Press Release: Minister Calleary announces funding of €2m towards the teaching of Irish in universities in Europe
Eisiúint Meáin
01 Iúil 2025
Fógraíonn an tAire Calleary maoiniú €2m le haghaidh theagasc na Gaeilge in ollscoileanna san Eoraip
Fuair os cionn 20 ollscoil maoiniú sa tréimhse 2022-23 go 2024-25.
Tá 23 iarratas faighte ag an Roinn don tréimhse acadúil 2025-26 go 2027-28.
Maoiniú €1.979m ceadaithe ag an Aire Calleary don bhabhta seo den scéim – méadú 20% ón tréimhse dheireanach.
Tá áthas ar an Aire Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail agus Gaeltachta, Dara Calleary TD, a fhógairt go bhfuil suas le €681,146 in aghaidh na bliana acadúla (€1.979m san iomlán) á cheadú aige don tréimhse 2025-26 go 2027-28 le haghaidh theagasc na Gaeilge in ollscoileanna ar Mhór-roinn na hEorpa agus sa Ríocht Aontaithe faoi scéim an Chiste Tríú Leibhéal Thar Lear, 2025-2028.
Cuirtear maoiniú ar fáil faoin scéim seo do theagasc na Gaeilge in ollscoileanna san Eoraip lasmuigh den Stát. Is iad aidhmeanna an chiste dea-thoil i leith na Gaeilge a chothú agus a chur chun cinn taobh amuigh den Stát agus ardán a chur ar fáil ionas gur féidir teacht ar an nGaeilge agus í a chur chun tosaigh mar theanga idirnáisiúnta. Tá an ciste oscailte d’iarratais ó institiúidí tríú leibhéal thar lear ar mian leo cúrsaí Gaeilge a sholáthar mar chuid dá gclár acadúil.
Agus an maoiniú á fhógairt aige inniu, dúirt an tAire Dara Calleary:
‘‘Tá mé thar a bheith bródúil go bhfuil mo Roinn in ann maoiniú trí bliana a fhógairt inniu do theagasc na Gaeilge in ollscoileanna san Eoraip faoin gCiste Tríú Leibhéal Thar Lear, 2025-28. Sna trí bliana acadúla amach romhainn, leanfaidh an scéim seo ar aghaidh ag ceiliúradh agus ag spreagadh úsáid na Gaeilge in ollscoileanna sa Ríocht Aontaithe agus ar Mhór-roinn na hEorpa. Is dea-scéala é go bhfuil 23 iarratas faighte ag mo Roinn cheana féin i dtaca leis an scéim seo agus táim ag súil go gcuirfidh tuilleadh ollscoileanna fós isteach ar an scéim amach anseo.”
Fuair os cionn 20 ollscoil maoiniú sa tréimhse 2022-23 go 2024-25 agus ollscoileanna in Albain, an Bhreatain Bheag, an Fhrainc, an Ghearmáin, an Ostair, an Pholainn, Sasana, an tSeic, an tSlóvaic, agus an tSualainn páirteach sa scéim. Tá an tréimhse sin ag teacht chun críche i mbliana agus tá 23 iarratas faighte ag an Roinn arís don chéad tréimhse eile, ó 2025-26 go 2027-28.
Clúdóidh na deontais atá á gcur ar fáil do na hollscoileanna costais tuarastal agus riaracháin na gcúrsaí chomh maith le 80% den chostas a bhíonn ar na mic léinn chun freastal ar chúrsaí Gaeltachta sa samhradh.
Seasann gach ollscoil/mac léinn fuílleach an chostais sin.
Press Release
01 July 2025
Minister Calleary announces funding of €2m towards the teaching of Irish in universities in Europe
More than 20 universities received funding in the period 2022-23 to 2024-25.
The Department has received 23 applications for the academic period 2025-26 to 2027-28.
€1.979m funding approved by Minister Calleary for this round of the scheme – a 20% increase from the previous round.
The Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary TD, is pleased to announce that he is approving up to €681,146 per academic year (€1.979m in total) for the period 2025-26 to 2027-28 for the teaching of Irish in universities in Continental Europe and the United Kingdom under An Ciste Tríú Leibhéal Thar Lear, 2025-2028.
Funding is provided under this scheme for the teaching of Irish in universities in Europe outside the State. The aims of the fund are to foster and promote goodwill towards the Irish language outside the State and to provide a platform for the accessibility and promotion of the Irish language as an international language. The fund is open to applications from overseas third level institutions wishing to provide Irish language courses as part of their academic programme.
Announcing the funding today, Minister Dara Calleary said:
‘‘I am very proud that my Department is able to announce three years of funding today for the teaching of Irish in European universities under An Ciste Tríú Leibhéal Thar Lear, 2025-28. Over the next three academic years, this scheme will continue to celebrate and encourage the use of the Irish language in universities in the UK and continental Europe. It is very pleasing that my Department has already received 23 applications for this scheme and I hope that more universities will apply for support under the scheme in the future.”
Over 20 universities received funding in the period 2022-23 to 2024-25 with universities in Scotland, Wales, France, Germany, Austria, Poland, England, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Sweden participating in the scheme. That period is coming to an end this year and the Department has received 23 applications again for the next period, from 2025-26 to 2027-28.
The grants being made available to the universities will cover the salary and administrative costs of the courses as well as 80% of the cost to students of attending summer courses in the Gaeltacht. Each university/student is responsible for the remainder of this cost.