Bill redefines Gaeltacht by language use

GAELTACHT areas will be identified in future by how much the Irish language is used instead of by geographical location, under a bill to be introduced by the Government.

Gaeltacht Affairs Minister Dinny McGinley said the Cabinet has also decided to keep Údarás na Gaeltachta operating, but with closer ministerial input into its functions and with changes to management structures.

The bill to be drafted by Mr McGinley’s officials in the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht will make provision for a new statutory definition of the Gaeltacht, based on the 20-year Strategy for the Irish Language published by the previous government last year. It suggested the legal definition be broadly based on linguistic criteria recommended in a 2007 study for the department, with some fundamental modifications.