action. "This is an action of last resort," he told BBC News NI. "We feel like we're not being listened to." Mr Ó Muadaigh said they are "encouraging and shaming" both the Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland government's to ensure there is action to address the funding issue "as a matter of urgency". "These groups met over two weeks ago in Dublin at an emergency meeting," he added. "As a result of that they have called a half-day action to encourage both governments to reverse these cuts and to make sure that we have a long-term solution to the sustainable crisis that we have." Mr Ó Muadaigh claimed that agreement on a new funding mechanism for North-South bodies was being "blocked" by the DUP. "Groups are now calling on both governments to find a practical solution to reverse those cuts but indeed look at a long-term solution to the funding crisis that exists within the North-South bodies, in particular Foras na Gaeilge," he said. In a statement, President of Conradh na Gaeilge, Ciarán Mac Giolla Bhéin, said the strike was "a matter of regret." "It is clear that we have a huge problem and that the new cross-border agency, which is responsible for the proper funding of the promotion of the Irish language, has been completely failed by both governments in the last 20 years," he said. He described the latest cuts as "disastrous" and will affect groups who are already under severe funding pressure. "Today's strike is a testament to the frustration and anger, not just at the latest curtailment, but the long-term disinvestment in Irish language funding," he added. The organisations on strike are collectively calling for a new funding model for Foras na Gaeilge and for the organisation to reverse the cuts if it receives additional funding from the governments. Irish language cuts 'a total failure from both governments' DUP-Sinn Féin in dispute over cross-border funding Irish language to be used in NI courts with repeal of 18th Century law
BBC News
26-02-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
First Irish language 'strike' over cross-border funding cuts
An Irish language "strike" is taking place for the first time in protest at cuts to cross-border language than 40 language organisations in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland will take part in the action on in areas like Belfast, Londonderry, Dublin, Galway and Donegal will be among those to close their doors on Wednesday half-day strike has been prompted by cuts by the all-Ireland Irish language agency Foras na Gaeilge. Founded in 1999 as a result of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, Foras na Gaeilge is a cross-border body responsible for the promotion of the Irish language throughout the island of a quarter of its funding is from the Stormont Executive and around three-quarters is from the government in the Republic of na Gaeilge has said it has to make savings of more than €800,000 (£669,000) in 2025 and that will mean funding cuts to some groups operating in Northern cuts subsequently led to a dispute between the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and Sinn Féin over funding for North-South First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly, of the DUP, denied blocking the then-Finance Minister Caoimhe Archibald's plans to change the funding Sinn Féin accused the DUP of "holding up" new funding proposals for cross-border bodies. Strike 'last resort' The strike on Wednesday morning will mean that venues and organisations like the Cultúrlann McAdaim Ó Fiaich and Glór na Móna in Belfast and Cultúrlann Uí Chanáin in Derry will close from 09:30 GMT to 13: Advocacy Manager of Conradh na Gaeilge, Conchúr Ó Muadaigh, said that it was the first time that the Irish language and Gaeltacht community had taken strike action."This is an action of last resort," he told BBC News NI."We feel like we're not being listened to."Mr Ó Muadaigh said they are "encouraging and shaming" both the Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland government's to ensure there is action to address the funding issue "as a matter of urgency"."These groups met over two weeks ago in Dublin at an emergency meeting," he added."As a result of that they have called a half-day action to encourage both governments to reverse these cuts and to make sure that we have a long-term solution to the sustainable crisis that we have." Mr Ó Muadaigh claimed that agreement on a new funding mechanism for North-South bodies was being "blocked" by the DUP."Groups are now calling on both governments to find a practical solution to reverse those cuts but indeed look at a long-term solution to the funding crisis that exists within the North-South bodies, in particular Foras na Gaeilge," he a statement, President of Conradh na Gaeilge, Ciarán Mac Giolla Bhéin, said the strike was "a matter of regret.""It is clear that we have a huge problem and that the new cross-border agency, which is responsible for the proper funding of the promotion of the Irish language, has been completely failed by both governments in the last 20 years," he described the latest cuts as "disastrous" and will affect groups who are already under severe funding pressure."Today's strike is a testament to the frustration and anger, not just at the latest curtailment, but the long-term disinvestment in Irish language funding," he organisations on strike are collectively calling for a new funding model for Foras na Gaeilge and for the organisation to reverse the cuts if it receives additional funding from the governments.
