Vol. 501 No. 6
69 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands the efforts, if any, taking place in her Department to improve the use of the Irish language within and outside of Gaeltacht areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6890/99]
73 Mr. McDowell asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands the steps, if any, her Department has taken to ensure that members of the public who wish to interact with State services through the medium of the Irish language can do so with relative ease; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6891/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 69 and 73 together.
I refer the Deputies to my reply to priority Question No. 64 on today's Order Paper.
The core policy goal of my Department in relation to the Irish language is to reverse the decline in the use of the language as the principal means of communication in the Gaeltacht and to extend its use in the rest of the country. To achieve this goal my Department's grant schemes both within and outside the Gaeltacht will continue to be utilised to the maximum extent. In addition, Údarás na Gaeltachta and Bord na Gaeilge – and the Irish language agency of the North-South language body, when established – will continue with their programmes in relation to the promotion of the Irish language both within and outside the Gaeltacht – and indeed on an all-Ireland basis. A sum in excess of £44 million – an increase of 19 per cent on the 1998 figure – is being provided in the Vote of my Department this year to be expended for the benefit of the Gaeltacht and the Irish language. This sum does not include the provision of £11.7 million for Teilifís na Gaelige.
