As the Deputy is aware, the Programme for a Partnership Government states that the Government needs to systematically implement the 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language, increase the number of people using Irish in their daily lives and ensure that Irish becomes a more visible language in today’s society. The Strategy
is an ambitious plan that sets out nine areas for action, including education, the Gaeltacht, the family, public services, the media, the economy, legislation and cross-cutting initiatives.
The Gaeltacht Act 2012 gives statutory effect to the language planning process in the Gaeltacht under which language plans will be prepared at community level in Gaeltacht Language Planning Areas. Supporting Gaeltacht communities is, of course, central to my Department’s objective of nurturing and strengthening Irish as a community language that will be passed on from generation to generation. Accordingly, there is a strong emphasis on formal language planning processes being put in place as part of the 20-Year Strategy. Communities, in preparing language plans, will identify local requirements and my Department, in cooperation with Údarás na Gaeltachta, will support these efforts in every way possible. It is in this context that any reintroduction of Gaeltacht schemes will be examined.
