Léirsiú ag an Dáil le brú a chur ar an gcéad rialtas eile tacaíocht a thabhairt don Ghaeilge
Deireadh Fómhair 8, 2015
Organised by Conradh na Gaeilge and the Union of Students in Ireland (USI), demonstrators voiced their demand for the next government to preserve and promote the official language.
The groups say the five years following the general election will be crucial to the prosperity of Irish as a language, with political parties up until now allowed to pay “Béalghra or lip service.”
In a statement issued by the USI, events such as the loss of Aer Arann’s flight contract to the Aran Islands; the refusal of Eircode to recognise Irish language place names, and changes to the Junior Certificate curriculum are cited as ways the future of the native tongue is being “severely damaged”.
“All of these actions have led to fuel a discontentment among the language community,” the USI states.
On Tuesday, Foras na Gaeilge, Conradh na Gaeilge, the USI and more than 70 other Irish language organisations issued a list of demands to help save the Irish language and promote jobs.
Gaeltacht regional authority, Údarás na Gaeltachta and Foras na Gaeilge have seen their budgets drop from €45m in 2008 to €22m this year.
They have called for a restoration of €18m to this yearly fund, to help expand community committees developing Irish in local areas, as well as to initiate country-wide scholarships and boost learning centres.
Supporters of the language say the increased investment would amount to just 1.2% of the government’s expected extra funds for 2016 and has the potential to create more than 1,000 jobs.
“It is the intention of the government in the south to spend €1.5bn more next year – we want to ensure equitable treatment for the Irish language and the Gaeltacht,” said Cóilin Ó Cearbhaill, president of Conradh na Gaeilge.
He added that the investment would bring about further opportunities for people speaking or looking to learn Irish.
“Conradh na Gaeilge are calling on all political parties to promise the funding for this all-island investment in Irish,” he said at the launch of the funding plan.
A 20-year strategy for Irish development is also laid out in the manifesto, as is the “appointment of senior ministers north and south to act on behalf of the language”.
Demonstrators gathered outside the Dáil at 1pm on Wednesday.
A giant ballot box was set up outside Leinster House for people to show their support for the native language ahead of the general election.
