Letterkenny is to receive €20,000 in funding for Irish Language Networks and Gaeltacht service towns.
The announcement was welcomed by Fine Gael Minister of State Joe McHugh TD.
He said “I welcome the announcement from the Minister of State for Gaeltacht Affairs and Natural Resources, Seán Kyne T.D. that he has approved funding of €85,000 for Foras na Gaeilge to commence the language process for the recognition of Irish Language Networks and Gaeltacht Service Towns under the Gaeltacht Act 2012, including up to €20,000 being made available for Letterkenny.”
This funding of €85,000 will support five community groups in language planning at local level to prepare local language plans with the objective of achieving the status of ‘Irish Language Network’.
This includes two grants of up to €20,000 to be made in respect of successful applications from Letterkenny and Galway City, in order to help them achieve the status of ‘Gaeltacht Service Town’.
Minister McHugh added “I had the pleasure of announcing Letterkenny among the list of towns to be recognised as Gaeltacht Service Towns while serving as Minster for the Gaeltacht. This was a massive step forward in the language planning process as it relates to language communities outside the Gaeltacht being given statutory recognition as Gaeltacht Service Towns, and is an important step in achieving the objectives of the 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language.
“I wish to commend all of the stakeholders on their work to date and I hope they will continue working together in these towns to prepare and implement a language plan.”
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