Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 3 Dec 1998

Vol. 497 No. 7

Written Answers - Irish Language Voluntary Organisations.

Eamon Gilmore

Question:

162 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands if she has considered the report, Treo 2000; her views on the recommendations made in the report; the action, if any, she has taken to date in this regard; the action she will take to implement any of the recommendations of the report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26178/98]

Minister of State at the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands (Éamon Ó Cuív)

The commission to examine the role of the Irish language voluntary organisations, established by the then Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht in January 1996, and which reported in January 1997, made a number of general recommendations and some specific recommendations on the voluntary Irish language organisations activities.

One of the principal recommendations of the report — Treo 2000 — related to the establishment of An Chomhairle Ghaeilge which would have responsibility for all Irish language affairs, for funding and for general policy direction on all aspects of the language. An chomhairle would prepare a development programme for the language and would examine the need for a Language Equality Bill. The report also recommended that the funding system for the voluntary Irish language organisations should be project based and that An Chomhairle Ghaeilge would assess and fund projects.

I do not propose to establish An Chomhairle Ghaeilge. The functions proposed for that body are appropriate to the Minister and to the Irish language State boards under the aegis of my Department, i.e., Bord na Gaeilge and Údarás na Gaeltachta. The Deputy is aware that work has commenced in my Department on the preparation of a language Bill. As regards the funding of the voluntary Irish language organisations, the system now in place which is operated by my Department provides core annual financing for them and specific assistance for projects put forward by them which are accepted for funding.

Certain recommendations in the report are directed at the voluntary Irish language organisations themselves, and to other bodies, and will be a matter for them to consider.