An order that gives legal precedence to Irish language place names in Gaeltacht areas will be made law today.
The Placenames Order, to be signed this afternoon by the minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Mr Ó Cuív, covers up to 2,319 placenames in Gaeltacht areas.
The order means from that March next year the English versions of these names will cease to have any legal status in those areas and will not appear in acts of the Oireachtas, road signs, street signage or large-scale ordnance survey maps.
Eventually the order will be extended to cover all ordnance survey maps.
The Minister's plan is to standardise the use of Irish language placenames in the rest of the country within seven to ten years.
Outside Gaeltacht areas his intention is to make it a legal requirement for placenames in Irish to appear alongside the English version on all official documents, maps and signage.
Dr Edel Bhreathnach, a member of the Placenames Commission, told ireland.com: "Irish is our first national language and there is the fear that within a generation or two there would be a move away from that traditional language and culture, so this order is an attempt to help strengthen the identity of the Gaeltacht areas.
"There has been research and consultation on this order in the Placenames Branch for the best part of a year now. Local communities were consulted on the official Irish name for their district or town.
"I think it's essential that these names appear on maps and guide books and become familiar outside the Gaeltacht.
"The next step is that we look at other areas and, through consultation, develop the standard Irish placenames throughout."