Vol. 515 No. 5
33 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands when the promised Gaeltacht commission will be established; the functions and terms of reference of the proposed commission; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6291/00]
I intend to bring proposals – which will incorporate terms of reference – before the Government shortly regarding the establishment of a special commission on the Irish language in the Gaeltacht. The commission will examine the extent to which Irish is the spoken language of the Gaeltacht and report and make recommendations to the Government on the promotion and preservation of the Irish language in the Gaeltacht.
Since the Irish language is an important cultural asset of the Gaeltacht and an important asset for the nation as a whole, the commission will be requested to make recommendations aimed at ensuring the future viability of the language in the Gaeltacht.
