Gealtacht communities should have a greater role in the structures that administer their regions, that is according to Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh.
Speaking recently at the launch of Sinn Féin’s proposals on political reform, Senator Ó Clochartaigh said his party have made specific recommendations in relation to the development of the Gaeltacht and Irish language.
“These proposals include reversing the decision to abolish the democratically elected board of Údaras na Gaeltachta; to place greater responsibility for the drafting of language development plan on Údarás na Gaeltachta and Foras na Gaeilge; putting together a high level structure, with representation from the voluntary and community sector, to take responsibility for the implementation of the 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language; and scrapping the decision to merge the Office of the Language Commissioner and that of the Ombudsman.”
The senator, who is the Sinn Féin spokesperson on the Irish language, rural affairs, and the west, added: “To this end Sinn Féin intend to draft a new Gaeltacht Bill to reverse the damage that this government is doing to the language and to develop an Irish language and Gaeltacht Action Plan which will build on the recommendations of the comprehensive study of the use of the Irish language in the Gaeltacht.”
