Second annual progress report on the government’s Action Plan for the Irish Language 2018-2022 launched by Minister of State Jack Chambers
- Published on: 29 October 2021
- Last updated on: 23 February 2022
Minister of State for the Gaeltacht and Sport and Government Chief-Whip, Jack Chambers TD, today launched the second annual report on the progress of the 2018–2022 Action Plan for the Irish Language on behalf of the government.
The publication of this report aligns with the commitment made when the Action Plan was launched in June 2018. It aligns with the overall objectives of the 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030.
This second report covers the 18 month period from 1 July 2019 to 31 December 2020 and provides an insight into 180 actions to be completed by the c. 60 stakeholders over the course of the five year plan. The Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media has overall responsibility for co-ordinating the implementation of the Plan, the overarching 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030 and the nine areas of action contained within the Strategy.
The publication of this report, which was presented to Government recently, aligns with the commitment made when the Action Plan was launched in June 2018 that such a report be published annually, in the interests of transparency and accountability.
Notwithstanding the difficulties caused by COVID-19 since early 2020, significant progress has been reported regarding the implementation of actions in the plan.
Highlights of the key achievements across the nine Areas for Action are outlined below:
- a package of additional teaching and other supports has been provided to schools participating in the Gaeltacht Schools Recognition Scheme and to encourage uptake
- in 2019, the Marino Institute of Education launched a new Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) programme of initial education for primary teachers in Irish
- the Primary Languages Curriculum (CTB) was introduced for all stages in all schools in September 2019
- language plans were approved for 6 Gaeltacht Language Planning Areas, one Gaeltacht Service Town and for 3 Irish Language Networks
- 19 Language Planning Officers and 3 Assistant Language Planning Officers employed at the end of December 2020
- a research project on the Number and Settlement of Families whose Home Language or Common Language is Irish Within the Gaeltacht Areas has been completed
- 195 online events were organised for the Home Language networks during COVID-19 restrictions
- capital funding at a rate of 95% provided for 8 early years services in the Gaeltacht
- planning permission was obtained for the development of an Irish language centre at 6 Harcourt Street, in Dublin city centre
- RTÉ established the Home School Hub to operate both linearly and online, to meet the needs of the country's primary school children during COVID-19
- TG4 continued to commission and broadcast content for the Irish speaking community
- the Concise English-Irish Dictionary was published in June 2020
- the Official Languages (Amendment) Bill 2019 went through the second stage of the Dáil in October 2020
- the First Schedule to the Official Languages Act 2003 has been reviewed and the regulations came into effect in June 2020
- the Internship Scheme in the Institutions of the European Union continued to provide opportunities for graduates to gain work placements in the areas of translation and proofreading
- 427 new full - time jobs were created in Údarás na Gaeltachta client companies in 2020
- there were 7,363 full-time and 437 part-time jobs in Údarás supported companies at the end of 2020
- €7.4m of emergency supports were approved for Údarás client companies to address the impact of COVID-19 and to prepare for Brexit
- the Board of Údarás na Gaeltachta approved a State investment of €4.9m in employment grants, machinery, training and training programs during 2020
- up to €20.3m in capital provision approved for the refurbishment and development of Gaeltacht business infrastructure to support employment retention and the development of new projects
Further information on the Action Plan (PG5) and the 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language (S20) is available at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/policy-information/2ea63-20-year-strategy-for-the-irish-language
Welcoming the publication of the report, Minister Catherine Martin said:
“There is no doubt that the period from the beginning of 2020 has posed a particular challenge due to COVID-19. Like all other areas of life, the pandemic has had a significant impact on the ability of all organisations involved in the implementation of the Action Plan for the Irish Language to play their part in overseeing the measures that apply to them and their work programmes as a whole on behalf of the Irish language and the Gaeltacht. In spite of all the restrictions, it is remarkable and encouraging that new and alternative ways of doing things have been found.”
Minister of State Chambers said:
“Since my appointment as Minister of State for the Gaeltacht I have taken every opportunity within the COVID-19 constraints to meet with the many Irish language and Gaeltacht organisations throughout the country to hear from them about what they are doing and planning for the benefit of the Irish language, in the interests of the Gaeltacht and the community to which they belong."
Minister of State Chambers also said:
“As a result of the partnership and shared ownership involved, I am pleased that significant progress is being reported in this second annual report on the implementation of the Action Plan. This publication also serves to highlight to the the Oireachtas, the public sector, Irish language and Gaeltacht organisations and the general public the progress that has been made in the 18 month period from July 2019 to December 2020. It also provides an insight into where further work is required to deal with those measures in the Plan which have been delayed."
Notes
The Action Plan for the Irish Language 2018-2022 contains a range of measures across nine areas of action as set out in the 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language:
- Education
- The Gaeltacht
- Family Transmission of the Language - Early Intervention
- Administration, Services and Community
- Media and Technology
- Dictionaries
- Legislation and Status
- Economic Life
- Cross-cutting Initiatives