Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 5 February 2026
35. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht if he will outline the importance of the Action Plan for Irish Language Public Services 2026-2028; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8719/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraCentral to Government efforts in the move towards a bilingual public service is the full and successful implementation of the Official Languages Act, 2003. The publication of the National Plan for Irish Language Public Services 2024-2030 under the Act in October 2024 was a significant step forward in this regard.
It was a great honour for me therefore, as the first senior Minister to have responsibility for the Irish language and the Gaeltacht in several years, to build on this work by publishing the first accompanying Action Plan to that National Plan recently.
Overall responsibility for the preparation of both the National Plan and subsequent Action Plan fell on the Irish Language Services Advisory Committee, which is chaired by my Department and which includes membership at a senior level from a wide range of organisations from across the public service, including the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation; the Department of Social Protection; the Department of Education and Youth; the HSE; the Local Government Management Agency; An Garda Síochána; and publicjobs.
Preparation of this action plan involved extensive consultation and engagement across Government and beyond – particularly as it relates to core public services and Gaeltacht areas. It also built on the invaluable research carried out for the National Plan itself, which demonstrated a clear interest in increasing Irish language competence among public sector staff and positivity towards the language in general.
Cross-cutting initiatives contained in the Action Plan look to enhance the provision of bilingual public services across the country – particularly in Gaeltacht areas, through a range of measures. It focuses on developing supportive structures and includes measures focused on capacity and awareness building, skills development and technology. The plan also places a particular emphasis on measures to be undertaken to achieve the overarching recruitment target that 20% of recruits to public sector bodies will be competent in Irish by the end of 2030.
I have highlighted to Government colleagues the role we all have to play in achieving the Plan, and the Act's ambitious targets - a message that will also be echoed to public bodies under their aegis.
Ultimately this work will enable the normalisation of the Irish language as an integral part of the public service and will also empower speakers of the language to use it when accessing services.
At a time when the level of good-will and positivity towards the language has never been higher, this ambitious plan sets out the clear and measurable steps to be taken across Government in the years ahead towards achieving a truly bilingual public service, and indeed bilingual society, in line with Programme for Government commitments.
