Government pauses funding for Irish language promotion body in Cork over 'shortcomings'
Gael-Taca’s secretary, Adrian Breathnach, said: 'We did everything we could and we are being treated unfairly.' File picture: David Keane
The Government has suspended all funding to an Irish language promotion organisation in Cork over governance and financial control “shortcomings”, as the body says it is being treated “unfairly”.
Funding to the Irish organisation in Cork City, Gael-Taca, has been suspended since February, with the Department of an Gaeltacht saying that it does not have the “organisational capacity” to handle State funds.
“These shortcomings in governance and in financial control deviated significantly from best practice expected from organisations receiving government funding. Consequently, my department had no option but to suspend the previous funding agreement with Gael-Taca,” junior Gaeltacht minister Patrick O’Donovan said, in a parliamentary question response.
The organisation itself, which was set up in 1987, was the lead body for language planning in Cork City, with volunteers working to increase the number of services across the city that are available through Irish.
Following the closure of its offices on Sullivan's Quay due to a lack of funding, the organisation has been run mostly by volunteers. Mr O’Donovan says that the department has liaised with Gael Taca to deal with outstanding issues and to help strengthen its governance regime.
He also confirmed that “substantial” emergency funding was provided to Gael-Taca to clear debts that were accumulated by the organisation. However, Mr O’Donovan confirmed that his department received a funding application from Gael-Taca last September, but that they decided in February not to provide such funds.
“The department remains of the view that Gael-Taca has neither the organisational capacity to handle State funding in line with best practice nor a clear future vision for the organisation,” Mr O’Donovan said.
“Consequently, my Department notified Gael-Taca in February 2024 that it was not in a position to enter into a funding agreement with the organisation.”
Gael-Taca’s secretary, Adrian Breathnach, accepted that the organisation did experience issues with financial control during the covid-19 pandemic, leading to the dismissal of one staff member.
However, Mr Breathnach said that, since then, the organisation has sought to co-operate with the department to restore confidence and restart operations, particularly following the closure of its premises on Sullivan's Quay.
This included a new board being put in place and the development of both a plan for the future of the organisation and for the Irish language in Cork City.
“We did everything we could and we are being treated unfairly. I mean, we've done everything,” Mr Breathnach said, adding that the Gael-Taca accounts are audited each year.
Following the announcement that Gael-Taca would not receive any State funding, having sought €100,000, the organisation has requested a meeting with the department but has yet to receive a response.
While Mr O’Donovan said that funding is not being provided to Gael-Taca, the department is still planning to support the development of the Irish language in Cork, with it “exploring other possibilities” at present.
