“Government needs to act immediately to answer concerns of Gaeltacht residents”say speakers at Tóstal na Gaeilge 2013
February 19, 2013
A new language planning process for three Gaeltacht regions is set to be implemented by Government this year- but the process to revitalise the Irish language in Gaeltacht regions is blighted by obstacles according to community groups who took part at this year’s Tóstal na Gaeilge 2013, a national Irish language conference held by Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge, Saturday February 16 2013.
The theme of this year’s conference was “Beart de réir Briathair” which loosely translates as practice as you preach. The conference saw politicians, language planning experts, members of the public service and members of the Irish language community come together to discuss the most pertinent issues facing the Irish language today.
These themes were discussed in the context of the decisions made as part of the current government’s Irish language policy subsequent to the publication of the 20 Year Strategy for the language, in a discussion opened by Political Correspondent for the Irish Times Harry McGee.
Speakers at the conference included Dr Briain Ó Curnáin, an expert in dialectology and the Irish language sociology at the Dublin Institute of Advanced Studies; Feargal Ó Cuilinn, Director of family support group Comhluadar and Treasa Ní Mhainín, CEO of Irish language educational organisation Eagraíocht na Scoileanna Gaeltachta.
Aoife Ní Shéaghdha, who is both a trained language planner and parent living in the west Kerry Gaeltacht, outlined many of the problems faced by parents trying to raise their children in an all-Irish setting in Gaeltacht regions. She spoke of reduced supports being provided to families with older children and to families who have increased numbers of children.
She also noted the lack of social activities provided through the medium of the language in Gaeltacht areas and problems faced by native Irish speakers in Gaeltacht schools.
The event provided members of the Irish language community to comment on the current state of the Gaeltacht in 2013.
Guest speaker Seosamh Mac Donncha of NUI Galway said that the concept of the Gaeltacht region as understood by the Irish public is outmoded and needs to be re-configured for the remaining Gaeltacht regions whose linguistic make up is hugely changed from the traditional concept.
“ What we have are no longer Gaeltacht regions” where the majority of residents speak Irish the majority of the time. He also noted that younger generations of Gaeltacht residents grappled to obtain full linguistic competency in the language compared to generations past. He noted that the educational system was failing to provide necessary supports due to lack of a specific policy targeting native speakers.
CEO of Eagraíocht na Scoileanna Gaeltachta Treasa Ní Mhainín also highlighted the shortcomings in the policy of Department of Education and Skills when it come to educating Gaeltacht pupils with various levels of fluency in the language. She noted that it would be impossible to implement language plans in Gaeltacht regions without the full support of the Department.
Both the CEO Stiofán Ó Culáin and Chair Anna Ní Ghallchóir of Údarás na Gaeltachta, the body charged with assisting community groups with language schemes under the proposed language planning process, spoke at the event and gave some insight into how the new language planning process would function while members of the public were given the opportunity to question the representatives during a debate chaired by TG4 news anchor Eimear Ní Chonaola.
The new language planning process is set to bring in an era of change to Gaeltacht regions. Údarás na Gaeltachta have announced that the initiative is to initially focus on areas within three Gaeltacht regions.
It aims to ensure the continued intergenerational transmission of the language within communities and families living in Gaeltacht regions and was first introduced under the 2012 Gaeltacht Act. The Act was introduced in response to the 20 year Strategy for the Irish language which aims to increase numbers of native Irish speakers in Gaeltacht regions by 25% before 2030.
Director of Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge, Kevin De Barra said that the Tóstal had provoked an “honest and realistic debate” on the future of Gaeltacht regions and he thanked all participants who attended as well as those who took part in the debate on Twitter under the hashtag #Tnag13.
“ It is clear to all that central undertakings made in the 20 Year Strategy for Irish language have been scrapped by this Government.”
“ Community leaders and representatives at this year’s Tóstal have asked Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge to enter into discussions with the Department of Arts, Heritage and Gaeltacht Jimmy Deenihan TD, with Minster of State Dinny McGinley TD and with senior civil servants”. An urgent meeting to discuss educational policy in Gaeltacht areas will also be sought with Minister for Education and Skills Ruairí Quinn TD.
“ The Government now has the chance to provide a solution to queries raised by Gaeltacht communities and Irish speakers. It’s time for real leadership and for the new language planning process to be operated in an open, comprehensive and democratic manner”.
GAELPORT.COM
