Glór na nGael call for new measures at Leinster House

Glór na nGael made a presentation to Teachtaí Dála in Leinster House on Thursday and called for new measures by the State to promote Irish in the community.

The measures are all focused on ensuring language acquisition so that with the provision of opportunities gives speakers the confidence and the ability to use Irish.

In a talk entitled “Irish in the community, what is being done?” Marcas Mac Ruairí, manager of the Teanga Tí (family) department of Glór na nGael, highlighted specific areas that would make a critical difference to the amount and the standard of Irish spoken in the community.

He outlined work being done by Glór na Gael currently, which includes a prize fund of €80,000 + that is awarded annually in recognition of the work done by community groups promoting the Irish language.

Also, Practical support and training opportunities provided to associated community groups as part of support services andGlór na nGael is working with Foras na Gaeilge, to help develop Gaeltacht service towns.

Through Fondúireacht Seosaimh Mhic Dhonncha, it is working in partnership with the GAA to promote the language in clubs with an investment of €122,000 in 2022.

Through the Teanga Tí department Glór na nGael is supporting families raising their children through Irish, creating networks and communities of Irish speaking families. In 2022 it worked with 75 such networks organising 351 events

The Gradaim National Awards Scheme for Irish Language in Business gives recognition to businesses that provide a certain level of service in Irish. 2022 was Gradaim's first year. 85 participating businesses were visited and assessed to verify the quality of Irish language Sinage, Marketing and Branding agus services in Irish.

Scéim na gCúntóirí Teanga (The Language Assistant Scheme) is the latest scheme run by Glór na nGael. A recruitment process is currently under way to provide language assistants to 16 schools in nine different areas from Letterkenny to Cahersiveen and from Galway to Clondalkin. These schools are located in recognised Gaeltacht Service Towns and in Líonraí Gaeilge (Irish Language Networks Areas) 

Referring to the scheme, Mr Mac Ruairí said: “This is an excellent opportunity for the schools which are currently entitled to partake in the scheme to enjoy the extra support to develop students command of the language.

“The Language Assistants’ Scheme should now be broadened to include all gaelscoils. Such a broadening will enhance language acquisition and the quality of spoken Irish amoung pupils.

“Foras na Gaeilge has developed a Líonraí (network) scheme that has assisted a small number of areas with funding to engage in language planning and building local Irish speaking communities. There is now a critical need for clarification in regard to a new planning process for this scheme. “A number of committees are currently waiting for the next funding call and other groups who would benefit from the scheme are unsure when they will be able to apply for recognition.”

He finally called for an Irish language child-care service to be established for pre-school children in Dublin, initially, so that children from Irish speaking families will benefit from care in their own language.