600 primary school children from 10 to 13 years of age will attend 2-week long Irish language camps as part of a new initiative announced by the Minister for Education, Mary Hanafin.
A special scholarship scheme has also been set up to send more than 100 secondary school students to the Gaeltacht for the summer.
The two new schemes introduced this year were offered to children in schools which are participating in the Disadvantage Action programme.
Ms Hanafin said that as Ireland became increasingly multicultural, it was vital to encourage a love of the native language and culture.
