State moves to halt Gaeltacht decline

THE Government is to undertake a major review of Gaeltacht areas amid concerns of a dramatic fall-off in Irish language use in many areas.

It is also poised to instruct local authorities to ease restrictions on the number of new houses built in these areas in a bid to halt the falling population levels.

The language review means many areas, such as suburbs of Galway City, will lose their Gaeltacht status and accompanying grant aid.