Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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106. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht for the up to date position in advancing an urban area (details supplied) as a Gaeltacht service town; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24360/24]

Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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On foot of the consultation process conducted in 2014, 16 towns, including Maigh Chromtha, were identified as potential Gaeltacht Service Towns contingent on language plans being agreed with the local communities in accordance with the prescribed language planning criteria under the Gaeltacht Act 2012.

As it relates specifically to the town of Maigh Chromtha, although the formal recognition process under section 9(2) of the Act has not yet commenced, I understand from Foras na Gaeilge that they have a meeting scheduled with the Language Planning Officer for the Muscraí Gaeltacht Language Planning Area this week and that the possibility of organising awareness raising activities and a public meeting regarding the language planning process in Maigh Chromtha are to be discussed.

Of those 16 Gaeltacht Service Towns, to date, 8 language plans have been approved and are being implemented in the towns concerned. The table below sets out the status of each of the 16 plans:

Following appointment, each lead organisation is given a two year period in which to prepare a plan for submission to the Minister for approval.