Language conditions reinstated

An Bord Pleanála has upheld concerns raised by an Irish language protection group in relation to a housing development in the Galway Gaeltacht village of Furbo.

The appeals board has ruled that outline planning permission for nine houses and three apartments, along with a creche, retail and parking, in Furbo should include a condition that Irish language usage be set at 66 per cent.

Airdeall - an umbrella group on protection of Irish in Gaeltacht areas - had argued that no percentage was stated in the outline permission. It has also lodged appeals in relation to several other residential developments approved for Furbo and Spiddal, Co Galway, for the same reasons.

Airdeall argued that it was not clear that the houses in this particular Furbo development would serve local needs or would house Irish speakers. It contended that a language condition should apply to 70 per cent of the dwellings.