Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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An Interdepartmental Group (comprising officials from my Department; the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts Gaeltacht, Sport and Media; and Údarás na Gaeltachta) is in place to support and accelerate the ongoing work in relation to planning in Gaeltacht areas.

One of the key aims of this group is to ensure that procedures and systems will be tailored, as appropriate to facilitate an effective and consistent approach by the relevant local authorities in managing planning related issues in Gaeltacht areas.

The Interdepartmental Group has been examining how current practices in the application of these provisions could be strengthened in the overall interest of the Irish language in the Gaeltacht and in the interests of proper planning and sustainable development. My Department, in conjunction with the Department Tourism, Culture, Arts Gaeltacht, Sport and Media is developing Section 28 Guidelines for planning in Gaeltacht Areas, which are intended to be published for public consultation shortly.

The Interdepartmental Group last met on 15^thDecember 2022 where it was agreed to commence a study in 2023 on the methodology and format of the Linguistic Impact Statement used in development proposals. This study was commissioned by the two Departments and is currently underway. A more recent bilateral meeting between the two departments took place on 2^ndMarch 2023 to coordinate the timeframe for the consultant’s work so that it can inform the draft guidelines. It is intended to continue bilateral engagement in the coming weeks as the study is completed.

Once draft guidelines are finalised they must then be subject to screening for Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), as well as for the purposes of Appropriate Assessment (AA). Subject to the completion of the screening assessments and where full assessment is not required, a draft of the guidelines is intended to be published for public consultation shortly.