Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 1035: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the progress made in relation to the programme for Government proposal to build on recent planning laws by setting up a national monitoring committee to oversee the clear and consistent implementation of the protections for the unique linguistic identity of the Gaeltacht in a way which supports the continued development of the Gaeltacht without undermining its language and culture; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47879/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 875 and 908 of 10 July 2008. Section 10(2)(m) of the Planning and Development Act 2000 requires a development plan to include objectives for the protection of the linguistic and cultural heritage of the Gaeltacht, including the promotion of Irish as the community language, where there is a Gaeltacht area in the area of the development plan.

Guidelines for Planning Authorities on Development Plans were issued by my Department in June 2007 to assist planning authorities in the preparation and implementation of development plans. Appendix C to these Guidelines sets out, inter alia, further considerations for planning authorities in the preparation of development plans in Gaeltacht areas such as demographic, economic and cultural factors, as well as particular facilities appropriate to Gaeltacht areas and the administrative and management structures that might be required. These guidelines were issued under section 28 of the Act, which requires planning authorities and An Bórd Pleanála to have regard to them in the performance of their functions. The Guidelines are available on my Department's website at www.environ.ie. The provisions of the Act and the statutory guidelines provide a strong legal underpinning of Gaeltachta and the Irish language in planning law.

I am also a member of the Cabinet Committee on Irish and the Gaeltacht which was established last year. I will continue to work with my colleagues to ensure that the Committee's programme of work is advanced, including the implementation of any necessary actions in the area of planning, to protect our linguistic and cultural heritage.