BORD na Leabhar Gaeilge will undertake a review of its grants scheme for books published in Irish, according to the board's new chairman, Dr Eamon O hOgain.
The board will consider how books in Irish are funded, the relationship between author, publisher and the board, and the means by which the scheme's operation can be made more transparent, he said.
The board now funds books in Irish based on the number of words. A number of writers have expressed dissatisfaction with this. They have also expressed concern about the way the grants, worth a total of about £300,000 a year, are disbursed to publishers.
Since the board was set up in the 1950s, the number of books aided has risen from a single hook published in the first year to a current average of 100 books in Irish a year.
A consultancy report by Coopers & Lybrand on the book publishing industry last year criticised the present grants system. It called for more effective marketing and promotion of books in Irish.
"We recommend that the board moves away from the word count system and adopts a funding basis more in keeping with the development, publishing and promotion costs associated with each title," the report said.
"We also recommend that in awarding such grants due regard be given to the remuneration of the author."
The Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht, Mr Higgins, has appointed a new seven member board until December 1998.
The members are: Dr O hOgain, who is in charge of the Royal Irish Academy project to create the definitive Irish dictionary; Mr Sean de Freine, a retired civil servant and author; Ms Ursula Ni Dhalaigh, a former editor with the Educational Company of Ireland; Ms Aine Nic Gearailt, a bookshop manager in the Culturlann arts centre in west Belfast; Mr Diarmuid O Cathasaigh, manager of AIS, a book distribution network; Ms Rhoda Ui Chonaire, a former editor with An Gum; and Mr Vivian Uibh Eachach, a translator in Leinster House who is also editor of Comhar magazine.
All but Mr Uibh Eachach were members of the outgoing board.