Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 April 2026
923. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the efforts that have been made to ensure young people's voices are heard and taken into consideration in the language planning process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28084/26]
View answerSince its publication in 2010, the 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010–2030 has been the central policy of Government regarding the Irish language. The Strategy sets out an integrated approach to the Irish language, with nine areas of action listed, including education, the Gaeltacht, family, community, media, technology and the economy. The relevant actions under the Strategy are being implemented by various stakeholders, including my department.
The Gaeltacht Act 2012 provides the statutory framework for undertaking the language planning process on a co-ordinated basis. Under this process, the public and the the voluntary, public and private sectors work together to support the Irish language in the various geographical areas recognised under the Act. The language is supported as the community and family language of the Gaeltacht and of other areas outside of the Gaeltacht through the preparation and implementation of language plans at community level. The purpose of the language plans is the strengthening of language usage in the context of family, community, education, social, business and public affairs.
In conjunction with the Language Planning Process, my Department provides funding to a number of Irish language organisations. These are Tuismitheoirí na Gaeltachta, Comhar Naíonraí na Gaeltachta, Muintearas Teo. and Ealaín na Gaeltachta. Language Planning Officers employed in prescribed Gaeltacht Language Planning Areas, Gaeltacht Services Towns and Irish Language Networks work in conjunction with these organisations to further implement and develop approved language plans and the organisations' funded work programmes. Details of these programmes are as follows:
• Comhar Naíonraí na Gaeltachta (CNNG): A grant of €3,734,500 has been approved for the period 2023-2026. Comhar Naíonraí na Gaeltachta supports early years services through the medium of Irish in Gaeltacht areas. CNNG employs 230 people in the 130 early years services it oversees - including pre-school services, nurseries, mother and child groups, after-school services and breakfast club services.
• Tuismitheoirí na Gaeltachta (TnaG): A grant of €5,445,817 has been approved over a 3-year period (2024-2026) for a support programme for Gaeltacht families. TnaG supports families raising children through Irish by organising and administering resources and community events through Irish.
• Ealaín na Gaeltachta: A grant of €3,720,000 has been approved approved over three years ending in 2026 to develop and promote indigenous and contemporary arts in the Gaeltacht and to increase development and employment opportunities in the sector.
A subsidiary company of Údarás na Gaeltachta responsible for youth development, Muintearas Teo is also in receipt of a grant €493,000 in respect of 2026. This funding will allow the organisation to begin training and recruitment in preparation for the roll-out of a major plan for the provision of youth services across the Gaeltacht. As funding become available in the coming years the implementations of the plan will help to ensure that young people take on leadership roles in Gaeltacht areas, supporting the Irish language from one generation to the next.
While the teaching of Irish in our schools is primarily a matter for the Minister of Education and Youth, my Department has developed and supported a number of different schemes aimed at supporting the work of her department. These include support for the Gaelbhratach Scheme administered by Gael Linn and aimed at facilitating young people to take leadership roles as regards the development of the language in school settings.
