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The Chief Whip of the Government and Minister of State for the Irish Language, the Gaeltacht and the Islands, Joe McHugh, today announced that the language plan for the Gaeltacht Language Planning Area of  Dúiche Sheoigheach and Tuar Mhic Éadaigh has been approved under the language planning process.

This is the seventh plan approved under the process that commenced in 2014. This means that the operation of the language plan in Dúiche Sheoigheach and Tuar Mhic Éadaigh will shortly begin. Údarás na Gaeltachta will soon be in touch with the lead language organisation to begin the implementation of the plan. 

A total allowance of up to €100,000 over a full 12-month period will be available in respect of the language plan to begin the implementation of the plan in the current year.  This reserve will cover the salary of a Language Planning Officer who will be able to assist in the implementation of the Dúiche Sheoigheach and Tuar Mhic Éadaigh language plan. 

Of the 26 Gaeltacht language planning areas identified under the Gaeltacht Act 2012, 7 plans have been approved under the language planning process to date - Cois Fharraige in Co. Galway, and Gaoth Dobhair, Cloch Chionnaola in Co. Donegal and na Déise in Co.  Waterford, Múscraí in Co. Cork, South Kerry, and Dúiche Sheoigheach and Tuar Mhic Éadaigh now.
Five other plans have been submitted to the Department and are being considered. The areas to which the plans currently under consideration relate are the following:

• ·         An Cheathrú Rua;
• ·         North Mayo;
• ·         West Kerry;
• ·         Árainn Mhór
• ·         Central Connemara.

Gaeltacht Service Towns
The preparation of the Gaeltacht Service Towns plans is continuing in respect of Letterkenny, Daingean Uí Chúis and the Cities of Galway and Cork. It is anticipated that during the current year plans will be underway for: Dungarvan, Tralee, An Clochán Liath and Castlebar. 

The preparation of plans continues in respect of the Irish Language Networks in Ennis, Loughrea and Clondalkin, and the Department is hoping that Foras na Gaeilge will submit the plans of those three networks to the Department before the end of 2018.

Funding of €2.65 million has been made available to promote the process in the current year – a significant increase in the first allocation of €200,000 made available to the process in 2014.

In addition to the language planning fund above, the broad programme of schemes, measures and initiatives - funded by the exchequer - will continue to be implemented by the Department, Údarás na Gaeltachta and Irish-language organisations, which will act as a continual support for the language planning process.
Language plans will involve a 7-year implementation period and it is intended to carry out an interim review on each plan in year 3 and a final review in year 6.

Minister of State McHugh stated,

“With the approval of this plan, the implementation of plans is now gathering strength and this is significant progress. By the end of the year, more areas will be implementing plans at community level throughout the Gaeltacht. 

“This has been the result of the keenness of all Gaeltacht communities and the ongoing investment of my Department in the process. A challenging period lies ahead with the implementation of plans starting and I am sure that all this effort will be of great benefit to the Irish language.”