Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 54: To ask the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport the extent to which she intends to further the promotion of the Irish language through the various agencies under the remit of her Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13186/11]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, there are three agencies under the remit of my Department with specific roles in the promotion of the Irish language. Údarás na Gaeltachta is responsible for the economic, social and cultural development of the Gaeltacht. Further details are available at www.udaras.ie. Foras na Gaeilge, one of the two agencies comprising the North/South Language Implementation Body, An Foras Teanga, is responsible for promotion of the Irish language on an all-island basis. Further details are available at www.gaeilge.ie. The Office of An Coimisinéir Teanga was established under the Official Languages Act 2003 as an independent, statutory office and is responsible for ensuring the legislation is implemented. Further details are available at www.coimisineir.ie.

The Deputy will also be aware that, following an extensive consultation process, the 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language was officially launched in December 2010 and received significant cross-party support. The Strategy identifies nine areas of action to be addressed in order to sustain and strengthen the Irish language over a 20-year period both within the Gaeltacht and on a national basis. To that end the Strategy proposes various policies and structures to assist in the achievement of the overall goal of increasing the number of Irish speakers on a phased basis over a 20-year period. These matters are currently under active consideration in conjunction with the Cabinet Committee on the Irish Language and the Gaeltacht which is chaired by An Taoiseach. I expect that specific proposals in this regard will be brought to Government shortly.