THE GOVERNMENT has approved as a priority the drafting of legislation to provide a new definition of the Gaeltacht and make amendments to the role and functions of Údarás na Gaeltachta, the Gaeltacht Authority.
Under the legislation being prepared by Minister for the Gaeltacht Jimmy Deenihan, areas outside the traditional Gaeltacht may be recognised as Gaeltacht regions, subject to fulfilling particular criteria.
It is proposed that the Gaeltacht be based on linguistic criteria instead of on geographic areas which has been the position to date. Language-planning at community level will be central to the new definition of the Gaeltacht.
In addition to amendments to Údarás na Gaeltachta’s functions, the Bill will provide for a significant reduction in the number of members on the board of the Údarás and dispense with the requirement for elections to the board.
Minister of State for Gaeltacht Affairs, Dinny McGinley welcomed the decision taken at yesterday’s Cabinet meeting that the Gaeltacht Bill 2012 should be drafted as a matter of priority.
“I am delighted that the Government has taken this decision today as it means that we will now be able to prioritise the drafting of the Gaeltacht Bill,” he said.
“This is important legislation which will enable my department to take the appropriate steps to begin the language-planning process in the Gaeltacht and to give statutory effect to Údarás na Gaeltachta to implement the 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language in the Gaeltacht.
Under existing arrangements, Údarás has 20 board members, 17 of whom are elected and three of whom are appointed.
It is envisaged the new board will have between 10 and 17 members. A number of board members will be nominated by the Minister and the remainder nominated by county councils in counties with Gaeltacht regions.
This element of the legislation plan has already been criticised by Fianna Fáil as “an affront to democracy” and Conradh na Gaeilge has claimed that it will break the link between the community and the Údarás.
