Validity of area plans questioned over translation issue

The validity of Cork County Council local area plans could be in question after it ignored the language commissioner’s advice about a legal obligation to publish the draft plans in Irish.

An Coimisinéir Teanga Rónán Ó Domhnaill made the claim after investigating the council last year.

His office got a complaint in October 2016 that the council did not intend to publish eight local area plans (LAPs) in Irish, as they are legally required to do. In addition, the related consultation documents placed on the council website featured only the English versions of Gaeltacht placenames.