Maura Hopkins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Ba mhaith liom fáilte a chur roimh an Aire Stáit, an Teachta McHugh. Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit agus leis an Roinn Cultúir, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta as a dtiomantas d'fhorbairt na Gaeilge. Bíonn roinnt deiseanna againn an Ghaeilge agus todhchaí na teanga a phlé sa Teach seo. Cuirim fáilte roimh na deiseanna sin. It is unfortunate that many people, including me, are not líofa sa Ghaeilge. This presents us with significant challenges with regard to the future development of the language. It is crucial that we work to make Irish more visible in our society. I welcome the work of the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht and the Minister of State, Deputy McHugh, on the implementation of the 20 year strategy for the Irish language.

The results of last year's census with regard to the Irish language, which were published recently, show that the trends continue to remain challenging. At the 2016 census, 39.8% of people said they were able to speak Irish, compared with 41.4% in the 2011 census. The number of people in Gaeltacht areas who speak Irish on a daily basis decreased by over 2,500 between 2011 and 2016. This is why the 20 year national strategy for the Irish language, which was launched in 2010, is so vital. This strategy provides us with an essential plan to make the use of Irish more visible in society, both as a spoken language and within areas like signage, literature and arts. Tá sé riachtanach anois go dtugann an plean seo buntáistí fíora do dhaoine. An bhliain seo caite, chuir an comóradh 100 bliain fócas athnua ar ár n-oidhreacht. Ní mór dúinn úsáid a bhaint as an bhfócas seo chun an teanga a chur chun cinn. It is important that there is an increase in the number of families throughout the country who use Irish as their daily means of communication.

Molaim an tAire Stáit as na hiarrachtaí atá déanta aige maoiniú méadaithe a chinntiú don teanga agus don Ghaeltacht i mbuiséad na bliana seo chugainn. The provision of an additional €2.5 million in budget 2018 builds on the additional €2.5 million provided in budget 2017. The total budget for this year will be more than €62 million. This funding is needed to begin to reverse the trend in the decline of the Irish language. The additional €1.4 million provided for language planning is very welcome to support the 20 year strategy. I am pleased that the language plans which were approved by the Minister of State, Deputy McHugh, last month can now go forward for implementation. I welcome the provision of €687,000 for the Department's support schemes outside the Gaeltacht.

Irish is much more than a language of the people. It is part of who we are as Irish people. It is a key thread in the fabric of Irish society. Mar shampla, bíonn campaí samhraidh ar siúl gach bliain i mBealach an Doirín. Tá go leor suime sa bhaile. It is important that we continue to encourage people outside the Gaeltacht areas to engage with the Irish language. I have spoken previously in the House about the work of Údarás na Gaeltachta. It is very positive that it received an increased funding allocation in the recent budget. Údarás na Gaeltachta has been creating employment and has introduced valuable initiatives to support the linguistic, economic, cultural and social development of the Gaeltacht. This increased investment in the organisation will give it the capacity to build on its work to date in a meaningful manner. Tá a lán deacrachtaí os comhair na Gaeilge, ach tá a lán deiseanna freisin. Ba chóir dúinn an meath a stopadh. Ní mór dúinn tacaíocht a thabhairt don straitéis 20 bliain ar mhaithe le forbairt na teanga.