Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 June 2012
86 Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will cancel all cuts in Gaeltacht funding until such time as the 20 year Government strategy is put in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28801/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030 was published on 21 December 2010 and the Programme for Government 2011-2016 states that the Government will support the Strategy and will deliver the achievable goals proposed therein. It is recognised in the Strategy itself that it is to be implemented on a phased basis over a 20-year period. During 2011, my Department focused on the establishment phase of the Strategy by setting up the operational structures to progress its implementation.
My Department is currently focused on advancing the Gaeltacht Bill 2012, which will provide, inter alia, for a new definition of the Gaeltacht based on linguistic criteria and for Údarás na Gaeltachta to be given responsibility for the implementation of the Strategy in the Gaeltacht. Following Government approval on 12 June for the text of the Gaeltacht Bill, I hope to present the Bill to Seanad Éireann next week. The Bill will provide for a language planning process whereby language plans will be prepared on a phased basis at community level for each Gaeltacht area. This process is a key component of the Strategy to ensure that the Irish language survives as a community language in the Gaeltacht.
While all initiatives undertaken by my Department in the Gaeltacht are closely aligned with the Strategy, I wish to draw the Deputy's attention to a particular initiative, the Family Language Support Programme, which I launched in April 2012. The aim of this programme is to support Gaeltacht families who are raising, or who wish to raise, their children through Irish.
While I appreciate the significant pressure on resources at this time, I am satisfied that the funding available to my Department is sufficient to ensure that the Strategy will continue to be implemented on a phased basis in the Gaeltacht. Further information on the implementation of the Strategy is available atwww.ahg.gov.ie.
