446. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht to review and give consideration to funding in Budget 2027 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54849/26]

Since I was appointed Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht at the beginning of last year – the first senior Minister for the Irish language and the Gaeltacht in some years – my Department has undertaken significant work to promote and maintain the Irish language and to support groups supporting and promoting use of Irish.

I have set ambitious targets for the next few years and I am confident that this work will make a real difference to the Irish-speaking community. These targets cannot be achieved without the participation of a wide range of people, groups and organisations: the language planning community, the other Government Departments, Foras na Gaeilge, Údarás na Gaeltachta, the lead organisations, the local authorities and state organisations in general.

My Department is investing €160m in the sector this year, following the biggest ever increase for the Gaeltacht and Islands in Budget 2026 – a 30% increase on the €123m allocation in 2025. Between this investment, the impact of the Irish Language Public Services Action Plan published a few months ago and the impact of the Language Standards to be introduced this year, I am very confident that the use of the language will be significantly enhanced in the period ahead – in the Gaeltacht, around the country, and internationally.

As is the norm, my Department’s overall allocation and the specific allocation  for the Gaeltacht and the Islands for 2027 will be considered in the coming months as part of the Estimates process for Budget 2027.