Rory Hearne (Dublin North-West, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

65. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in light of a report (details supplied) noting the surge of interest in Irish language courses, the measures his Department are taking to ensure the Irish language will be increasingly visible, usable and valued in the coming years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23006/26]

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

Central to Government efforts in increasing the visibility, use and recognition of the Irish language is the full and successful implementation of the Official Languages Act, 2003-2020.

The publication of the National Plan for Irish Language Public Services 2024-2030 under the Act in October 2024 was a significant step forward in this regard. This ambitious and strategic 6-year plan is the first of its kind in the history of the State and a central element in the move towards a fully bilingual public service under the Official Languages Acts 2003 and 2021.

This National Plan, which is based on five specific strategic themes, is intended to act as a roadmap for public bodies in terms of systematically increasing and improving the number and quality of Irish language public services that they provide as well as the number of staff competent in Irish they have available to provide such services - in line with the Act’s overarching recruitment target that 20% of recruits to public bodies will be competent in Irish by 31 December 2030.

It was a great honour for me therefore, as the first senior Minister to have responsibility for the Irish language and the Gaeltacht in several years, to build on this work by publishing recently the first accompanying Action Plan to that National Plan, for the period 2026-2028.

This Action Plan seeks to adopt a holistic, measurable and practical approach to the implementation of the National Plan for Irish Language Public Services 2024-2030 – in particular the ambitious recruitment target as referred to by the Deputy. It builds on the clear interest shown through the research for the National Plan among staff of public bodies to improve their Irish-language competency, as well as their positive attitude towards the language in general.

Cross-cutting initiatives contained in the Action Plan look to enhance the provision of bilingual public services across the country – particularly in Gaeltacht areas, through a range of measures. It focuses on developing supportive structures and includes measures focused on capacity and awareness building, skills development and technology. The plan also places a particular emphasis on measures to be undertaken to achieve the overarching recruitment target that 20% of recruits to public sector bodies will be competent in Irish by the end of 2030.

I have highlighted to Government colleagues the role we all have to play in achieving the Plan, and the Act's ambitious targets - a message that will also be echoed to public bodies under their aegis.

Ultimately this work will enable the normalisation of the Irish language as an integral part of the public service and will also empower speakers of the language to use it when accessing services.

At a time when the level of good-will and positivity towards the language has never been higher, this ambitious plan sets out the clear and measurable steps to be taken across Government in the years ahead towards achieving a truly bilingual public service, and indeed bilingual society, in line with Programme for Government commitments.