An Foras Teanga (the North South Language Body) was set up on 2 December 1999, being one of 6 Cross-Border Implementation Bodies established under the British-Irish Agreement Act 1999.
An Foras Teanga comprises two separate Agencies, i.e,
An Foras Teanga is accountable to the North South Ministerial Council (NSMC) and to the Ministers in the Sponsoring Departments, i.e, this Department and the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL) in Northern Ireland.
Funding is provided to both Agencies from this Department and DCAL in Northern Ireland in accordance with budgets approved by the NSMC.
Foras na Gaeilge is co-funded on the basis of 75% from this Department and 25% from DCAL - an overall budget provision of €20,300,540 was approved by the NSMC for 2009.
Tha Boord o Ulstèr-Scotch is co-funded on the basis of 25% from this Department and 75% from DCAL - an overall budget provision of £3,433,800 was approved by the NSMC for 2009.
In addition, this Department provides further funding to Foras na Gaeilge in respect of ringfenced activities relating to Clár na Leabhar Gaeilge, Colmcille and capital projects.
Arising from an NSMC decision in 2007, the functions of the former Bord na Leabhar Gaeilge were transferred to Foras na Gaeilge and it was agreed that future funding would be provided by this Department solely in order to implement the work of Clár na Leabhar Gaeilge. The role of Clár na Leabhar Gaeilge is to provide support for reading, writing and publishing initiatives in the Irish language.
Colmcille consists of a tripartite initiative to promote the Irish and Scots Gaelic languages. Arising from an NSMC decision in July 2008, it was agreed that the functions of Colmcille on the island of Ireland would be transferred to Foras na Gaeilge and that a partnership would be established between Foras and Bòrd na Gàidhlig to bring forward the objectives of Colmcille.
This Department's funding is provided through Subhead G.1 of the Department's Vote and an overall provision of €16.634m is included in the Revised Estimates for 2010.
An Foras Teanga Board comprises the boards of both Agencies. There are 16 on the board of Foras na Gaeilge and 8 on the board of Tha Boord o Ulstèr-Scotch and the NSMC makes those appointments arising from nominations made on a 50:50 basis by both jurisdictions. Details of current board membership are as follows:
The British-Irish Agreement Act 1999 (Number 1 of 1999) is the legislative basis for the Cross-Border Implementation Bodies, including An Foras Teanga, and can be accessed at the following link:
http://www.oireachtas.ie/documents/bills28/acts/1999/a199.pdf
The principal act was amended by the following Acts, each of which can be accessed at the link which follows:
· British-Irish Agreement (Amendment) Act 1999 (Number 16 of 1999) http://www.oireachtas.ie/documents/bills28/acts/1999/a1699.pdf
· British-Irish Agreement (Amendment) Act 2002 (Number 26 of 2002): http://www.achtanna.ie/en.act.2002.0026.1.html
· British-Irish Agreement (Amendment) Act 2005 (Number 6 of 2005): http://www.oireachtas.ie/documents/bills28/acts/2005/a0605.pdf
· British-Irish Agreement (Amendment) Act 2006 (Number 32 of 2006): http://www.oireachtas.ie/documents/bills28/acts/2006/a3206.pdf
The relevant Statutory Instruments be accessed at the following links:
· S.I. No. 377/1999 - British-Irish Agreement Act 1999 (Commencement) Order 1999: http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1999/en/si/0377.html
· S.I. No. 378/1999 - British-Irish Agreement (Amendment) Act 1999 (Commencement) Order 1999 : http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1999/en/si/0378.html
· S.I. No. 552/2002 - British-Irish Agreement (Amendment) Act 2002 (Commencement) Order 2002: http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/2002/en/si/0552.html
Further information is available on the Agencies' websites, which can also be accessed via the following links:
Foras na Gaeilge: http://www.gaeilge.ie
Tha Boord o Ulstèr-Scotch: http://www.ulsterscotsagency.com
Contact details for the Agencies (offices in both jurisdictions) are shown in the following table:
Foras na Gaeilge 7 Cearnóg Mhuirfean Baile Átha Cliath 2 Phone: 01 639 8400 / 1850 325 325 eolas@forasnagaeilge.ie |
Foras na Gaeilge Teach an Gheata Thiar 2-4 Sráid na Banríona Béal Feirste BT1 6ED Phone: 028 (048) 9089 0970 / 0845 3098142 eolas@forasnagaeilge.ie |
Tha Boord o Ulstèr-Scotch 68-72 Great Victoria Street Belfast BT2 7BB Northern Ireland Phone: 028 (048) 9023 1113 info@ulsterscotsagency.org.uk |
Tha Boord o Ulstèr-Scotch The Moffatt Building The Diamond Raphoe Co. Donegal Phone: 074 917 3876 ulsterscotsagency@eircom.net |