The Irish Language
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From: Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media
- Published on: 4 October 2020
- Last updated on: 13 July 2022
The Irish language is a vital part of the living heritage of the State and an important natural resource in the Gaeltacht.
A core task of the department is to promote:
- the cultural, economic and social welfare of the Gaeltacht as the main source of the living language
- the reversal of the decline of Irish as the principal means of communication in the Gaeltacht
- the extension of its use in the rest of the country, both North and South
The department supports and works closely with other agencies, particularly An Foras Teanga and Údarás na Gaeltachta, in pursuing its objectives.
The Irish Language Support Schemes fund various Irish language organisations and initiatives.
The Official Languages Act provides a statutory framework for the delivery of State services through the Irish Language.
The Placenames Branch researches the placenames of Ireland and provides authoritative Irish language forms of those placenames.