Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 228:

In page 68, between lines 26 and 27, to insert the following: “(c) the viability of any Gaeltacht communities within its region and the strengthening the use of Irish therein.”.

This cluster of amendments, while somewhat lengthy in the text, relates to strengthening the recognition of and attention to the Irish language, the Gaeltacht and Irish language service towns and networks within the regional spatial and economic strategies. We have had detailed discussion of related topics in relation to the national planning framework and other areas but there is a compelling reason for the Bill to be more vocal on these key areas.

Amendment No. 228 aims to ensure regional spatial and economic strategies support the viability of Gaeltacht communities and the use of the Irish language within them. Amendment No. 231 attempts to ensure those strategies should be materially consistent with the language plans for Gaeltacht service towns and líonraí Gaeilge agreed under the Gaeltacht Act. Amendment No. 242 relates to language plans coming onto a statutory basis from the Gaeltacht Act 2012. It aims to ensure there is adequate integration of the regional spatial strategies with those.

The remainder of the amendments are pretty self-explanatory. I will listen to the Minister of State's answers and may respond to individual amendments as we go.