Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

27. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she has engaged with Cork City Council or stakeholder groups to examine the potential of an urban Gaeltacht on the northside of Cork city. [32194/22]

Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

67. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the funds or programmes that are available to make areas in County Cork a designated Gaeltacht area or to promote the Irish language; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32266/22]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 27 and 67 together.

In relation to Cork City and Macroom respectively; in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Gaeltacht Act 2012, both of these urban centres been shortlisted, together with 13 other towns as towns which can be accorded Gaeltacht Service Town status, subject to language plans being developed for both respectively in accordance with the provisions of the Act.

This ultimately would result in an annual investment of €100,000 being provided to support the implementation of an agreed language plan for the city and €80,000 being provided annually to implement an agreed language plan for Macroom.

Insofar as Cork city is concerned; preparatory work is in hand on the part of my Department and local stakeholders with a view to appointing as soon as possible a suitably qualified organisation locally to undertake the task of preparing, and ultimately implementing a language plan for the city.  

Foras na Gaeilge is advancing plans to source and appoint a similarly qualified organisation to prepare and implement a language plan for Macroom.

In relation to County Cork's two designated Gaeltacht regions, the Deputy will be aware that language plans in respect of both Muscraí and Cléire have been approved under the language planning process, ultimately resulting in both regions being able to benefit from the annual allocation of €100,000 being provided to each region respectively to implement their language plans.

The Deputy will also be aware that my Department's Community and Language Supports Programme continues to be deployed in further support of both regions, while the ongoing activities of Údarás na Gaeltachta in both areas continue to  further support the development of both regions.

More complete information regarding the broad range of schemes, supports and initiatives being deployed in support of both areas and indeed the broader language planning process as it applies inter alia to County Cork can be found on both my Department and Údarás' na Gaeltachta's websites.