Rónán Mullen (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Roimh an Cháisc chualamar roinnt de na torthaí ó dhaonáireamh 2016. Ceann de na rudaí nach raibh mórán cainte air, agus nár chualamar ón Rialtas mar gheall air, ná an méid daoine a labhraíonn Gaeilge lasmuigh den chóras oideachais sa Ghaeltacht. Is é an figiúr a fuaireamar ná go bhfuil 20,586 duine a labhraíonn Gaeilge sa Ghaeltacht lasmuigh den chóras oideachais. Faraor, laghdú 11% atá ansin ón figiúr a bhí ann i 2011. Ba 23,175 an figiúr ag an am sin. The fall in the daily number of Irish speakers in the Gaeltacht since the last census - over five years, there has been an 11% reduction down to 20,586 people speaking Irish outside the education system - is very troubling. It confirms research findings in 2015 that indicated that on current trends, the language as a community vernacular in the Gaeltacht will not continue beyond 2025.

For many people in pobal na Gaeilge, the drop in the numbers using Irish frequently in the Gaeltacht demonstrated in the 2016 census was shocking and disappointing. No doubt Senator Ó Clochartaigh, who knows much more than I do about this and who is very directly concerned with these matters, will back me up on what I am saying. One of the specific objectives of the 20-year strategy for the Irish language was to increase the number of people in the Gaeltacht speaking Irish on a daily basis by 25% and to promote language invigoration in these regions. That was said to be critical to the overall strategy.

I am conscious that I am speaking at a time when it appears that the Taoiseach is about to lay down the burdens of office. We know that he is a very proud Irish speaker and is happy to demonstrate his fluency on State business in Europe. It is not clear that either of the two front-runners to succeed him have a particular commitment to the Irish language although I might be wrong. I am not out to score points, however, but to seek information. It seems to me appropriate that the Taoiseach, even when he leaves that office, should come before this House to give an account of his stewardship in various areas. To look at the areas where there have been successes but also those where there remain challenges. If a man like him who is committed to the Irish language has presided over a situation of manifest decline, where we see the failure of Irish language legislation, the Official Languages Act, where people in various agencies are turning a blind eye to their responsibility to promote the availability of services to Irish speakers, then I worry for the future.