Lorraine Clifford-Lee (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Today, I wish to raise the issue of Irish road signs. I am calling for a national audit of road signs to ensure the correct Irish translation is used and that the Irish name is grammatically correct and is spelled correctly.This issue came to my attention in recent days in my constituency. There is a roundabout outside Swords called the Estuary Roundabout. I noticed the Irish name on it was "Timpeallán Bhóthar na Mara", which does not translate as "Estuary Roundabout". The Irish for "estuary" is "inbhear". In north County Dublin we have two fantastic estuaries, namely, the Broadmeadow Estuary and the Rogerstown Estuary, so we are very familiar with the word "inbhear". There is an estate in Malahide called Inbhir Ide and one beside me in Donabate called Cois Inbhir. I was baffled when I saw the road sign as to why either the incorrect English translation of the Irish name or Irish translation of the English name was used. I will write to Fingal County Council to get that explained. It is not acceptable anymore.

There was an issue in County Kerry last March when an estate was given an incorrect and incoherent name and it is not okay that things like this occur. Every county council should have a full-time Irish language officer and a naming committee. That committee can ensure the correct Irish versions of names are given and suggest Irish names for all new housing estates, roads and pieces of infrastructure. This has worked well in Galway City Council and now over 30% of housing estates in Galway have an Irish name. This sends a strong signal of support and respect for the Irish language. I call for that national audit to take place, for Irish language officers to be employed and for naming committees to be set up in every local authority area. I also lend my support to Councillor Martin McDermott and the thousands of people who have travelled from Donegal today.