Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 146: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the proposed timeframe for the implementation of the 20 year strategy on the Irish language; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33523/08]

Pádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Question 161: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the position regarding the consultation process for the development of the 20 year strategy for the Irish language; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33554/08]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 146 and 161 together.

The Government's Statement on the Irish Language 2006 includes a commitment to develop 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.

With regard to the consultation process for the formulation of the Strategy, my Department is currently in the second phase of the public consultation process. The first phase took place earlier this year and involved a series of public meetings and an on-line survey. Based on the views and recommendations expressed by the public during this process, a discussion document has been published that draws together the various strands and has outlined the key elements to be addressed in the Strategy. A further series of public meetings is currently being held to give people the opportunity to express their views regarding the discussion document.

In addition to the public consultation, Fiontar DCU, the consultants that are assisting in the formulation of the Strategy, are in consultation with key stakeholders in both the public and voluntary sectors as to their recommendations for inclusion in the Strategy. Fiontar have also brought together in their Advisory Group international expertise with experience in minority languages.

The Strategy, when completed, will be a comprehensive road map of where we need to go, over the 20 year implementation timeframe. Each individual element of the Strategy — Irish in the community, in the education system, provision of public services through Irish, and so on — will require to be fleshed out in detail in sectoral plans once the overall Strategy has Government approval.

It is expected that the draft Strategy will be submitted for my consideration and for submission for Government approval by the end of the year.