Minister Catherine Martin announced the approval of a Language Plan to promote the use of Irish on the Aran Islands today.
The Aran Islands will have €300,000 in funding each year to assist in the implementation of the plan over its seven year lifetime.
The Minister made the announcement during a visit to Inis Oírr along with Minister of State with responsibility for the Gaeltacht Jack Chambers.
This means that the language plans for all 26 Gaeltacht Language Planning Areas have now been approved.
“There has undoubtedly been a considerable milestone reached with the approval of this language plan,” Catherine Martin said.
She added that “Its approval signifies that all Gaeltacht areas are now either implementing their language plans or ready to begin implementation.”
“With the funding which has been made available for the language planning process rising gradually since its inception, the implementation of the process has been going from strength to strength to the benefit of the Irish language and the Gaeltacht.”
There is a total of €5.8 million available to support the language planning process in Ireland this year, an increase of €800,000 on 2021.
Galway City has been named as a Gaeltacht Service Town under the language planning process, while Loughrea is one of five Irish Language Networks approved by Foras na Gaeilge.
Minister of State Chambers said that it’s a “real cause for celebration” that all Gaeltacht areas now have language plans approved.
“This means that the three Aran islands and Údarás na Gaeltachta, with the help of my Department, can now undertake the next steps without any further delay”.
“I congratulate everyone – the people of the islands, the lead-organisations and the committees – who played a part in all the work involved in the preparation of the plan.”
He indicated his intention to organise visits to the two other Aran Islands, Inis Meáin and Inis Mór, in the near future.
