Dominic Hannigan (Meath East, Labour)
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To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht his plans to recognise the Irish speaking community as stakeholders in the implementation of the 20 years Strategy for the Irish Language which would include a structure for dialogue between the stakeholders and his Department throughout the implementation of the strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53483/12]

Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy may be aware that under the Gaeltacht Act 2012, the Gaeltacht will in future be based on linguistic criteria instead of on geographic areas which has been the position to date. The Act provides for a statutory language planning process under which language plans will be prepared at community level in areas seeking to achieve statutory recognition. This approach puts communities at the centre of the language planning process since it gives them the opportunity to take ownership of their own plan in their own community.

In addition to Gaeltacht Language Planning Areas, areas located outside the Gaeltacht may achieve statutory recognition as Gaeltacht Service Towns or as Irish Language Networks, subject to fulfilling language planning criteria. Gaeltacht Service Towns are defined as towns in, or adjacent to, Gaeltacht Language Planning Areas which play a significant role in the delivery of services to those areas. Irish Language Networks are defined as areas, located outside Gaeltacht Language Planning Areas, in which there is a basic critical mass of community and State support for the Irish language.

Since Údarás na Gaeltachta is central to community development in the Gaeltacht and provides funding to various community-based organisations, it will assist communities in preparing and implementing language plans in the 19 Gaeltacht Language Planning Areas. Údarás na Gaeltachta, or Foras na Gaeilge, as appropriate, will assist organisations in towns seeking statutory recognition as Gaeltacht Service Towns with the preparation and implementation of language plans, depending on whether the town is located inside or outside the Gaeltacht Language Planning Areas. In addition, Foras na Gaeilge will assist organisations in areas seeking statutory recognition as Irish Language Networks with the preparation and implementation of language plans in those areas.

All of these communities will be central to the implementation of the 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030. Under the Gaeltacht Act, it is envisaged that language plans will be prepared and implemented by these communities with the support of Údarás na Gaeltachta or Foras na Gaeilge, as appropriate.