Michelle O’Neill says she will question Gordon Lyons’ funding announcement for Ulster Scots as Irish language groups get ‘zero extra’ from Stormont

The Sinn Féin first minister has said she will question Gordon Lyons over an “imbalance” in funding for language groups.

Michelle O’Neill’s remarks came after the DUP communities minister granted extra funding to the Ulster Scots Agency amid claims that the cross-border Irish language body continues to face a financial deficit.

According to Ciarán Mac Giolla Bhéin, the president of Irish language advocacy group Conradh na Gaeilge, it is thought to be the first time the Department for Communities has sponsored only one of the two language bodies, with Foras na Gaeilge receiving “zero extra” from Stormont.

At a meeting of the North South Ministerial Council meeting in Armagh last Thursday, it was agreed that Foras na Gaeilge would receive a “once-off” funding package of €630,000 (£547,000) from the Irish government.

It was said the money would enable the cross-border Irish language agency to “reverse” cuts it announced earlier this year.

At the same meeting, the funding for the Ulster-Scots Agency announced by Mr Lyons the next day was also agreed.

Mr Mac Giolla Bhéin said it was “very hard to understand” how the Ulster Scots Agency had secured extra funds while there was no additional funding for the Irish language, despite what he termed “well-documented funding pressures on the sector”.

“It is our understanding that this may be the first time that the Department for Communities has sponsored only one of the two language bodies, providing zero extra for Foras na Gaeilge,” he said.

“It is even more telling that this additional funding comes only weeks after the DUP hit out at dual-language signage at Grand Central Station at a cost of £120,000, citing their ‘financial concerns’.”

Infrastructure minister Liz Kimmins’ decision to spend up to £150,000 on dual language signs at Belfast’s new transport hub sparked criticism from the DUP and the TUV.

During a meeting on Monday with Secretary of State Hilary Benn, Conrad na Gaeilge raised its concerns around political opposition to the signage at Grand Central Station and the failure to agree a new funding model for Foras na Gaeilge.

Responding to The Irish News on Monday, Ms O’Neill said the Irish language advocacy group were right to highlight what it regards as an “imbalance” in funding.

She said unionist parties appeared to be competing “in terms of who can be louder in their anti-Irish sentiment”.

“I think it’s incredulous that the DUP are taking the approach that they are – these things aren’t in competition,” she said.

The first minister said Sinn Féin would question Mr Lyons on the decision.

“I think everybody can see the DUP’s blockage on the funding model for Irish language, or indeed any north-south body, is very short sighted,” she said.

SDLP MLA Patsy McGlone said funding issues with Foras na Gaeilge meant the north’s Irish language groups were “living from crisis to crisis”.

“We need more than short-term band-aids — we need a sustainable, cross-border funding model that puts the Irish language on secure footing, and the executive needs to play a full part in working with the Irish government to achieve this,” he said.

“This isn’t just about funding — it’s about fairness, respect, and delivering on the promises made in the Good Friday Agreement."