Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Tá brón orm ach níl ach cúpla focal Gaeilge agam so I have to speak English.

First, I will start with Seán Ó Laoi in Gael-Taca. I am lucky and am very proud that both my daughters can speak as Gaeilge. My children can do something I could never do. As a parent, you always hope your children will take one extra step. My wife has a good bit of the language. I was always involved with the Gaelic Athletic Association and I had always wanted to make my home an Irish home. I was hoping that when the girls went to Gaelscoil Pheig Sayers, we would speak Irish at home and they would drag me on. Unfortunately, I embarrassed them too much and that was that.

Just to get back to the situation in Cork, my memory of Gael-Taca was going into a building in the centre of Cork city where people could speak the language. It was very open. I struggled with the language for years. I remember going to UCC to the áras to try to learn it, and there was a lady called Gobnait Kelly from Baile Bhuirne when I worked in the dairy and she would talk to me.

Someone like me would need to speak the language every day or regularly to keep it. I had a level of it but the amount I have lost over time is phenomenal. When I knew Gael-Taca, I knew it as that space. Whether you were fluent or a beginner, you could use the library or have a cup of coffee or a cup of tea. You could go in on your own or with your family. It is a great loss to Cork and to the language, culture, tradition and heritage. We will be raising the plan Gael-Taca has brought forward with the Department. I do not understand why such a comprehensive and detailed plan to promote the language in Cork city is not being delivered. The Department should be all over Gael-Taca, offering support and encouragement. I know there were a few issues but most of this happened around the time of Covid. Covid had consequences for Gael-Taca, no more than any other organisation. Mr. Ó Laoi made the point that this especially affected organisations run by volunteers, who have their own jobs and families but who are working for the love of the language and everything that goes with it. There is now an onus on the Department to give answers. It should provide funding to get Gael-Taca reopened and to put in place a plan to promote the language, heritage and culture in Cork. If the Department does not do that, it has to explain why not. It is not good enough that we do not have the information. We need openness and transparency. Do the witnesses wish to come in on that point?