The Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs has acknowledged "difficulties" in implementing Irish language conditions on new housing developments in the Gaeltacht.
However, Éamon Ó Cuív has made it clear that any decision to change such conditions is a matter for elected members of the relevant local authority. He has proposed that groups involved in the planning system should meet to discuss the issues and says that planning generally in Gaeltacht areas should be reviewed.
His comments come in the wake of a move by Galway county councillors to change the language conditions in the Galway County Development Plan, which have been the subject of a series of rulings referred to An Bord Pleanála.
The move, backed by his constituency colleague Frank Fahey, would involve lifting such conditions on a percentage of houses being occupied by Irish speakers only in the outer Gaeltacht area beyond Inverin in Connemara, and in several suburban Gaeltacht areas such as Moycullen and Claregalway, where Irish language use has fallen. Gaeltacht areas such as Barna, Furbo and Spiddal, should retain the condition, given the pressure from Galway city, the councillors have said.
Under the Planning and Development Act 2000, provision is made for the "protection of the linguistic and cultural heritage of the Gaeltacht, including promotion of Irish as a community language, where there is a Gaeltacht area in the area of the development plan".
Mr Ó Cuív said this legal position was clear. However, there was sufficient flexibility and openness in this in relation to implementation.
An Bord Pleanála has indicated that it supports the language policy, as reflected in several landmark rulings in the last two years.
