The Minister of State for the Irish Language, the Gaeltacht and the Islands, Seán Kyne TD, has today approved the language plan for Ceantar na nOileán in Connemara, under the language planning process. The Minister also announced an annual grant of up to €100,000 to support the actions in the plan as well as Comhairle Ceantar na nOileán, the organisation leading the plan.
The aim of language plans is to strengthen the Irish language in a co-ordinated way and to increase its use in the home, in the local community, in education and business in the language planning areas. This particular plan focuses on communities in Ceantar na nOileán including Eanach Mheáin, Leitir Móir, Garumna and Leitir Mealláin, among others.
Commented Minister Kyne:
With the approval of the language plan and the annual fund worth €100,000 for the Ceantar na nOileán language planning area, the next phase of the language planning process will commence in that area. Comhairle Ceantar na nOileán will initiate the implementation of the plan’s measures, which are based on the local needs they identified while preparing the plan.
The Plan has a significant number of actions designed to support the Irish Language in this part of Connemara and ensure its continuation as the community language. The funding from my department will support a range of measures relating to the education system, including early education services, childcare services, youth services and other age groups, learning opportunities outside the education system, the business sector, community organisations and co-operatives, the media, public services, and social and recreational services.
I congratulate the lead organisation on their hard work in getting their plan approved. Needless to say, both I and my officials and officers of Údarás na Gaeltachta are looking forward to continuing to work together with the lead organization to support the implementation of the Ceantar na nOileán language plan in the coming years.
Comhairle Ceantar na nOileán welcomed the announcement. The Chairperson, Eilís Ni Lochnáin said
this is a great opportunity for us to ensure the preservation of the language for future generations. We look forward to recruiting a Language Planning Officer and to implement the measures in this plan for the benefit of the community. We would also like to thank everyone who was involved in putting the plan together.
Notes to the Editor
This is the 15th plan to be approved under the language planning process. The areas for which a language plan has been approved up until now are:
- Cois Fharraige;
- Gaoth Dobhair, Rann na Feirste, Anagaire & Loch an Iúir;
- Cloich Chionnaola, Gort an Choirce, An Fál Carrach & Machaire Rabhartaigh;
- Na Déise;
- Múscraí;
- Ciarraí Theas;
- Dúiche Sheoigheach & Tuar Mhic Éadaigh;
- Ciarraí Thiar;
- Maigh Eo Thuaidh;
- Árainn Mhór;
- An Cheathrú Rua;
- Conamara Láir;
- Ráth Chairn & Baile Ghib;
- Dún na nGall Theas.
Another plan has been presented to the Department and it is currently being considered.
The Department hopes that up to 23 plans will be approved in total under the process before the end of the year.
9 Language Planning Officers and 2 Assistant Language Planning Officers have been employed to date in the areas of the lead-organisations and actions relating to the relevant language plans have commenced as a result.
Service Towns and Irish Language Networks
Plans are already being prepared for the following towns: Letterkenny; Daingean Uí Chúis and the cities of Galway and Cork. It is expected that preparation of plans for Dungarvan, Tralee, An Clochán Liath and Castlebar will commence before the end of the year.
Plans for Irish Language Networks in Ennis, Loughrea and Clondalkin will continue to be prepared under the direction of Foras na Gaeilge. It is expected that Foras na Gaeilge will present plans for those areas to the Department for approval before the end of the year.
The abovementioned is in accordance with measures 2.1 and 2.3 of the Action Plan 2018-2022 for the Irish Language. Further information regarding the language planning process and the Action Plan 2018-2022 can be found on the Department's website: www.chg.gov.ie