IRISH language speaking areas in the Republic could soon be facing their biggest shake-up in decades, with fears that some could lose their status as "Gaeltachts." Last week saw the publication of the Gaeltacht Bill, which proposes the re-designation of Irish speaking areas to create 19 overall Gaeltacht "language planning areas." It is hoped the bill will offer a truer picture of Ireland's Gaeltachts, amid claims the language is on the decline in many parts. Minister of State for the Gaeltacht, Danny McGinley, said it was important such
areas were "based on linguistics" and not geographical location. In the republic, there are currently official Gaeltachts in seven counties. In the North, the establishment of a Gaeltacht Quarter in West Belfast is ongoing.
However, Mr. McGinley warned that should the rural communities designated as Gaeltachtaí fail to implement new measures, there would be "implications if they were not willing to be constructive." The areas would be tasked with drawing up their own strategy plans.
Antoine Ó Coileáin, of the Irish language organization Gael Linn said: "While successive governments have espoused the concept of promoting Irish, we have never had a consistent, rigorous planning model to bring this about. The absence of linguistic criteria allowed for plenty of wiggle room as to the actual position of the language."
