Ms Caroline Phelan:

With respect to the overt nature of signage and so on, that comes under the Roads Act. It is a good idea. The plean teanga for cathair na Gaillimhe has just been adopted and has a lot of actions in it. Ms Bhreathnach will confirm that a specific co-ordinator is to be appointed for that. The expectation for the land use plan to deliver is broader than its remit in some ways but I do not think that excuses Galway City Council. Issues are being raised and we are working in conjunction with Gaillimh le Gaeilge because we are lead partners in that as well. Many actions come out of that plan and it is much more cross co-ordinated. There is a bigger focus with regard to what the Deputy is saying about looking at opportunities where the language can be sustained, expanded and made more visible. We have to respect the fact that the plan has only recently been adopted and we did not have a great year last year.

The Deputy asked about student accommodation. The most recent accommodation has been granted under An Bord Pleanála’s strategic housing development, SHD, process but we still had a role in that. We did not ask for any of that accommodation to be reserved specifically but maybe that is something that the universities or institutes should take on as part of their idealism and vision with regard to the Gaeltacht, as opposed to having it come through the planning process. In that way, it would not be so coercive. In some ways the language plan will make it a more consensual advancement.

According to the economic study that was done, 91% of people surveyed saw huge benefit in the Irish language, not just economically. It is also a matter of ownership and willingness. That exists in the city but it is a cross-partnership thing. Ms Bhreathnach might be more privy to those aspects of the language plan. Some of the things that have been raised can be remedied easily enough. Even the signage issue could be remedied through better communication and willingness. There are requirements anyway for signage in the Gaeltacht but it is also about psychologically feeling you are going into a Gaeltacht area. I appreciate that is not apparent or overt but there is capacity for it.