asked the Minister for Local Government if he is aware that public notices in the press of applications to town planning authorities for approval of plans under the Local Government (Planning and Development) Act, 1963 are being inserted in Irish only; and if, in view of the fact that this practice may defeat the purpose of the Act, he will introduce amending legislation requiring the publication of additional notices in English in all cases outside the Gaeltacht.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Notices in Irish of Planning Approval Applications.
19.
I am aware that the practice in question has been adopted in respect of some of these applications. Such applicants are, in my opinion, entitled to give this public notice in Irish only and I do not propose to take steps to alter that position.
Does the Minister consider it desirable that the Irish language should be availed of as a means of codding the people? Is the Minister further aware that the Irish Royal Institute of Architects have found it necessary to restrain their members from carrying on this practice, a practice the Minister apparently considers to be quite in order?
What the Royal Institute decide or do not decide has no bearing on what we decide here. In so far as publication of these notices is concerned, publication represents a very great improvement, irrespective of what language is used, on what obtained over the past 30 years when no such notices were required and no register of applications or decisions was kept. In the long term, I do not think there will be any real difficulty from a language point of view.
Would the Minister not consider publishing the notices in both languages?
I do not publish the notices. It is the applicant who has this requirement placed upon him as a result of the law passed by this House. Whether it is a notice published in the papers or a notice displayed on the property to be developed, the language used is a matter for the applicant and the choice must be left to him.
Question No. 20.
Surely the Minister is condoning sharp practice in this matter. Does the Minister accept that the people putting in these notices are doing so in good faith?
That does not arise.
Whether they are acting in good faith or not, the position now obtaining is far and away more informative than was the position over the past 30 years.
Would the Minister not agree with me that it would be a gross abuse of legislative provisions to publish a notice of this character in the Fior-Ghaeltacht, applying exclusively to Fior-Ghaeltacht circumstances, in English, if it were known to those publishing that those primarily interested in the matter spoke only Irish?
Are Fine Gael in favour of compulsory English? Is that the idea?
Fine Gael are in favour of promoting the Irish language honestly.
In answer to the Deputy's question, I am not so aware.
Does the Minister not agree that in regard to a town planning matter relating to the Fior-Ghaeltacht, in which the only purpose concerned——
That is a separate question, of course.
No, Sir. The Minister said it was proper and correct to publish the notice in one language, and that was sufficient. I want to put it to him, if this notice related to Fior-Ghaeltacht property, and the probability was that all those interested spoke only Irish, would he think it the fulfilment of the legislation of this House to publish this notice for the information of people in English, in the knowledge and belief that the people concerned neither spoke nor read English?
This is a question relating to outside the Gaeltacht.
As a matter of clarification. I should say that, irrespective of which of the two languages is used, the notice must be displayed and there must be kept conveniently available to all interested parties and they would include members of local authorities, and so on, a register in the various offices open for inspection at all reasonable times. No matter what language is used information as to what is intended in any particular place will in future be available to all and sundry before any work commences or before any application is granted.