'Ciste na Gaeilge Subsidiary Fund for Third-Level Institutions' was established in 2006 to assist institutions around the world to provide Irish language and Celtic studies programmes. In all, more than 40 universities and other third-level colleges are benefiting from grants from the Irish government in 2009. These include:

• Karlova University in Prague;
• Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan (Poland);
• Freiburg University in Germany;
• Utrecht University in Holland;
• The University of St Thomas in Texas.

The Fulbright Commission - the official cultural exchange programme between the Irish and US governments - receives the largest single amount at €231,000. The Commission appoints Irish language assistants from Ireland to third-level institutions in the US.

Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Éamon Ó Cuív said the programmes offered an excellent opportunity to present the Irish language to the academic community worldwide.

"They will give the Irish language equal status to other European languages being taught abroad. In addition, many students who study Irish in their own countries continue their studies here in Ireland. It is wonderful to see students from all over the world attending courses in the Gaeltacht," he said.

A further €700,000 was paid out last year under 'Scéim Labhairt na Gaeilge' to families in the Gaeltacht who are fluent in Irish.

The scheme provides for a grant of €260 per household in the Gaeltacht where Irish is the normal spoken language. The children are tested in school by inspectors from the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs to see if their level of spoken Irish is sufficient for the household to be awarded a full grant.

If a child's standard does not reach the requisite level, but the inspector believes the child will improve sufficiently within three years, a grant of 50 per cent is awarded.

3,455 applications for this grant were received by the department in 2007-08, a reduction of 90 on the previous school year. (Source: Irish Independent)