Acadamh in Gaoth Dobhair is set to receive a funding boost as part of a €2.7million Government grant.
The Irish language centre is a third level educational and research institution which is part of NUI Galway.
Minister for Education and Skills Joe McHugh has today announced that the school will receive €900,000 a year for the next three academic years.
Mr McHugh was on a visit to Scoil Naomh Fiachra in Letterkenny when the announcement was made.
He said: “An tAcadamh plays a hugely important role in promoting the language with Irish classes for all levels and all ages as well as developing and providing higher education through Irish.
“Its work spans the Gaeltacht regions in An Cheathrú Rua and Carna in Connemara and Gaoth Dobhair in Donegal and every year its centres of learning take in about 2,500 people.
“It’s a huge benefit to students, people training to become primary and secondary teachers, students studying for the Diploma sa Ghaeilge as well as international students.”
NUI Galway’s Irish Language Academy An tAcadamh, which has a centre in Gaoth Dobhair which has nine employees, has been allocated €900,000 a year for three academic years, commencing with the 2018/19 academic year.
The funding has been sanctioned by the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.
Minster McHugh added: “While the main operation of An tAcadamh might be in the NUIG main campus in Galway city, it has a massive reach in bringing people to the Donegal Gaeltacht and helping to support and spread the language.
“The research that comes out of An tAcadamh is also highly regarded both in terms of promoting and preserving the Irish language, in particular in Gaeltacht communities, and in supporting language planning.”
“Beidh an maoiniú seo inniu ina cuidiú mhór don Acadamh agus iad ag obair go dian ar son an teanga.
“Tá ról ríthábhachtach ag an Acadamh ó thaobh dul chun cinn na Gaeilge de agus tá súil agam go mbeidh an deontas seo cuidiúil daoibh agus iad ag tabhairt faoina gcuid obair thábhachtach.”
The €2.7million funding and support for NUIG’s An tAcadamh is part of the commitments made by the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht under the Action Plan for the Irish language 2018-2022.
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