Plan to triple the number of Irish speakers within 20 years

The government minister responsible for the Irish language has announced plans to get a three-fold increase in Irish speakers within 20 years.

Pat Carey, the Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs, said that he wants to increase the number of daily speakers of Irish, outside the education system, from 83,000 to 250,000

He said that up to one in five of all teacher training places will be reserved for students educated at Gaeltacht schools or gaelscoileanna, or who achieved high marks in the language at Leaving Certificate.

He said that Gaeltacht areas need to come up with strategies to promote the language within two years, or face losing their special status.

“The vulnerable position of the Irish language in the Gaeltacht is a cause for concern for the Government, with language experts predicting that the language may only survive as a household and community language in the Gaeltacht for another 15 to 20 years,” Carey said.

“Therefore it is necessary to take immediate action to ensure that the state works together with Gaeltacht communities to protect the Irish language in the Gaeltacht.”

€1.5million has been set aside from next year's budget to help push the strategy through.