Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I can have a stab at dealing with these three topics, which are in some ways totally separate. We have already addressed some of the subject matter.

Amendment No. 890 outlines how the language impact assessment would work. It is quite specific. I am not precious about the language but the intent exists. I would be happy to work with the Department if it wished to adopt the concept of the language impact assessment and consider how it would work. It would have to be independent of the developer. There would have to be an expert in language planning or sociolinguistics. It is a question of what the impact would be based on. It would relate to the likes of census information, the scale and nature of the development, and additional conditions proposed as part of the application to ring-fence a percentage of a development for Irish-speaking residents. That is where the question of level B2 comes into being.

We have set out the need for this amendment. The Minister of State has mentioned previously that local authorities can put criteria in their development plans. Nobody is denying that. In fact, in the latest round of development plans, several counties have enhanced or, for the first time ever, recognised specific Gaeltacht plans. That is on foot of the debate that has been raging on the lack of planning guidelines. It is reflected in conversations I had with Conradh na Gaeilge in advance of and during the production of the report of my committee on the Irish language. The very people working in language planning should understand the role they have.

We heard from representatives of various councils at the time of our deliberations. In a letter containing information separate from that in the oral presentation, the chief executives of Cork County Council, Kerry County Council, Meath County Council and Waterford City and County Council appealed for guidelines but also raised issues such as the need for statutory local area plans. Again, this is a function of local authorities, but a local authority is not going to act in many cases unless it is directed to. This is why statutory local area plans must be presented. The representatives said that, in general, local authorities would welcome greater co-ordination of approach in the area of granted planning permission and recommended eight specific measures, although I do not agree with all of them. I will give the Minister of State a copy of the letter for his perusal. Some of what is in my amendment reflects the council representatives' frustration. Since the work that was undertaken and the publication of the report, the new group Bánú, which was specifically set up to highlight this issue, and also the likes of Meitheal Pleanála Teanga An Iarthuaiscirt and Conradh na Gaeilge have tried to focus on and be constructive in examining legislation. This is why we are seeking the insertion of a provision on a language impact assessment. Just as environmental protections are vital in all our planning, there should be language protections. They are equally important but achieve different things. Sometimes, they enhance each other.

The language impact assessment would relate to a proposed development. If a proposed development is to have a negative impact on the viability of Irish as the community language or lead to an increase in the ratio of English speakers to Irish speakers in a language planning area, permission should be withheld to protect the linguistic cohesion of the area. That is the idea behind the language assessment. It is not just a matter of stating how many Irish speakers are in an area and the number of schools; it is also about whether a development would be detrimental or beneficial. Amendment No. 890 lists what the language assessment would be based on.

Amendments Nos. 683 and 709, which are in the same group, state permission for developments should be refused if they contravene the language plans agreed under Acht na Gaeltachta 2012. The proposal is straightforward, namely, that a development should comply with plans agreed upon by the Government to support the use of Irish in Gaeltacht areas. Conradh na Gaeilge explained that current Government policy recognises the need for a development to have a positive impact on the linguistic and cultural heritage of the Gaeltacht and that, to this end, some forms of developments or developments of a particular scale must be discouraged. No development should materially contravene any development plan.

The Minister of State addressed his amendments in his contribution. I will leave it at that and contribute again in a few minutes.