Changes to Gaeltacht areas proposed

Some traditional Gaeltacht areas could lose their status under the Gaeltacht Bill which was published today.

The Bill proposes the redesignation of Gaeltachtai in seven counties into 19 Gaeltacht language planning areas.

These areas will be required to draw up and implement a language plan to retain their status as an Irish language stronghold.

Gaeltacht areas were set up in the mid-1920s to promote and protect the language and provide services in Irish amongst native speakers.

Minister of State for the Gaeltacht Dinny McGinley said this was only the second Gaeltacht Bill since 1956.

He said the Government was not throwing anyone out of a Gaeltacht but communities faced ?implications if they were not willing to be constructive?.

Irish speaking communities would be asked to draw up a strategy for the future and it would be up to them to implement their plans, he added.

It was ?essential that the Gaeltacht was based on linguistics? and not on a geographical area.

Mr McGinley said the Government wanted any Gaeltacht region to be a ?true reflection of what was there?.

The Bill also introduces new initiatives to promote the language.

Certain towns can be designated ?Gaeltacht service towns? which would provide support for Gaeltacht areas. Urban districts could become ?Irish Language Networks?, areas outside the traditional Gaeltacht where the language is widely used.

Antoine O Coileain, head of Gael Linn - an organisation that runs courses for children and adults - described the Bill as significant.

?While successive governments have espoused the concept of promoting Irish, we have never had a consistent, rigorous planning model to bring this about. The absence of linguistic criteria allowed for plenty of wriggle room as to the actual position of the language.?

He said the proposed legislation recognised the precarious position of the Gaeltacht.

The Bill would also end elections to the board of the Gaeltacht development agency, Udaras na Gaeltachta.

Instead of 20 board members, there will now be 12; five of whom will be nominated by local authorities with Gaeltachtai in their jurisdiction. The remaining seven will be appointed by government.

Former minister for the Gaeltacht, Eamon O Cuiv, said the bill marked the end of a democratic Udaras na Gaeltachta.