East Derry recieved no Irish language youth provision funding in 2024

In 2024 there was £0 awarded to the constituency of East Londonderry for youth provision in the Irish-Medium Sector from the Education Authority.

This figure was provided by the Minister of Education for Northern Ireland, Paul Given, in response to MLA Carál Ní Chuilín's question looking for a detailed breakdown of the funding awarded for youth provision educational work for the Irish-medium sector, broken down by constituency.

While Foyle received the second-highest fee across Northern Ireland with £34,781.41, and West Belfast was awarded the most with £48,1284.31, East Londonderry received nothing.

This statistic did not shock Aontú deputy leader Gemma Brolly, who is a strong advocate for the Irish language, acting as her local GAA club’s Irish language officer for the past 10 years.

Mrs. Brolly said: “We are so dry here for any support of any sort for the Irish language, and it has been a very hard thing to contend with over the years. I’m just hoping this will highlight it.

“A good start to Irish language funding in youth programmes and beyond is well overdue here in Causeway Coast and Glens, but let’s get it started now.

“I would demand a consultation from the council on what provision should look like ASAP, also on what resources are available to assist such Gaeilgeoirí with professional backgrounds, which would lend themselves to making a solid start in areas.

“Tús maith leath na hoibre (A good start is half the work).”

Mrs. Brolly works as a teacher in Mid Ulster, a constituency awarded £6,800 in funding from the Education Authority regarding the Irish-Medium Sector in 2024.

She has seen the great work that can be achieved with that funding in this area.

She said: “I am always seeing leaflets and brilliant initiatives coming into my classroom to pass out to children and families from what is available in Mid Ulster.

“There you have people working in other areas with knowledge and skills here that I am sure would be more than happy to come in and help to get things off the ground.

“We should be able to attend Irish language initiatives and youth programmes in our own area. I myself am quite happy to get behind that.

“I think councillors need to be put under pressure here to put out a consultation to see what we have in this area, what we need in this area, and what is the potential. I would be certain that there would be a great thriving youth programme in the Dungiven area, so why are we sitting with £0?”

Mrs. Brolly believes the success of Gaelcholáiste Dhoire in Dungiven should be evidence that there is huge potential in the area of East Londonderry for this funding.

The school opened in September 2015 and has seen constant growth over the last nine years.

She said: “I had pupils that were the first class that went to that school, so I feel very much a part of that, and I have great admiration for those parents and teachers to put their faith in something brand new that, let's face it, was risky, but look now, they are certainly reaping the rewards of that.”