Aengus Ó Snodaigh, spokesman for Sinn Féin on Gaelic language, Gaeltacht, Arts and Culture, expressed deep disappointment as the Government appears to retreat from their pledged support in the Government Programme to significantly broaden the offering of education in Gaelic.
Ó Snodaigh, who also presides over the Joint Committee on Gaelic Language and Gaeltacht, queried the Minister for Education in a Parliamentary question regarding the projected timeline for fulfilling the Government Programme’s promise to duplicate the availability of Gaelic-language education.
Although the Minister responded affirmatively, stating that the relevant Department is currently laying the groundwork for a fresh policy on Gaelic education and intending to kick-off actions from this policy in the forthcoming academic year, there was no direct reference to their initial pledge.
According to the Government Programme 2023, they had pledged, ‘We will strive to double the number of youths in Gaelic-instructed institutions,’ and ‘Gaelic medium schools and colleges will be established, given sufficient demand.’
Regardless of the nature of the second pledge, the first one could have been more specific and assured. However, in the Deputy’s perspective, his query remained unanswered.
“It’s disheartening to observe the Government and Minister Norma Foley backtrack from a promise made in Government Programme,” Deputy O’Snodaigh expressed. “The reply did not even hint towards the pledge. It’s evident that increasing the Gaelic-medium education is no longer a priority for Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael or the Greens.”
“Sinn Féin firmly believes that promises should be upheld, especially in the context of Gaelic-medium education, which we dub as our children’s right. We are committed to striving at all levels to realise this right,” he added.
Last week, community groups rallied at the Leinster House, urging for changes to Gaeltacht Planning Guidelines. They insisted that the forthcoming Údarás na Gaeltachta (Amendment) Bill must expressly provide for housing functions for Údarás na Gaeltachta.
In a subsequent morning session in the Dáil, Thomas Byrne, the Minister of State for the Gaeltacht, expressed his view that An tÚdarás’ responsibilities are fundamental in the domain of Gaeltacht housing. His statement served as a comforting assurance for those debating the quidity of the Authority’s function in the context of housing.
The discontent within the community of Irish language speakers has been escalating due to the procrastination of the Department of Education and the Department of the Gaeltacht in furnishing adequate Irish-medium education and complying with the Gaeltacht Planning Regulations. As the impending general election wraps up, one wonders if any decisive moves will be made by the Government, perhaps even fulfilling requests for fairness, before the first ballot box is opened.
One language enthusiast voiced on Wednesday, “The minister still has time to opt for the correct path.”