Written answers

Tuesday, 1 May 2012

Department of Arts, Heritage and Gaeltacht Affairs

Irish Language

9:00 pm

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 415: To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will make a statement on the progress made so far with the implementation of the 20 year strategy for the Irish language. [13656/12]

Photo of Dinny McGinleyDinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware, the 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030 was published on 21 December 2010, following cross-party support in the Houses of the Oireachtas. The Programme for Government 2011-2016 states that the Government will support the Strategy and will deliver the achievable goals proposed therein. The Strategy itself recognises the need for a phased approach to achieve its various measures. During 2011, my Department undertook the establishment phase of the Strategy during which the organisational structures were established, as set out in my Department's implementation plan for the Strategy for 2011.

The following organisational structures have been established to deliver the Strategy:

· The Cabinet Committee on the Irish language and the Gaeltacht, chaired by An Taoiseach, is maintaining oversight of progress on the Strategy.

· A Senior Officials Group, consisting of high-level officials from relevant Departments, is supporting the Cabinet Committee.

· An Inter-Departmental Group, chaired by myself, as Minister of State, is coordinating the implementation of the Strategy.

· The Strategy Unit in my Department is responsible for directing the planning and implementation of the Strategy.

In addition, the following high-level working groups have been established with key stakeholders to progress the implementation of various areas of action in the Strategy:

· A working group between my Department and the Department of Education and Skills to identify priorities regarding the implementation of the Strategy in education, taking current resource constraints into consideration.

· A working group between my Department, Údarás na Gaeltachta and Foras na Gaeilge to distinguish between the individual functions to be carried out by these public bodies under the Strategy in a way that will ensure the best value for money for the Exchequer and the avoidance of duplication of provision.

· A working group between my Department, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation regarding enterprise investment in the Gaeltacht.

Following policy decisions taken by Government on 31 May 2011 with regard to the implementation structures for the Strategy and the new definition for the Gaeltacht, my Department is currently giving priority to the drafting of the Gaeltacht Bill 2012, which will give effect, as appropriate, to the Government's decisions.

I should also mention that I announced two major initiatives under the Strategy on 26 April 2012. Firstly, I announced the launch of the language planning process in the Gaeltacht, under which a language plan will be prepared at community level for each Gaeltacht area, in accordance with the Strategy. Secondly, I announced a Family Language Support Programme, which aims to strengthen the Irish language as the household and community language in the Gaeltacht, in accordance with the Strategy. Under this programme, my Department intends to undertake 12 specific measures to support Gaeltacht families who are raising their children through Irish or who wish to raise their children through Irish. More detailed information on the implementation of the Strategy is available on my Department's website, www.ahg.gov.ie.

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