Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 101: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he has discussed with his Government colleagues the holding of a major debate on the future of the Irish language and the Gaeltacht in January 2009 in the Oireachtas based on the twenty year strategy and the action plan for the future of the Irish language in the Gaeltacht; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40961/08]

Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 105: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if the 20 year strategy for the Irish language will be presented to Government, approved and published before the Christmas 2008 recess; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40959/08]

Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 117: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if the action plan for the future of the Irish language in the Gaeltacht will be presented to Government, approved and published before the Christmas 2008 recess; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40960/08]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 101, 105 and 117 together.

Work is continuing on the development of the 20-year strategy for the Irish language and it is expected that the draft will be submitted for my consideration and for submission for Government approval by the end of the year.

In regard to the Report of the Linguistic Study on the Use of Irish in the Gaeltacht, as the Deputy will be aware, the Government received this report late last year. As a result, a Government Committee was established to consider matters arising in the context of the analysis and recommendations contained in the Report. That Committee has met twice and a Senior Officials Group has been established to assist it in its deliberations. The work of the Committee is ongoing with a view to the production of an integrated action plan as soon as possible to secure the future of Irish as the community language of the Gaeltacht. No decision will be made with regard to implementation until the work of the Committee in this regard is complete.

The question of an Oireachtas debate is, of course, a matter for the House and for discussion by the Whips, but the Deputy can take it that I would be happy to participate in any such debate at the appropriate time.