Irish language or Gaeltacht summer colleges backed by the State will not go ahead this summer due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Minister of State for the Gaeltacht, Jack Chambers, confirmed the move on Friday afternoon following a consultation process with the sector.
The Minister said mná tí, who provide accommodation for students, and course operators expressed “considerable health and safety concerns for Gaeltacht families and the local communities arising from the hosting of summer courses due to Covid-19.”
“Following the consultation process and in recognition of the concerns expressed, a decision has been taken not to proceed with State-backed courses in summer 2021,” a Government statement said.
Work is now underway on developing an appropriate stabilisation package for the sector, the statement added.
Digital courses
Minister Chambers said that the Department of the Gaeltacht would support a number of digital initiatives to allow young people to continue to develop their language skills over the summer.
“We engaged extensively with all those crucial to the operation of Gaeltacht summer colleges including mná tí and the colleges themselves,” he said.
“In the course of this, it was very clear that Gaeltacht accommodation providers were concerned about bringing visiting children into their homes in the context of the public health situation. I completely understand and respect those views.
“We are conscious of the consequences of this decision for the Gaeltacht economy which is reliant on the summer courses. For this reason, we will evaluate the impact of this development on the sector with a view to progressing an appropriate stabilisation package.
“I understand that this will be disappointing for many young people who were looking forward to attending this year. Some Irish colleges will be offering online digital courses in 2021 and the Department is also supporting a number of digital initiatives to allow young people to continue to develop their language skills over the summer months and beyond.
“I am confident that a solution can be reached over the coming weeks which will ensure this important sector can continue into 2022 and beyond.”
