Irish Minister Issues Statement on the Progress of Irish Language Plan

The Irish Language interest webpage, Gaelport.com, reports that the Irish Minister of State for the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht (Irish Speaking Area of Ireland), Dinny McGinley, has issued a status report on the progress to date against the goals for the revival of the Irish language contained in the Government's "20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030". Minister McGinley is quoted as saying: "It is undoubtedly true that  the expenditure on the Irish language has decreased significantly in the period since the strategy was published in 2010."

In his published remarks, Minister McGinley emphasised that in spite of the impact of the budget cuts, work will continue on meeting the goals of the 20 year Plan.  Critics of the pace of progress against the 20 year Straegy cite with frustration that Article 8 of the Constitution of Ireland states, "The Irish Language as the National lanaguage of Ireland is the first offical language." And as such. the effort to revive and promote the Irish tongue should receive priority in funding.

http://www.gaelport.com/default.aspx?treeid=37&NewsItemID=10042

http://per.gov.ie/wp-content/uploads/Official-language-Department-of-Public-Expenditure-and-Reform-19-July-2013.pdf