A group of international language experts have written an open letter to the newspapers in which they have attacked Foras na Gaeilge  for its plans to introduce a New Funding Model to promote Irish.

The experts believe the model is “deeply flawed and will prove detrimental to the development of Irish”. They argue that foras “have not carried out any review of the effectiveness, or the efficiency of the Irish language organisations, and their proposal is completely at odds with international language planning principles”. They want “a permanent funding structure, based on strategic planning and long-term goals, for the Irish language voluntary sector”.

Foras issued a statement to The Irish Times yesterday, saying they had read the letter and had invited the experts to meet with them. They would not comment on the proposed funding model in case they influenced the ongoing public consultation on the subject.

Under the model, schemes rather than individual organisations will be funded. Foras say it will result in more Irish for your euro; 19 groups affected say it will destroy the voluntary sector and its work.

And talking of consultations. That process was to start at the beginning of January and end at the beginning of April. As part of the consultation process, FnaG will hold public meetings in:
Meadowlands Hotel, Trá Lí, Co Kerry, Monday 5th March, 7pm
Cultúrlann MacAdam-Ó Fiaich, Belfast, Thursday, 8th March, 7pm.
Páirc Mionlach Hotel, Galway, Monday, 12th March, 7pm
Foras na Gaeilge HQ, Merrion Square, Dublin, Wednesday 14th March, 7pm.

It all seems very late and I have not seen any great publicity campaign to alert people to these meetings. Certainly, I did not receive any press release and found these, by chance, on FnaG’s website. One wonders how well attended they will be and how exactly these meetings will inform the final decision on the new funding arrangement.