Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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36. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will report on the progress of the 20-year strategy for the Irish language; the structures in place to monitor the progress of the strategy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31268/14]

Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware, my Department has the overarching responsibility for coordinating the implementation of the 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030 in cooperation with a wide range of stakeholders. Progress is being made with regard to the systematic implementation of a wide range of measures under the Strategy within the resources available.

In this regard, I would like to refer the Deputy to the progress report on the implementation of the Strategy during the period 2010-2013 and to the implementation plans published by the relevant Departments, 11 in total, in July 2013. These documents, which are available online, reveal a coherent approach to the implementation of the Strategy which will have a positive impact on the language in the long-term. It is envisaged that updates will be published shortly on the implementation of the Strategy by the relevant Departments over the past year.

Significant progress has been made by my own Department with regard to the implementation of the Strategy since the progress report was published last year. For example:

- The language planning process under the Gaeltacht Act 2012 is being progressed by my Department in conjunction with Údarás na Gaeltachta and Foras na Gaeilge.

- The language planning criteria were published in September 2013 and the language planning guidelines were published in January 2014.

- Priority is being given to the 26 Gaeltacht Language Planning Areas which have been recognised for the purposes of the Gaeltacht Act. Notices, which officially commence the language planning process, have been published in relation to 9 areas. Another 4 notices will be published in the autumn, with the final 13 notices being published in 2015.

- As a result of submissions received under a public consultation process, my Department will publish a list of towns in the autumn which could be recognised under the Act as Gaeltacht Service Towns.

- In the case of the Irish Language Networks, I understand that Foras na Gaeilge intends to announce its Irish Language Network Scheme later this year.

- The Cabinet Committee on the Irish Language and the Gaeltacht, chaired by An Taoiseach, maintains oversight of progress on the Strategy.

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

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

- An Advisory Committee, also chaired by myself, as Minister of State, is supporting the implementation of the Strategy through a representative structure involving key Irish language and Gaeltacht organisations.

- Finally, a number of high-level working groups have been established with key stakeholders to progress the implementation of various areas of action under the Strategy.