Minister of State Chambers to launch Ceantar na nOileán Language Plan
- Published on: 22 October 2021
- Last updated on: 12 April 2025
The Minister of State for the Gaeltacht and Sport, Jack Chambers TD, will launch a language plan for Ceantar na nOileán today (22 October) at an event held in Spórtlann Mhichael Mhóir, in An Máimín, Leitir Móir. The plan was approved under the process in 2019 and since then the plan has been implemented under the direction of Comhairle Cheantar na nOileán and a Language Planning Officer who is employed to carry out the work.
The Minister of State said:
"I would like to thank Comhairle Ceantar na nOileán for inviting me to officially launch the plan. Significant work is underway to ensure the implementation of the plan for the benefit of the Irish language locally. I congratulate all those involved - including the Language Planning Officer Máire-Áine Uí Ailín and the steering committee, chaired by Séamus Ó Ráinne. As with all the language plans already in place, in this case the people of Ceantar na nOileán are being given the opportunity to choose their own priorities under the plan and to participate in the implementation of the plan on the basis of a partnership. This plan and these efforts are all in the interest of the Irish language locally."
Notes
- additional funding of €800k has been approved for the language planning process in Budget 2022. This means that a total fund of €5.8m will be made available next year
- of the 26 Gaeltacht Language Planning Areas, 24 plans have been approved to date
- to date 4 Gaeltacht Service Towns have been approved under the language planning process, Letterkenny, Dingle, Galway City and Dungloe
- 3 Irish Language Networks have been approved under the process up until now under Acht na Gaeltachta 2012 – Ennis, Loughrea and Clondalkin. It is also worth noting that 2 Irish Language Networks have been approved under the direction of Foras na Gaeilge in the north - Carntogher and West Belfast which do not fall within the direct scope of the Act or accordingly the process
- The department is currently considering three other plans - for the Aran Islands,Tralee and Gaeltacht an Láir
- to date, 18 Language Planning Officers (17 in Gaeltacht Language Planning Areas & 1 in a Gaeltacht Service Town) as well as 4 Assistant Language Planning Officers are employed to date
- in relation to the Gaeltacht Service Towns, the process of preparing plans is underway for the following towns: Dungarvan, Caherciveen, Castlebar and Cork City and the department is currently considering a Tralee language plan