From Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media
Published on
Last updated on
Minister of State for the Gaeltacht and Sport Jack Chambers will tour Cape Clear Island, Co. Cork today - Tuesday 24 August 2021.
During his visit to the island, the Minister of State will announce that he is approving the Cape Clear Island Language Plan under the language planning process, which means that Cape Clear will have officially achieved status as a Language Planning Area. Comharchumann Chléire Teoranta is the leading language planning organisation responsible for the preparation and implementation of the plan for the Area.
Minister of State Chambers said: “I am delighted to be able to announce that I am approving the language plan for Cape Clear Island during my visit to Cape. I would like to congratulate Comharchumann Chléire Teoranta - the Lead Organisation of the Gaeltacht Language Planning Area - and all those involved in putting together the language plan for Cape Clear. I recognise the important role that the Irish language has in island life today and historically. The implementation of this plan will build on the role of the Irish language in the life of the island and I have no doubt that this will benefit the island community and visitors who come to it.”
An annual budget of up to €100,000 will be provided to the lead organisation over a 7 year period to assist with the implementation of the plan.
During his time on Cape Clear, the Minister of State will tour the island and intends to visit Cape Clear Distillery which has been in operation for almost two years now.
ENDS
Note for the Editor
• Of the 26 Gaeltacht Language Planning Areas, 24 plans have been approved to date - the most recent being Cape Clear.
• To date 4 Gaeltacht Service Towns have been approved under the process, Letterkenny, Dingle, Galway City and Dungloe.
• 3 Irish Language Networks have been approved under the process up until now – Ennis, Loughrea and Clondalkin.
• The Department is currently considering three other plans - for the Aran Islands,Tralee, and Gaeltacht an Láir.
• 21 Language Planning Officers (19 in Language Planning Areas and 2 in Gaeltacht Service Towns) and 4 Assistant Language Planning Officers are employed and are implementing plans to date.
• In relation to the Gaeltacht Service Towns, the process of preparing plans is underway for the following towns: Dungarvan, Caherciveen, Castlebar and Cork City.
• Údarás na Gaeltachta is responsible for assisting the Cape Clear Language Planning Area to implement the language plan - as are the other areas located in the Gaeltacht. Foras na Gaeilge is responsible for assisting with the implementation of language plans outside the Gaeltacht.