Beidh Líonra Leitir Ceanainn ag tacú leis an stailc seo
Déan teagmhail le Bairbre 0860751663/eolas@lionralc.ie
RÁITEAS NUACHTA
[DÉ MÁIRT, 25 FEABHRA 2025]
Béarla thíos
Stailc eagraithe ag pobal na Gaeilge fud fad na tíre don chéad uair riamh agus iad ag éileamh ar na Rialtais, thuaidh theas, infheistíocht chothrom a dhéanamh sa Ghaeilge ANOIS
R.A.I.C. (Réiteach Anois, Infheistíocht Chothrom) á lorg ag na grúpaí agus é seo mar ainm ar an fheachtas úr
Tá sé fógartha go mbeidh breis agus 40 grúpa Gaeilge agus Gaeltachta fud fad na tíre ag dul ar stailc leath-lae Dé Céadaoin, 25ú Feabhra 2025 mar chuid den fheachtas RAIC. Tá an stailc á eagrú le héilimh ar an dá Rialtas thuaidh agus theas aisiompú a dhéanamh ar na ciorruithe is déanaí de €820,000 a d’fhógair Foras na Gaeilge ar na mallaibh tríd an maoiniú cuí a chur ar fáil don Fhoras anois agus agus le réiteach fadtéarmach do mhaoiniú na Gaeilge a fhorbairt ar bhonn práinne.
Tháinig an cinneadh seo sna sála ar Thionól Géarchéime idir grúpaí pobail agus ceanneagraíochtaí a bheas thíos leis na ciorruithe ar an 12ú Feabhra 2025 i mBaile Átha Cliath. Tá sé mar aidhm ag an fheachtas RAIC réiteach a fháil ar an dífheistíocht fhadtéarmach agus easpa comhionannais agus maoinithe in earnáil na Gaeilge agus éileamh a dhéanamh go réiteofar an éigeandáil gearrtéarmach agus fadtéarmach.
Tagann an ciorrú is déanaí seo tráth a bhfuil an DUP ag cur bac ar an mholadh atá ar an tábla chun leasú a dhéanamh ar struchtúr maoinithe an Fhorais Teanga. I láthair na huaire, tagann 25% de bhuiséad Fhoras na Gaeilge ón rialtas ó thuaidh agus 75% ón rialtas ó dheas agus ní féidir le ceachtar den dá rialtas airgead breise a chur i dtreo bhuiséad an Fhorais gan a chomhionann ón rialtas eile. Le déanaí, aontaíodh socrú nua idir an dá Aire Airgeadais, fríd an Chomhairle Aireachta thuaidh-theas, a thabharfadh cead do cheachtar den dá rialtas airgead breise a chur i dtreo bhuiséad an Fhorais Teanga gan a chomhionann ón rialtas eile. Ní mór don Fheidhmeannas ó thuaidh a mbeannacht a thabhairt don leasú nua seo, ach tá bac curtha ag an DUP roimh an mholadh sin dul ar chlár oibre an Fheidhmeannais breis agus 5 huaire ó bhí mí na Samhna ann. Leis sin, tá cros a dhéanamh ag an DUP ar mhaoiniú breise don Ghaeilge ar bhonn 32 contae tráth a bhfuil Rialtas na hÉireann a rá go bhfuil airgead breise acu réidh le dul láithreach chuig an Fhoras.
I measc éilimh an fheachtais, tá na grúpaí ar lorg;
- Go nglacfaidh an dá Rialtas leis an mhúnla nua maoinithe molta ag na Ranna Airgeadais láithreach bonn;
- Gealltannas ó Fhoras na Gaeilge go mbeadh aisiompú ar an €820,000 do dheontaithe mar chéad tosaíocht in aon mhaoiniú breise a fhaightear ó na Rialtais;
- Ar a laghad an €20m sa bhreis a chur ar fáil d’Fhoras na Gaeilge faoi mar atá luaite sa Phlean Fáis, plean infheistíochta don Ghaeilge agus don Ghaeltacht aontaithe idir 130 grúpa, agus;
- Gealltanas ó Fhoras na Gaeilge go maoineofar na tionscadail / deontaithe luaite sa Plean Fáis mar thosaíocht d’aon mhaoiniú sa bhreis faighte ón dá Rialtas nó aon Rialtas amháin.
Ag labhairt roimh an stailc, dúirt Uachtarán Chonradh na Gaeilge Ciarán Mac Giolla Bhéin:
“Is trua liom go bhfuil orainn dul ar stailc inniu ach tógadh an cinneadh an gníomh seo a dhéanamh mar nach raibh an dara rogha fágtha againn. Tá na ciorruithe is déanaí atá fógartha ag Foras na Gaeilge iomlán tubaisteach agus ag dul i bhfeidhm ar ghrúpaí atá go mór faoi bhrú cheana féin ó thaobh maoinithe de. Is léiriú é stailc an lae inniu ar an fhrustrachas agus ar an fhearg ní amháin ar an chiorrú is déanaí, ach ar an dhífhéistíocht fadtéarmach ar mhaoiniú na Gaeilge. Mar chomhthéacs, tá laghdú fíorama de 45% tagtha ar mhaoiniú Fhoras na Gaeilge thar thréimhse de 20 bliain, tráth atá an-suim go deo sa phobal don Ghaeilge ach go bhfuil bac orainne anois freastail ar an dea-thoil sin.”
“Tá grúpaí pobail fud fad na tíre ag streachailt a bhfoirgnimh a théamh agus a soilse a lasadh, gan trácht a dhéanamh ar bhunsheirbhísí a sholáthar agus spriocanna oibre a chur i gcrích. Tá seo iomlán samhnasach agus muid breis is 25 bliain ar aghaidh ó Chomhaontú Aoine an Chéasta a gheall ré úr comhionannais don teanga. Is ríléir go bhfuil fadhb ollmhór againn agus go bhfuil ag teip go hiomlán ar an dá rialtas le 20 bliain nuas an áisíneacht trasteorann atá freagrach as cur chun cinn na Gaeilge a mhaoiniú mar is cuí. Tá géarghá le réiteach sásúil, fadtéarmach agus impím ar an dá rialtas teacht ar shocrú láithreach bonn.
Dúirt Caoimhe Ní Shúilleabháin, Oifigeach Forbartha Gaeilge le Cill Dara le Gaeilge :
“Beidh pobal na Gaeilge agus na Gaeltachta, don chéad uair riamh, ag dul ar stailc an Chéadaoin seo, chun seasamh aontaithe a thógáil i gcoinne ciorruithe ar mhaoiniú na Gaeilge. Tá sé scannalach go mothaíonn grúpaí, ó achan chearn den tír, gur gá gníomh stailce a thógáil chun an dá Rialtas a bhrú chun tosaigh leis an cheist seo.
Tá na grúpaí ar fad faoi bhrú ollmhór. Tháinig muid ar fad le chéile coicís ó shin i mBaile Átha Cliath agus bhí muid ar aon ghuth go bhfuil géarchéim mhaoinithe sa phobal anois, agus go bhfuil an struchtúr maoinithe thuaidh theas taobh thiar d’Fhoras na Gaeilge go hiomlán briste. Éilíonn ar an dá Rialtas an structhúr maoinithe sin a athrú, nó bealach eile a aimsiú chun an maoiniú breise, atá ar fáil ón Rialtas ó dheas faoi láthair, a bhrú fríd chuig na grúpaí ar an talamh mar ábhar práinne. Níl aon amhras orm ach gur láidre muid mar phobal agus muid ag seasamh i ndlúthpháirtíocht le chéile ar cheisteanna práinneacha mar seo. Molaim go mór gach grúpa atá ag seasamh an fhóid inniu ar son chothrom na Féinne.”
MEÁIN
X: #tógRAIC @CnaG
Instagram: @cnagaeilge
TEAGMHÁIL
Julian de Spáinn
Ardrúnaí, Conradh na Gaeilge
+353 (0)86 8142757 | +353 (0)1 4757401
6 Sráid Fhearchair, BÁC2 | julian@cnag.ie
Pádraig Ó Tiarnaigh
Bainisteoir Cumarsáide, Conradh na Gaeilge
+447716690237 | padraig@cnag.ie
NÓTA DON EAGARTHÓIR:
Seo thíos liosta de na grúpaí ar fad a bheas páirteach sa stailc.
|
An Bruach Thoir, Gaillimh |
Dún Garbhán le Gaeilge, Port Láirge |
|
An Ceathrú Póilí, Aontroim |
Fís an Phobail, Aontroim |
|
An Droichead, Aontroim |
Fóram na nÓg, Aontroim |
|
An Siopa Leabhar, Baile Átha Cliath |
Gaeil na nGlinntí, Aontroim |
|
Áras Chrónáin, Baile Átha Cliath |
Gaeil Ruairí Óg, Aontroim |
|
Baile Seirbhíse Gaeltachta An Chlocháin Léith, Dún na nGall |
Gaelphobal Ard Mhacha Theas, Ard Mhacha |
|
Bia Loch Lao, Aontroim |
Glór Mhachaire Fíolta, Doire |
|
Cairde Uí Néill, Tír Eoghain |
Glór na Maoile, Aontroim |
|
Cathair Saidhbhín le Gaeilge, Ciarraí |
Glór na Móna, Aontroim |
|
CCÉ Dhún Lathaí., Aontroim |
Glór na nGael, Náisiúnta |
|
Cill Dara le Gaeilge, Cill Dara |
Glór na Spéiríní, Doire |
|
Coiste Forbartha Charn Tóchair, Doire |
Glór Uachtar Tíre, An Dún |
|
Comharchumann Forbartha Chorca Dhuibhne, Ciarraí |
Ionad na Fuiseoige, Aontroim |
|
Conradh na Gaeilge, Náisiúnta |
Ionad Uibh Eachach, Aontroim |
|
Conradh na Gaeilge Boirche Íochtar, An Dún |
Líonra Leitir Ceanainn, Dún na nGall |
|
Cultúrlann Mac Adam Ó Fiaich, Aontroim |
Meitheal Pleanála an Iarthuaiscirt, Dún na nGall |
|
Cultúrlann Uí Chianáin, Doire |
Muineachán le Gaeilge, Muineachán |
|
Cumann Cultúrtha Mhic Reachtain, Aontroim |
Oireachtas na Gaeilge, Náisiúnta |
|
Cumann Óige Uachtar Chluanaí, AontroimT |
Tobar Dhuibhne, Ciarraí |
|
Duchas an Daingin, Ciarraí |
Turas, An Dún |
NEWS RELEASE
[TUESDAY, 25TH FEBRUARY 2025]
Gaeilge thuas| Irish above
Irish language community throughout the country set to take strike action for the first time as they call for fair investment for the Irish language from both governments
Groups are seeking an immediate solution and fair investment as they undertake new campaign to highlight historic disinvestment in the language
Over 40 Irish-language and Gaeltacht groups across the country will be on a half-day strike this Wednesday, 25th February 2025 as part of the R.A.I.C. (Solution Now, Fair Investment) campaign. The strike is being organised to call on both Governments north and south to reverse the latest cuts of €820,000 announced recently by Foras na Gaeilge by providing the appropriate funding to Foras na Gaeilge now and to urgently develop a long-term solution for Irish-language funding.
This decision followed a Crisis Assembly between community groups and lead organisations who are affected by the cuts on 12th February 2025 in Dublin. The RAIC campaign aims to resolve long-term disinvestment and lack of equality and funding in the Irish language sector and to call for the short-term and long-term emergency to be resolved.
This latest cut comes at a time when the DUP is blocking a proposal to amend the funding structure of the Language Body. At present, 25% of Foras na Gaeilge’s budget comes from the government in the north and 75% from the government in the south and neither government can put additional money towards the Foras budget without the equivalent from the other government. Recently, a new arrangement was agreed between the two Ministers of Finance, through the north-south Ministerial Council, which would allow either government to put additional money towards the budget of An Foras Teanga without the equivalent of the other government. The NI Executive must agree to this new amendment, but the DUP has blocked this proposal from going on the Executive’s agenda more than 5 times since November. Therefore, the DUP is vetoing additional funding for the Irish language on a 32 county basis at a time when the Irish Government has said that they have extra money ready to go immediately to Foras na Gaeilge.
Among the demands of the campaign, the groups are seeking;
- Immediate adoption by both Governments of the new funding model for Foras na Gaeilge as proposed by both Finance Departments and the North South Ministerial Council (September 2024);
- A commitment from Foras na Gaeilge that a reversal of the €820,000 for grantees would be the first priority in any additional funding received from Governments;
- To provide Foras na Gaeilge with at least the additional €20m as laid out in the Growth Plan, an investment plan for the Irish language and the Gaeltacht agreed between 130 groups, and;
- A commitment from Foras na Gaeilge to fund the projects/grantees mentioned in the Growth Plan as a priority for any additional funding received from both Governments or one Government.
Speaking ahead of the strike, President of Conradh na Gaeilge Ciarán Mac Giolla Bhéin said:
“It is a matter of regret that we must take strike action today but this decision was taken because we had no other choice. The latest cuts announced by Foras na Gaeilge are disastrous and affect groups who are already under severe funding pressure. Today’s strike is a testament to the frustration and anger, not just at the latest curtailment, but the long-term disinvestment in Irish language funding. For context, Foras na Gaeilge’s budget has been reduced by 45 % in real time over a 20 year period, at a time when there is a real interest in the Irish language among the community but we are now hindered from attending to that goodwill.”
“Community groups across the country are struggling to heat and light their buildings, let alone provide basic services and implement work plans. The fact that this is happening over 25 years on from the Good Friday Agreement which promised a new era of equality for the language is hugely concerning. It is clear that we have a huge problem and that the new cross-border agency, which is responsible for the proper funding of the promotion of the Irish language, has been completely failed by both governments in the last 20 years. There is an urgent need for a satisfactory, long-term solution and I urge both governments to come to an immediate settlement.
Caoimhe Ní Shúilleabháin, Irish Language Development Officer with Cill Dara le Gaeilge said:
“The Irish-language and Gaeltacht community will, for the first time ever, be on strike this Wednesday, to take a united stance against cuts to Irish-language funding. It is scandalous that groups, from all over the country, feel the need to take strike action to push this issue forward with both Governments.
All the groups are under enormous pressure. We all came together two weeks ago in Dublin and we were united in the fact that there is now a funding crisis in the community, and that the funding structure north and south behind Foras na Gaeilge is completely broken. It calls on both Governments to fix that funding structure, or to find another way to urgently push the additional funding currently available from the Government in the south to the groups on the ground. I have no doubt that we are stronger as a community as we stand in solidarity together on urgent issues like this. I pay tribute to all the groups standing up for equality today.”
MEDIA
X: #tógRAIC @CnaG
Instagram: @cnagaeilge
CONTACT
Julian de Spáinn
Ardrúnaí, Conradh na Gaeilge
+353 (0)86 8142757 | +353 (0)1 4757401
6 Sráid Fhearchair, BÁC2 | julian@cnag.ie
Pádraig Ó Tiarnaigh
Bainisteoir Cumarsáide, Conradh na Gaeilge
+447716690237 | padraig@cnag.ie
NÓTA DON EAGARTHÓIR:
Below is a list of all groups taking part in tomorrow’s strike.
|
An Bruach Thoir, Gaillimh |
Dún Garbhán le Gaeilge, Port Láirge |
|
An Ceathrú Póilí, Aontroim |
Fís an Phobail, Aontroim |
|
An Droichead, Aontroim |
Fóram na nÓg, Aontroim |
|
An Siopa Leabhar, Baile Átha Cliath |
Gaeil na nGlinntí, Aontroim |
|
Áras Chrónáin, Baile Átha Cliath |
Gaeil Ruairí Óg, Aontroim |
|
Baile Seirbhíse Gaeltachta An Chlocháin Léith, Dún na nGall |
Gaelphobal Ard Mhacha Theas, Ard Mhacha |
|
Bia Loch Lao, Aontroim |
Glór Mhachaire Fíolta, Doire |
|
Cairde Uí Néill, Tír Eoghain |
Glór na Maoile, Aontroim |
|
Cathair Saidhbhín le Gaeilge, Ciarraí |
Glór na Móna, Aontroim |
|
CCÉ Dhún Lathaí., Aontroim |
Glór na nGael, Náisiúnta |
|
Cill Dara le Gaeilge, Cill Dara |
Glór na Spéiríní, Doire |
|
Coiste Forbartha Charn Tóchair, Doire |
Glór Uachtar Tíre, An Dún |
|
Comharchumann Forbartha Chorca Dhuibhne, Ciarraí |
Ionad na Fuiseoige, Aontroim |
|
Conradh na Gaeilge, Náisiúnta |
Ionad Uibh Eachach, Aontroim |
|
Conradh na Gaeilge Boirche Íochtar, An Dún |
Líonra Leitir Ceanainn, Dún na nGall |
|
Cultúrlann Mac Adam Ó Fiaich, Aontroim |
Meitheal Pleanála an Iarthuaiscirt, Dún na nGall |
|
Cultúrlann Uí Chianáin, Doire |
Muineachán le Gaeilge, Muineachán |
|
Cumann Cultúrtha Mhic Reachtain, Aontroim |
Oireachtas na Gaeilge, Náisiúnta |
|
Cumann Óige Uachtar Chluanaí, AontroimT |
Tobar Dhuibhne, Ciarraí |
|
Duchas an Daingin, Ciarraí |
Turas, An Dún |