Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

However, the reply I have received is in English and I will deliver it as such. On behalf of the Minister of State, I thank Deputy Griffin for raising this issue. The Minister of State welcomes this opportunity to update Members on work currently under way within the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage on this important issue. First, I want to outline the context and policy framework that underpin this work. The ongoing implementation of the language planning process has a statutory footing under the Gaeltacht Act 2012, which is the primary driver in support of the commitment to the achievement of the objectives set out in the 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010 to 2030. The national planning framework, NPF, reflects this commitment. In particular, national policy objective No. 29 "supports the implementation of language plans in Gaeltacht Language Planning Areas, Gaeltacht Service Towns and Irish Language Networks".

Separately, the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, sets out mandatory objectives for local authorities, which must be addressed in the drafting of their development plans governing local development policies. Section 10(2) of the Act, as amended, includes a requirement that, where there is a Gaeltacht area within the planning authority's territory, the development plan must include provisions and objectives for the protection of the linguistic and cultural heritage of the Gaeltacht, including the promotion of Irish as the community language. To provide further guidance in preparing appropriate policies, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage published a document, Development Plans Guidelines and Development Management Guidelines for Planning Authorities, in 2007, which addresses this mandatory objective under the Planning and Development Act. The guidelines refer to linguistic and cultural heritage and the needs of the community in land use terms for housing, community facilities, employment, tourism and design, including advertising and signage. Individual development plans may also oblige applicants for planning permission to submit certain particulars or information to accompany development proposals in Gaeltacht areas, such as assessments of the linguistic impact of the proposed development, in order for it to be assessed against relevant policies of the development plan.

In August this year, the Department published revised and updated draft development plan guidelines, which reconfirm the obligations of planning authorities to the development of the Gaeltacht. Since April 2019, the assessment of all local authority development plans and local area plans is undertaken by the Office of the Planning Regulator, OPR. The oversight role of the office includes ensuring consistency with relevant national or regional policies, including those set out in the NPF, and addressing all relevant mandatory objectives for county development plans. It is important to note that the decision to grant or refuse planning permission or assign conditions to the granting of permission, including conditions relating to language where appropriate, is ultimately a matter for the relevant planning authority or An Bord Pleanála, as appropriate.

Officials from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage have been engaging with the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media in regard to planning in Gaeltacht areas. In addition, several Irish language groups, including Conradh na Gaeilge, raised a number of matters with a view to improving the practical implementation of the Irish language provisions in Gaeltacht areas. On foot of this engagement between the Departments and the proposals put forward by Conradh na Gaeilge, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage convened a working group during the summer to examine various aspects of the planning process in the Gaeltacht.

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