A Donegal County Councillor has blasted funding supports offered to Gaeltacht families this summer.
With summer schools cancelled, host families who normally provide accommodation are being offered half of the payment they would have earned in years when colleges are open.
This year, Mná Tí will receive government payments of €5 daily for every student they would have hosted this year. This is 50% of the €10 daily payment normally paid by the Department under the Irish Language Learners Scheme (ILLS). The scheme runs alongside payments received by summer colleges, which average at €14 per child.
Yesterday’s funding announcement has left families furious, said Cllr Michael Cholm Mac Giolla Easbuig.
“The Minister has insulted them with pennies again this year. It’s a total and utter snub and shows a lack of understanding or appreciation of Mná Tí and who they are in the Gaeltachta.”
Graffiti in Gweedore today relating to the Mna Tí funding
Cllr Mac Giolla Easbuig said a vast number of Gaeltacht businesses depend on summer colleges for survival and the anger is being felt across the state.
“This isn’t just about finance, it’s not just about Mná Tí, it’s about our Gaeltachts.
“There are around 700 Mná Tí and that does not include the labour they may have to employ. For what they earn, they have to provide a bed for each child, breakfast, lunch, dinner and supper. They also have to wash the children’s clothes provide hot showers for them and many many other facilities. Their working day starts about 6.30am and usually finishs around 1pm every day. It’s a tradition and a passion.”
Cllr Mac Giolla Easbuig has sharply criticised Roinn na Gaeltachta over the matter.
“They are the very officials who sit in rooms and make these proposals that are rubber stamped. What I believe we need to do in the interest of saving the Gaeltacht community is to rid Roinn na Gaeltachta from the authority they have.
“They have shown how ignorant they are towards communities,” he said.
A committee of women came together in recent weeks to form Mná Tí Thír Conaill. They sought to meet with Minister of State for the Gaeltacht and Sport Jack Chambers T.D. last month while he was in Donegal to share their hopes and aspirations. Cllr Mac Giolla Easbuig said they received another snub when the Minister of State did not meet with them.
The only solution that would be acceptable, he said, is full funding for income lost to the closure of summer colleges.
“Mná Tí never qualified for the Covid payment and now they are down on their main income. The government have been tripping over themselves to support wealthy companies and give them tax breaks and other support, but yet when it comes to ordinary working class people, the government has shown total disrespect.
“This could spark a movement of civil rights for the Gaeltacht community,” he said.
