13/09/2005

Irish Language Broadcast Fund open for business

Culture Minister David Hanson today launched the Irish Language Broadcasting Fund (ILBF).

The Fund will grant-aid a wide range of production activities including analogue, digital, on-line and interactive productions.

Speaking at the launch at the Ormeau Baths Gallery in Belfast, Mr Hanson said: "The Fund is now open for business. Now that EU States Aids approval has been received, all of the lengthy technical hurdles have been cleared.

"It is my hope that it will make a major contribution to promoting and preserving the Irish Language as a living language and as an essential part of the cultural, linguistic and historical heritage of Northern Ireland."

Sinn Fein Irish language Spokesperson, East Derry MLA Francie Brolly welcomed the launch. He said: "There is a huge creative potential that can be unleashed if this money is used to support the development of a pool of new film makers and the growth of the Irish film and television industry.

"An expanding independent sector will allow new voices and talents to emerge. This is not just good for the health of the Irish language it could have immense economic benefits."

The core aim of the ILBF, which will be administered by the Northern Ireland Film and Television Commission, is to develop an independent film and television production sector in Northern Ireland to provide a range of quality television productions in the Irish Language.

It also includes a training scheme which aims to provide 15 trainees, each year, with the skills needed to broadcast in the Irish Language.

(MB)

Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

01 July 2004
NIFTC to run Irish Language Broadcasting Fund
Secretary of State, Paul Murphy has announced that the Irish Language Broadcasting Fund is to be administered by the Northern Ireland Film and Television Commission (NIFTC). The news comes after the Government announced a £12 million fund aimed at supporting Irish language film and television production in Northern Ireland in April.
08 November 2004
Northern Irish language film sector outperforms Southern
Northern Ireland’s Irish language film production sector will continue to out perform its Southern counterpart's output unless a number of measures are implemented by the Irish Government, a producer’s union in the Republic of Ireland has claimed.
23 August 2024
BCC Consultation On Draft Irish Language Policy
Belfast City Council has announced a new public consultation on their new draft Irish language policy. The draft policy sets out how the council plans to promote Irish and use Irish across its services, including interpreting and translation, key documents and publications, signage at facilities, on the council website belfastcity.gov.
21 February 2003
British government is failing the Irish language says SF
Sinn Fein MLA Bairbre de Brun has warned that the development of the Irish language in television is being undermined by both a funding shortfall and a lack of political will.
28 April 2017
DUP Accused Of 'Genuflecting To Irish Language Brigade'
Jim Allister has accused the DUP of "genuflecting to the Irish language brigade". The TUV leader made the comments in response to DUP leader Arlene Foster meeting with Irish language groups, which he said should "serve as a warning to all those who oppose the De-Britishisation of Northern Ireland".