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The Minister of State for Gaeltacht Affairs, Joe McHugh, T.D., today (11th December 2015) welcomed the publication by all Government Departments of their five-year progress reports on the implementation of the 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030.

The Minister of State said: “I am delighted that these reports on the implementation of the Strategy between 2010 and 2015 have been published today by all 16 Government Departments. The reports show the work that has been carried out under the Strategy over the past five years. It is clear that a solid foundation exists on which we can build during the five-year period from 2016.”

The reports were published during an open policy debate on the Strategy which is being organised by the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. As part of the open policy debate, a conference was held in Dublin this week and Gaeltacht meetings were held over the last few weeks in Indreabhán, Co. Galway, Killarney, Co. Kerry and Gaoth Dobhair, Co. Donegal.

The Minister of State said: “Since the Strategy has been in place for five years, it is timely to hold an open policy debate on it now. The aim of the open policy debate is to look back at the work that has been achieved under the Strategy in the last five years and to look ahead at the priorities under the Strategy for the next five years. As a result of the consultation process that is underway as part of the open policy debate, it is envisaged that the main strategic priorities for the five-year period from 2016 will be identified and published.”

The Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht has published a discussion document which highlights particular strategic issues in order to give focus to the consultation process being organised as part of the open policy debate.

The Minister of State said: “I would urge all stakeholders to forward submissions on the discussion paper to my Department by Friday 18 December.”

Notes to Editors
The five-year reports from all the Government Departments on the implementation of the 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030 can be found at http://www.ahg.gov.ie/gaeltacht/20-year-strategy-for-the-irish-language-2010-2030/implementation-of-the-strategy/.

The discussion paper on the open policy debate can be found at http://www.ahg.gov.ie/gaeltacht/20-year-strategy-for-the-irish-language-2010-2030/open-policy-debate-on-the-20-year-strategy-for-the-irish-language-2010-2030/.