Most Gaeltacht dwellers do not speak Irish daily

A study conducted for Nuacht TG4 has reportedly found that up to 70% of people in Gaeltacht areas no longer speak Irish on a daily basis.

Reports this morning said the study found that the current Gaeltacht area of 90,000 people would shrink to 27,000 if criteria for such status proposed two years ago by Coimisiún na Gaeltachta were applied.

The study is based on an analysis of the census figures for 2002. The highest levels of Irish language use were reportedly found in south Connemara and north-west Donegal.