Thomas Gould
Question:13. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if officials in her Department would consider supporting a northside Gaeltacht in Cork city. [6902/24]
View answerThursday, 15 February 2024
Questions (13)
Oral answers (6 contributions)
Has the Minister spoken to officials in her Department about supporting a Gaeltacht on the northside of Cork city?
My Department works to support language networks right across the island of Ireland, including through the work of Foras na Gaeilge. In particular, the language planning process as set out under the Gaeltacht Act 2012 provides for the formal recognition of Gaeltacht service towns and Irish language networks as identified under the Act.
Gaeltacht service towns are towns in, or adjacent to, Gaeltacht language planning areas that play a significant role in the delivery of public services and leisure, social and commercial amenities to the community of those areas. Under the Act, a town must have a population of at least 1,000, according to the most recent census, to be included as a Gaeltacht service town. Recognition under the Act will be provided to Gaeltacht service towns providing language plans have been agreed with the communities concerned in accordance with prescribed language planning criteria.
Cork city has always had a vibrant Irish-speaking community with strong links to the Gaeltacht areas of the county and County Kerry. In this regard, the city has been short-listed, together with 15 other towns, as urban centres that may be accorded Gaeltacht service town status subject to language plans being developed in accordance with the provisions of the Act.
A broad range of schemes, supports and initiatives is already being deployed in support of the language in Cork city, as set out on my Department's website. Building on this, the most appropriate approach for my Department in providing structured support for the promotion of the Irish language in Cork city is being discussed by my officials with Foras na Gaeilge and with local stakeholders. The Aire Stáit and my Department will be happy to keep the Deputy informed as these discussions advance.
The irony here is that I am asking this question in English because I do not have the Irish to do it. However, the one thing I can say, and I am really proud of it, is that my two daughters could ask this question as Gaeilge. This is because they went to a local Gaelscoil - Gaelscoil Pheig Sayers in Fearann Phiarais. The fact that there was a local Gaelscoil available to them - it was not around when I was young - meant they were able to learn the language and become fluent in it. I am on the board of Gaelscoil Pheig Sayers. This school has tripled in size in the past number of years because people want their children to be educated in the language. They want to have that option.
We have seen a surge in people wanting their children to be able to speak the language. Aside from Gaelscoil Pheig Sayers, we have Gaelcholáiste Mhic Shuibhne in Knocknaheeny, we have seen significant growth in Gaelcholáiste Mhuire on North Monastery Road in Cork, which has hundreds of pupils in second level and we also have Mayfield Community School. There is, therefore, a vibrant community of Irish speakers that we want to build on.
You do not have to be fluent in the Irish language to love our native tongue. I commend the Deputy for showing that love of the language and trying to support it here. We should never be fearful of stumbling, getting grammar wrong or forgetting our séimhiús. It is about using and promoting the language, even if it is through putting questions in English, which is fantastic. It is wonderful to see the surge in numbers of people wishing to learn the language mentioned by the Deputy.
Pending the agreement of the language plan, the issues of financial support for Gaelscoileanna and employing language assistants in Cork city's Irish-medium schools have already been raised with my officials. They are being actively considered by my officials and I expect a decision will be made in due course.
It is good to hear about the initiative and that Cork city is being targeted as one of the areas where the language will be supported. I would like to see vacant buildings used. In my community on the northside of Cork, there are buildings that are free. We could have a Gaeltacht hub in the area with a café, meeting rooms, library and a place to hold events. That would encourage the schools and the community to buy in. The problem for Irish speakers at the moment is that there is no place they can go and be with other Irish speakers. I am also thinking of people like me who want to go somewhere to improve their Irish. I welcome the initiative but I ask that the use of vacant buildings be considered.
My Department has a scheme to develop Irish language centres and there might be potential to do something in Cork in that regard. I will follow up with my officials and get back to the Deputy. There is a scheme to develop Irish language centres and I believe there is potential for doing something in Cork in this regard given the desire for the promotion of and support for the Irish language.