Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

As I advised the House on a number of previous occasions in reply to related questions on this matter, and more recently during the course of statements in the House on 8 November 2007, the Government published its statement on the Irish language in December 2006. That statement provides for the development of a 20-year strategy for the Irish language, which is intended to be the foundation for practical action for supporting and promoting the language, based on a modern, integrated approach.

My Department, during the course of 2007, has been engaged in a public procurement process regarding the appointment of consultants to advise in respect of the strategy. This process is nearing completion and I expect that consultants will be appointed by the end of the year. It was envisaged at the time of the statement's publication that it would take up to two years for the strategy to be prepared. I am confident that this target will be achieved and that the strategy will be completed by December 2008.

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