Press release
Cathair Saidhbhín Language Plan officially launched by Minister of State O’Donovan
From Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media
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From Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media
Published on
Last updated on
While visiting Cathair Saidhbhín today (15 June 2023), the Minister of State for the Gaeltacht, Patrick O'Donovan, announced the official launch of the Cathair Saidhbhín Language Plan. This represents a step forward for the language planning process in this Gaeltacht Service Town and in County Kerry.
This is the eighth town to be recognised as a Gaeltacht Service Town under the language planning process and the 37th plan in total approved under the process that began nine years ago. To date, 8 Gaeltacht Service Towns have been approved under the process – Leitir Ceanainn, Daingean Uí Chúis, Cathair na Gaillimhe, An Clochán Liath, Trá Lí, Caisleán an Bharraigh and Dún Garbhán.
Kerry County Council has assumed the role of lead organisation and has drawn-up the language plan for Cathair Saidhbhín.
To support the implementation of the plan, an allocation of up to €80,000 per annum for a period of seven years will be provided by the department through Foras na Gaeilge. A portion of this funding will be used to hire a Language Planning Officer in order to implement the plan.
Minister of State O’Donovan said:
"First of all, I would like to thank Foras na Gaeilge and Kerry County Council who came forward and took on the role as lead organisation for Cathair Saidhbhín, in collaboration with interested parties. All those involved in bringing the language plan to the point where it is now being officially launched deserves praise. It is expected that a Language Planning Officer will be stationed in this town shortly to focus on the actions outlined in the plan and to strengthen the status of the language in Cathair Saidhbhín."
A total fund of €6.55 million is being made available to support the language planning process in the current year. This represents an increase of €750,000 on the fund available in 2022.
All 26 Gaeltacht Language Planning Areas have now been approved.
8 Gaeltacht Service Towns have been approved under the process to date - Leitir Ceanainn, Daingean Uí Chúis, Cathair na Gaillimhe, An Clochán Liath, Trá Lí, Chaisleán an Bharraigh, Dún Garbháin and Cathair Saidhbhín itself.
Language plans are currently being prepared in 3 Gaeltacht Service Towns - Cathair Chorcaí, Baile an Róba agus An Clochán.
3 Irish Language Networks have also been approved under the process – Inis, Baile Loch Riach and Cluain Dolcáin.
25 Language Planning Officers and 4 Assistant Language Planning Officers are employed and are implementing plans to date.
Foras na Gaeilge will be responsible for assisting BSG Cathair Saidhbhín in this case to implement the language plan – similar to the other towns in the above list which are not in the Gaeltacht. Údarás na Gaeltachta will be responsible for assisting Gaeltacht Service Towns located in the Gaeltacht.