Rory Hearne (Dublin North-West, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

Tá grúpaí Gaeilge agus Gaeltachta fud fad na tíre buartha faoi staid reatha na teanga. Is cinnte go bhfuil rudaí maithe ar nós Kneecap, "An Cailín Ciúin" agus eile ann ach níl ag éirí go maith leis an nGaeilge sa chóras oideachais. Tá crúachas ann i maoiniú na Gaeilge sa phobal agus tá fadhbanna an-mhór le tithíocht sa Ghaeltacht. There is a welcome flourishing of the Irish language in communities and the arts among people young and old. Feicim é i mo pháistí féin. The language is being returned to as an expression of positive inclusive identity, of community and of connection and meaning in a world where we are increasingly alienated from each other in a monotonous culture that wants to commodify everything. We in the Social Democrats and people throughout this country, including Irish and Gaeltacht groups, are deeply concerned about the state of the Irish language. We are calling for urgent action from the Government to ensure that the language survives and thrives through action in the education system, through support for the Irish language sector in our community by giving the additional €20 million requested by 130 Irish language, Gaeltacht and other groups as per an plean fáis through Foras na Gaeilge and through urgently addressing the housing crisis in our Gaeltachtaí.

Labhróidh mé le himní mhór. I will speak with deep concern about the housing crisis in our Gaeltachtaí. Tá an staid tithíochta reatha sa Ghaeltacht tagtha go pointe éigeandála le cúpla bliain anuas. Idir diúltú cead pleanála do dhaoine áitiúla, ganntanas títhe ar fáil ar cíos go fadtéarmach cé go bhuil iliomad acu ar Airbnb agus easpa tithe inacmhainne ar díol, tá sé ag éirí níos deacra i gcónaí do mhuintir na Gaeltachta cur fúthu sa Ghaeltacht. The housing crisis in the Gaeltachtaí has particular significance to the language given their importance in the continuation of the language and its ability to thrive and survive. I have spoken to young people from our Gaeltachtaí who cannot buy or build a home in their community. Those young people are the future of our language. They should be supported to get a home in the Gaeltacht so that the language can survive. The future of the language depends on their future and their ability to get a home in the Gaeltacht. Is géarchéim chórasach náisiúnta í an ghéarchéim tithíochta atá ag réabadh na tíre le tamall de bhlianta anuas ach tá cástacht sa bhreis ar an scéal sa Ghaeltacht toisc go bhfuil todhchaí ár dtéanga á cur i mbaol ag an gcóras reatha, córas atá ag cur muintir na Gaeltachta as a gceantair dhúchais mar gheall nach féidir teach a cheannach, a thógáil nó a fháil ar cíos go fadtéarmach.

Airbnb is a massive problem in these communities with just a handful of places to rent on Daft while there are hundreds on Airbnb. The Government should move without delay to clamp down on these. The Government must also urgently support the delivery of affordable homes in our Gaeltachtaí using our budget surplus to fund and resource Údarás na Gaeltachta. As per the recommendation from Foras na Gaeilge, the údarás should be given the statutory power and resources necessary to enable it to purchase land, obtain planning permission, provide services and develop affordable housing for Irish speakers in the Gaeltacht areas. Ba chóir an chumacht reachtúil agus na hacmhainní riachtanacha, idir reatha agus caipitil, a thabhairt d'Údarás na Gaeltachta le rannóg tithíochta a bhunú le cur ar a chumas talamh a cheannach agus seirbhísí riachtanacha a chur ar fáil le gur féidir tithíocht a fhorbairt do chainteoirí Gaeilge sna ceantair Ghaeltachta.

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