From Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media
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While visiting Cathair Saidhbhín today, the Minister of State for the Gaeltacht, Patrick O'Donovan, announced that the Cathair Saidhbhín language plan has been approved under the language planning process. This is the eighth town to be recognised as a Gaeltacht Service Town under the language planning process and the 37th plan in total that has been approved under the process that began nine years ago.
To support the implementation of the plan, Minister of State O'Donovan announced that a fund of up to €80,000 per year for a period of seven years will be available - which will enable the directors of the plan to employ a Language Planning Officer to help implement the plan.
Minister of State O’Donovan said:
"I would like to congratulate Kerry County Council who have taken on the role of lead organisation for this matter in collaboration with interested parties locally. I also congratulate everyone who was involved in putting together the language plan for the town. But as with all the other plans that have been approved before, the town's community will be given opportunities to promote the Irish language locally. The approval of this plan will support the implementation of the language planning process in Cathair Saidhbhín and Gaeltacht Chiarraí as a whole."
A total fund worth €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 of the 26 Gaeltacht Language Planning Areas have now been approved.
7 Gaeltacht Service Towns have been approved under the process until now - Leitir Ceanainn, Daingean Uí Chúis, Cathair na Gaillimhe, An Clochán Liath, Trá Lí, Caisleán an Bharraigh and Dún Garbháin.
Language plans are currently being prepared in 3 Gaeltacht Service Towns - Cathair Chorcaí, Baile an Róba and An Clochán.
3 Irish Language Networks have also been approved under the process – Inis, Baile Loch Riach and Cluain Dolcáin.