I propose to take Question Nos. 875 and 908 together.
As stated in the reply to Question Nos. 238 and 239 of 14 May 2008, section 10(2)(m) of the Planning and Development Act 2000 requires a development plan to include objectives for the protection of the linguistic and cultural heritage of the Gaeltacht, including the promotion of Irish as the community language, where there is a Gaeltacht area in the area of the development plan.
Guidelines for Planning Authorities on Development Plans were issued by my Department in June 2007 to assist planning authorities in the preparation and implementation of development plans. Appendix C to these Guidelines sets out, inter alia, further considerations for planning authorities in the preparation of development plans in Gaeltacht areas such as demographic, economic and cultural factors, as well as particular facilities appropriate to Gaeltacht areas and the administrative and management structures that might be required. These guidelines were issued under section 28 of the Act, which requires planning authorities to have regard to them in the performance of their functions. The Guidelines are available on my Department's website at www.environ.ie. The provisions of the Act and the statutory guidelines provide a strong legal underpinning of Gaeltachta and the Irish language in planning law.
I am also a member of the Cabinet Committee on Irish and the Gaeltacht which held its first meeting on 10 April 2008. I will work with my colleagues to ensure that the Committee's programme of work is advanced, including the implementation of any necessary actions in the area of planning, to protect our linguistic and cultural heritage.
