The Guidelines, first announced over two years ago, have been mired in delays between the Department of Housing and the Department of the Gaeltacht
Today, Wednesday 29 May 2024, protesters gathered at the gates of Leinster House in Dublin to demonstrate to politicians and the wider public the urgency of the Gaeltacht Housing Crisis The demonstration was supported by community groups including: Conradh na Gaeilge, an Meitheal Náisiúnta Pleanála Teanga, BÁNÚ, An Dream Dearg, the Union of Students in Ireland, the Irish Second-Level Students' Union of Ireland and CATU Ireland.
Dissatisfaction with repeated delays by the Department of Housing and the Department of the Gaeltacht regarding the Gaeltacht Planning Guidelines was cited as the reason for the demonstration. Demonstrators called on the Government to deliver on 3 key issues:
- That the Draft Gaeltacht Planning Guidelines, promised since 2021, are published immediately.
- That Údarás na Gaeltachta be given clear functions in relation to housing as part of the Údarás na Gaeltachta (Amendment) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2024.
- That the Planning and Development Bill 2023 be strengthened as it relates to the Gaeltacht by implementing the following:
- That each local authority be obliged to draw up a Housing and Population Plan for each Language Planning Area in its charge.
- That fluency in Irish (native speaker or level B2 on FTCE) will be taken to meet the ‘local requirement’ criteria for housing developments in the Gaeltacht.
- That the language planning process be included throughout the Bill to give appropriate recognition and support to it.
Speaking today, Dónall Ó Cnáimhsí, Spokesperson for the Meitheal Náisiúnta Pleanála Teanga, said:
“The Irish language will not survive without a viable and sustainable speaking community. The lack of housing for young people is an existential threat for the Gaeltacht. It is not a lack of development, a lack of opportunities or a lack of employment that has caused this crisis, but a lack of housing.”
Róisín Ní Chinnéide, Spokesperson for the Meitheal Náisiúnta Pleanála Teanga, commented at today’s demonstration:
“It is ridiculous that we are still awaiting the publication of the Gaeltacht Planning Guidelines in May 2024, having been promised back in 2021. Irish language and Gaeltacht questions are too often relegated to the bottom of the Government agenda. Government housing policies are having severe negative effects on Irish in Gaeltacht areas. It is time for these practices to change.
Today we are demonstrating to pressure for urgent action from the government, steps that could be taken easily but require political will: immediately publish the Gaeltacht planning guidelines promised from 2021, make amendments to the Planning and Development Bill 2023 to strengthen the position of the Gaeltacht (amendments already presented to Government), and give Údarás na Gaeltachta housing powers by amending the Údarás na Gaeltachta (Amendment) Bill and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2024.
We are fed up waiting for Ministers, waiting for commitments and waiting for action – we have sent a clear message and we will be vocal until a solution is provided to address the housing crisis of our time.”
Conradh na Gaeilge, supported by Gaeltacht groups, has developed a comprehensive set of recommendations for a National Policy for Housing Planning in the Gaeltacht. These recommendations are available here.
FURTHER INFORMATION:
Róisín Ní Chinnéide
Spokesperson, Meitheal Náisiúnta Pleanála Teanga
Dónall Ó Cnáimhsí
Spokesperson, Meitheal Náisiúnta Pleanála Teanga
Caolán Mac Grianna
Communications Executive, Conradh na Gaeilge
X: @CnaG @meithealnpt
IG: @cnagaeilge @meithealnpt
