Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister. I will speak to those amendments. Amendment No. 440, for example, is about the notice of intention to review a development plan in preparation of a development plan. Other amendments relate to making a development plan and variation of a development plan and concern the correspondence to be sent and discussed. I am seeking to update the language in the Bill such that it will be consistent with Acht na Gaeltachta, 2012, which sets out the structure for the language planning process and redefine the Gaeltacht as it was until the development of language planning areas. As the Minister will be well aware, under that legislation, 26 Gaeltacht language planning areas, 16 Gaeltacht service towns and five language networks, or líonraí Gaeilge, are recognised on the island of Ireland.

The reference in the Bill to just the Gaeltacht, therefore, is out of date and is using the language of the 2000 Act but we should update the language in the Bill such that it will be consistent with Acht na Gaeltachta, 2012. The amendments are seeking to ensure, given that this is the largest revision of our planning legislation in 25 years and that there may not be another consolidated Bill like this for a number of decades, that it will be up to date with the legislation passed in 2012. The reference is just to the Gaeltacht but there is more detail in the amendment, such as the Minister, the limistéar pleanála teanga Gaeltachta, the baile seirbhíse Gaeltachta and the líonraí. That is what the amendments are largely seeking to do.