Gaelic League Calls For Senior Minister for the Gaeltacht - Poll Results Show 63% Support For State Services In Irish

The Gaelic League (Conradh na Gaeilge) have called for the appointment of a Senior Government Minister for the Irish Language and Gaeltacht.  The League's announcement cited the results of an independent poll that measures the levels of support in the Irish Republic for the provision of State Services in Gaelic for Irish speaking communities (Gaeltacht):

" The Gaeltacht is the beating heart of the Irish language, but the communities of these Irish-speaking areas need practical support, and should be properly represented at government level by a fluent Irish-speaking Senior Minister for the language and the Gaeltacht. A joint Oireachtas Committee (*) working on behalf of the Irish language and the Gaeltacht also needs to be formed, and we urgently need to invest in the authorities and in the community groups that create both employment and opportunites to use the language." - Peadar Mac Fhlannchadha - Advocacy Manager with Conradh na Gaeilge

The poll cited by the Gaelic League showed that 63% believe "that services should always be avaialble from the State through Irish in the Gaeltacht for Irish-speaking communities". The poll also showed 62% of respondents agree that there are not enough opportunities for young people to use the Gaelic tongue beyound the formal education system.

(*) The Oireachtas is the legislature of Ireland which consists of an Upper House (Seanad Eireann) and the more powerful dominant Lower House (Dail Eireann). The Lower house is commonly referred to as the Dail. 

The full text of the Galeic league announcement can be found at their website:  cnag.ie/en/