Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

100. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if his attention has been drawn to the absence of updated language planning guidelines; and the timeline for the publication of the draft Gaeltacht planning guidelines. [55823/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

My department has published Language Planning Guidelines which provide guidance to practitioners preparing and implemented language plans in Gaeltacht Language Planning Areas, Gaeltacht Service Towns and Irish Language Networks in line with the provisions of the Gaeltacht Act 2012. The latest edition of the guidelines, the fifth edition, was published in 2019. These guidelines include details regarding a range of additional supports made available to the language planning process in the areas of early years, the family and the traditional arts, in addition to guidance relating to the preparation and implementation of language plans.

My department has opted not to publish updated Language Planning Guidelines as it has been awaiting the publication of an independent review of the first 10 language plans approved under the Gaeltacht Act 2012. Feedback will be provided in this review on the implementation of the plans concerned and, based on what is identified in the review, steps will then be taken by my department to improve the implementation of the language planning process.

Work on this report is nearing completion and my department expects to be in a position to publish same soon. The information obtained from this review will then inform the next edition of the guidelines to be published.

As it relates to physical planning in the Gaeltacht, it is worth noting that the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, under the Planning and Development Act 2024, is primarily responsible for planning and housing in Gaeltacht areas.

In order to improve the effectiveness of the planning legislation, work is being undertaken by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, in consultation with my department, towards developing new planning guidelines for the Gaeltacht. Priority is now being given to this work with a view to publishing the new guidelines in the months ahead.