The 6 Lead Irish language Organisations revealed that more than 1 million euro has been effectively cut from their budgets since 2015 - budgets that fund services and events for the Irish language and Gaeltacht communities. They have warned that the situation will be significantly worse in 2026 with some organisations left without enough funding to even cover their basic costs, let alone to organise events or to provide community services.
The 6 Leading Irish language Organisations, (Conradh na Gaeilge, Cumann na bhFiann, Gael Linn, Gaeloideachas, Glór na nGael and Oireachtas na Gaeilge), told Foras na Gaeilge that they have serious doubts about the future of the joint partnership structure established by Foras na Gaeilge in 2015. The organisations have made it clear that they will not be taking part in the partnership structure again until progress is made in resolving the funding crisis.
A spokesperson from a Lead Organisation said:
“We informed Foras na Gaeilge today that every Lead Irish language Organisation is in financial difficulty, which has worsened in the last few years, and we do not see any solution emerging in the short term to these problems. As a result, the range of services we can offer the public and the events we can organise as Lead Organisations have been repeatedly limited. ”
“Not only is there uncertainty about the services that can be provided to the public, but every Lead Organisation also faces corporate governance requirements they must comply with, and it is proving extremely difficult to do this when there is a lack of funding available to cover basic costs such as insurance.”
“We are of the view that funding needs to be properly secured for the future before the partnership system can operate effectively. What happened this year, when the Government of Ireland provided once off funding to Foras na Gaeilge’s to address their funding shortfall in 2025, is not sufficient. Rather, substantial additional funding must be provided to Foras na Gaeilge to address the damage done to the core funding of the Lead Organisations over the past ten years and, of course, there also needs to be a solution for the core funding of other organisations funded by the Foras as well.”
The Lead Organisations are seeking emergency meetings with the Minister for Rural Development and Community and Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary, and with the Minister for Communities, Gordon Lyons, to discuss this crisis.
The Lead Organisations will remain in contact with Foras na Gaeilge to see if a solution to this funding crisis can be found and to re-engage with this partnership system as soon as possible.
