The Government Chief Whip and Minister of State for the Irish language, the Gaeltacht and the Islands, Joe McHugh T.D., today (Saturday 15 September) announced that the language plan for the Gaeltacht Language Planning Area of Árainn Mhór has been approved under the language planning process. The Minister of State also announced that an allocation worth up to €100,000 over a 12 month period has been approved, enabling Comharchumann Árainn Mhór to employ a Language Planning Officer if necessary.
This is the tenth plan approved under the language planning process and the first island-based plan to be approved under the process. This ensures that the target of ten plan approvals for 2018 has already been achieved, with a further five scheduled for approval before year’s end.
“With the approval of this plan”, said the Minister of State, “Comharchumann Árainn Mhór will be able to begin implementing their plan without delay, to the benefit of both the island community and the Irish language. Similar to the other language planning organisations involved with this process, Comharchumann Árainn Mhór has done very significant work in preparing their plan. I wish them every success in its implementation.”
“Following the enactment of the Gaeltacht Act in 2012, much important work has been carried out at official but, more importantly, at community level, aimed at embedding the language planning process as the means of passing on our national language to the next generation.
Local communities have taken on the painstaking task of developing their language plans with passion and commitment. While at times it has been frustrating for them, the rapid approval of language plans this year shows that their hard work is paying off. I want to thank them for their support and for the work they have put into the language planning process in order to help preserve the language for future generations.
The first two of over thirty local Language Planning Officers have also been appointed just recently, representing a further milestone in the process. The myriad of community groups and organisations involved in the process should, at this important juncture, be congratulated,” the Minister added.
Note to the editor
Of the 26 Gaeltacht Language Planning Areas designated under the Gaeltacht Act, 2012, nine plans have previously been sanctioned under the language planning process:
• Cois Fharraige;
• Gaoth Dobhair, Rann na Feirste, Anagaire & Loch an Iúir;
• Cloch Chionnaola, Gort an Choirce, An Fál Carrach & Machaire Rabhartaigh;
• Na Déise;
• Múscraí;
• Ciarraí Theas;
• Dúiche Sheoigheach & Tuar Mhic Éadaigh;
• Ciarraí Thiar;
• Maigh Eo Thuaidh.
The Árainn Mhór plan is now the tenth language plan to have been sanctioned.
A further three plans have been submitted to the Department and are currently being evaluated:
• An Cheathrú Rua;
• Conamara Láir;
• Ráth Chairn & Baile Ghib.
The Department expects that up to 15 plans in total will have been approved under the process by the end of the year.
The other island-based language planning areas are:
• Tóraigh;
• Oileáin Árann;
• Cléire.
Gaeltacht Service Towns and Irish Language Networks
The preparation of plans is ongoing in respect of Letterkenny, Daingean Uí Chúis and the Cities of Galway and Cork. It is hoped that in the current year the preparation of plans for Dungarvan, Tralee, An Clochán Liath and Castlebar will have begun.
The preparation of plans continues in respect of the Irish Language Networks of Ennis, Loughrea and Clondalkin, under the direction of Foras na Gaeilge. It is expected that Foras na Gaeilge will submit these plans to the Department by the end of the year at the latest.
Funding
The Minister of State announced recently that funding of €1.7m has been allocated to Údarás na Gaeltachta and Foras na Gaeilge to promote the process in the current year. This funding will be used to support the preparation and implementation of language plans and the appointment of Language Planning Officers in regions for which language plans have been approved. The first Language Planning Officer was recently appointed in the Donegal Gaeltacht.
The above initiative has been approved in accordance with Actions 2.1, agus 2.3 of the Action Plan for the Irish Language 2018-2022. Additional information regarding the Action Plan and the language planning process can be obtained on the Department’s website at www.chg.gov.ie