Ó Muirí calls for restoration of Liofa Bursaries

Newry Mourne and Down, Councillor Barra Ó Muirí  has said Communities minister Paul Givan needs to end his party's attitude of disrespect towards the Irish language and restore the Líofa gaeltacht bursary scheme.

The Councillor has tabled a motion for the February  Meeting of Newry, Mourne and Down Council to discuss the actions of the Minister and the need to restore the bursaries.

The Líofa Initiative was launched in September 2011 to get 1000 people to sign up to Líofa and commit to improving and using Irish. In light of the huge interest and momentum in the campaign which now has 18,563 signed up, the target has recently been revised to 20,000 pledges by 2020. Part of the initiative included Gaeltacht Bursaries giving 100 people of various ages the opportunity to attend Irish language classes in Donegal.

The bursary scheme was aimed at those who might not otherwise have had the chance to go to a Gaeltacht, and was open to people of all traditions and backgrounds.

Speaking on the issue Cllr Ó Muirí said  "When DUP Communities Minister Paul Givan announced the end of the Líofa gaeltacht bursaries scheme just before Christmas  my Party colleague Barry McElduff wrote to him requesting an urgent meeting to discuss the issue. He has now refused to meet him saying he is unable to meet at this time. While no doubt he is busy with the DUP's internal wranglings at the moment he has a responsibility to address this matter. 

"Refusing to engage on this is yet another example of the DUP's total lack of respect for the Irish language and those who speak it, coming on the back of their continuing opposition to an Acht na Gaeilge. This is an issue that has caused huge concern in the Irish language community and the minister cannot ignore it and hope that it goes away. The Irish language belongs to everyone, threatens no-one and must be respected. 

The councillor concluded "The minister should reverse his decision and restore the Liofa bursaries immediately."

The Motion to come before the council:

"That this Council agrees that the decision by DUP Minister Paul Givan to remove £50k bursaries from the Líofa initiative shows further disregard for the Irish language and he  should immediately restore £50k of bursaries to the Líofa initiative"