Minister Calleary welcomes approval of 2026 funding for Foras na Gaeilge and the Ulster-Scots Agency

• North South Ministerial Council meeting at Monaghan Peace Campus today
• €20 million joint funding approved for Foras na Gaeilge and Ulster-Scots Agency
• Over €2 million additional funding for Foras na Gaeilge programmes and activities
• €200,000 additional funding for Ulster-Scots activities in the border counties
• Budget for Clár na Leabhar Gaeilge increases to €2m in 2026

The Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary TD, today attended the 30th Sectoral meeting of the North South Ministerial Council (NSMC) Language Body. The meeting, held at Monaghan Peace Campus, was chaired by Gordon

Lyons MLA, Minister for Communities, and attended by Aisling Reilly MLA, Junior Minister at the Executive Office, along with representatives of the two NSMC Language Body agencies, Foras na Gaeilge and the Ulster Scots Agency.

The meeting of the NSMC Language Body approved the 2026-2028 Corporate Plans, which set out the strategic objectives of both agencies for the following three year period.

The meeting also approved the 2026 Business Plans and Budgets, which enables an agreed funding allocation of €20 million for 2026 to be provided for Foras na Gaeilge and the Ulster-Scots Agency.

In addition, ring-fenced funding will be made available by the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht to Foras na Gaeilge and the Ulster-Scots Agency to run specific programmes and activities in 2026. This includes the additional €2 million secured in Budget 2026.

Funding for Clár na Leabhar Gaeilge will be increased to €2 million in 2026, the highest level ever, while over €2 million will be made available for Foras na Gaeilge’s other programmes and activities. €200,000 will be made available to the Ulster-Scots Agency for projects related to specific activities in Donegal, Monaghan and Cavan, and further south in due course.

Speaking after the meeting, Minister Calleary said:

“I am pleased that the 2026 business plans and budgets have now been approved for Foras na Gaeilge and the Ulster-Scots Agency, enabling them to implement their targets over the coming year. This will provide certainty to both agencies, and to the organisations and community groups across the island who benefit from the support and funding schemes they provide.”

It is expected that the next meeting of the NSMC Language Body will be held in Spring 2026.