Official Languages Act, 2003; the 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language

Material relating to the Official Languages Act, 2003 and to the 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language, 2010 – 2030, is available at the links below.

The main aim of the Official Languages Act 2003 is to ensure better availability and a higher standard of public services through Irish. Government departments and other public bodies must prepare a coherent and agreed plan for delivery of such services when requested to do so by the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.

These plans are known as schemes. This Department’s Inaugural Irish Language Scheme (2006 - 2009) began on 30 June, 2006.

The 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language outlines an integrated approach to the Irish language, in which 9 areas of action are specified, which are: education, the Gaeltacht, the family, public services, the media and technology, dictionaries, legislation, the economy and cross-cutting initiatives. The relevant actions under the Strategy are being implemented by the various stakeholders, including this Department.

Here is our latest Progress Report under the Strategy.

In addition, this Department’s implementation plan in relation to the Strategy is available here.