Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 1 April 2010
19 Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the plans he has to promote a national debate, to include the population at large, on the draft 20 year strategy on the Irish language; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14277/10]
View answer32 Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs when he will present the final draft of the 20 year strategy on the Irish language; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14278/10]
View answer46 Deputy Mary Upton asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs his views on whether a full review of the State resources provided to preserve and develop the Irish language is a prerequisite to finalising the 20 year strategy on the Irish language; and his further views that such a review should be carried out by the Coimisinéir Teanga and or the Economic and Social Research Institute, and that the Comisinéir Teanga and or the ESRI should have a continuing monitoring role in regard to the implementation of the 20 year strategy on the Irish language. [14280/10]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 19, 32 and 46 together.
The draft 20-Year Strategy for Irish is a very important initiative for all citizens of the State. For that reason, a broad national public consultation process was carried out over a two-year period to seek input into in its drafting, which included a series of public meetings, an online questionnaire and the provision of a dedicated website. Subsequently, my Department published a discussion paper and undertook a further round of consultations, including public meetings, to seek focussed suggestions and ideas for the draft Strategy.
As the Deputy will be aware, the draft Strategy has since been published and referred to the Joint Committee on Arts, Sport, Tourism, Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. I understand that the Committee discussed the draft with Irish language and Gaeltacht organisations on 20 January last, and held a further meeting in the Gaeltacht on 26 February, when key Gaeltacht organisations had the opportunity to express their views. I look forward to the opportunity to receive the outcome of the Committee's deliberations in due course. In that context, I hope, once I have received the Committee's views, to bring the draft Strategy to Government for approval.
The initial phase of the Strategy will focus on putting in place practical implementation and co-ordination arrangements, including the effective alignment of resources with strategic goals and arrangements for ongoing monitoring and evaluation.
