Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 20: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the progress made to date in regard to the development of the 20 year strategy for the Irish language; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5593/08]

Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 46: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if his Department has engaged consultants to assist in preparing a strategy on the Irish language; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5514/08]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 20 and 46 together.

As I have indicated previously in replies to Questions in this House, the Government published its Statement on the Irish Language in December 2006. That Statement provides for the development of a 20-year Strategy for the Irish language, which is intended to be the foundation for practical action for supporting and promoting the language, based on a modern, integrated approach. My Department undertook a public procurement process in relation to the appointment of consultants to advise in relation to the Strategy. Two tenders were received, neither of which were deemed, following an independent assessment process, to meet all of the Department's requirements. Subsequently, my Department opened negotiations with one of the unsuccessful tenderers, Fiontar, Dublin City University, who have now been appointed as consultants on the basis of a revised proposal.

It was envisaged at the time of the Statement's publication that it would take up to two years for the Strategy to be prepared. I am confident that this target will be achieved and that process of preparation of the Strategy will be completed this year.