The Minister of State with responsibility for the Irish Language, the Gaeltacht and the Islands, Joe McHugh TD, has welcomed the Government’s decision today to include the Gaeltacht in his Department’s name.
The Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht is the Department’s new name, giving due recognition to the language and the Gaeltacht.
“This is something that the Irish-language community have been calling for in recent weeks,” Minister of State McHugh said, “and I’m delighted to have secured this outcome following today’s meeting.”
The Minister of State has also welcomed another important decision made today, that Irish-language issues will be discussed at two Government Committees from now on.
One will with Social Policy and Public Services (including matters relating to Education, Children, Equality, Social Inclusion, Justice and the Arts) and the other will deal with with the Economy, Employment, Brexit and the Rural Development Action Plan.
Language and gaeltacht affairs will be included across these areas
“This decision is evidence that the Government understands the strong impact the Irish language has on the economy of the Gaeltacht,” said Government Chief Whip McHugh.
“And it is also clear that this Government will be focussing more on the provision of public services to Irish-language speakers in their own language.
“This decision will facilitate the implementation of the Government’s major policy measures relating to the language – the 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030, the Policy on Gaeltacht Education and the Official Languages Bill (Amendment) 2017.”
The Minister added: “It is through this reformed measure that I intend to put the Irish language centre stage when it comes to high quality public services, education services and economic matters.”
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