7 October 2025

Foras na Gaeilge CEO Seán Ó Coinn welcomed today's announcement of the allocation of €2 million, which will be made available in 2026 to address Foras na Gaeilge's funding difficulties. 

Welcoming the announcement in today's Budget Estimates, he said that "the significant increase in funding for the Irish language and the Gaeltacht in the budget estimates demonstrates Minister Calleary's commitment, and the importance of a senior minister with responsibility for the Irish language and the Gaeltacht at the Government table". 

As announced by the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Development, the Department will provide €2 million to address the historic funding difficulties faced by Foras na Gaeilge dating back to 2008. 

Welcoming the good news, the Chief Executive of the North-South body, Seán Ó Coinn, thanked the Minister and the Department's officials for their efforts to ensure that there would be no cuts to Foras na Gaeilge's grantees in 2026, and confirmed that he now hoped that there would be an opportunity to address the renewal of a number of funding schemes that had been suspended for a number of years.  

Ó Coinn also said "The 23% increase in the budget for the Gaeltacht and the Irish language in 2026 is positive news". 

Foras na Gaeilge will be looking forward to working with Department officials in the coming months to find the most effective ways of making use of the additional funding. 

Ends

Questions: 

Anna Davitt, Programme Manager: Communications, Marketing & Awareness, Foras na Gaeilge 

Tel : 00 353 87 293 7686 Email: adavitt@forasnagaeilge.ie