Stormont education minister Paul Givan has met with a group representing the Irish medium youth sector.
Fóram na nÓg said it held discussions with the DUP minister on Monday as it urged Mr Givan to support a “sustainable and long-term investment in Irish-medium youth sector” in Northern Ireland.
The meeting comes amid controversy after Mr Givan last month met with the Loyalist Communities Council (LCC), which represents the UVF, UDA and Red Hand Commando.
Following their meeting, the LCC said it had advised him that a proposal to build an Irish language school in east Belfast should be stopped.
It later emerged that Mr Givan had declined a meeting with Irish language campaign group Conradh na Gaeilge.
But on Monday, Mr Givan met with Fóram na nÓg, an organisation that supports and promotes youth services through the medium of Irish across the north.
The organisation works to improve the educational and social experiences of young Irish speakers.
Orliath Mhic Leanáinn, Fóram na nÓg director, said the meeting with Mr Givan was a “critical step in advancing the future of the Irish medium youth work sector”.
“We highlighted the need for a long-term and sustainable funding framework that matches the increasing demand for Irish medium youth services which is in line with the burgeoning growth of Irish medium education across the north,” she said.
Mr Givan said it had been “productive” meeting adding he had been “briefed on the progress of Irish medium youth work in recent years”.
