As the Deputy is aware, many communities outside of the Gaeltacht are actively engaged in promoting the Irish language. Section 11 of the Gaeltacht Act 2012 provides for the designation of such language communities as Irish Language Networks, i.e. areas that have achieved a basic critical mass of community and State support for the Irish language. The Act provides Foras na Gaeilge with a statutory role in assisting organisations with the preparation and implementation of language plans in Irish Language Networks. My Department recently published Language Planning Guidelines which detail the process for obtaining recognition as an Irish Language Network. These guidelines can be accessed on my Department’s website at: http://www.ahg.gov.ie/en/20-YearStrategyfortheIrishLanguage2010-2030/LanguagePlanningProcess/.
In line with its statutory remit, Foras na Gaeilge provides a range of supports for the promotion of the Irish language in the community on an all-island basis. These supports include:
- An Scéim Phobal Gaeilge under which officers are employed by local communities to implement language development plans in their areas;
- A funding scheme for the establishment of language networks within communities;
- Scéim na gCampaí Samhraidh which assists local groups outside of the Gaeltacht to organise youth summer camps through Irish;
- Scéim na nImeachtaí Óige which enables communities to organise youth clubs/activities outside of school hours;
- Scéim na bhFéilte which facilitates the organisation of Irish language events as part of festivals;
- Scéim na gComplachtaí Drámaíochta which assists Irish language drama groups; and
- An Scéim Tacaíochta Gnó which assists SMEs in using Irish within the commercial business sector.
In addition, Foras na Gaeilge recently announced the selection of six lead organisations to operate in the following key areas of Irish language promotion and development on an all-island basis:
(i) Irish-medium/immersion education and Irish-medium pre-school education;
(ii) Awareness raising, language protection and representation;
(iii) Education in the English-language sector and for adults, and opportunities for school pupils to use the language;
(iv) Opportunities which support the use of Irish and the establishment of networks;
(v) Community and economic development; and,
(vi) Development of opportunities for the use of Irish and of networks for young people.
The organisations selected are Gaelscoileanna, Conradh na Gaeilge, Gael Linn, Oireachtas na Gaeilge, Glór na nGael and Cumann na bhFiann.
