Sinn Féin Spokesperson for Rural Affairs, Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Conor McGuinness TD has said that serious questions have been raised by the publication of new Sustainable Rural and Gaeltacht Housing Draft National Planning Statement published by the Government yesterday.
The Waterford TD has called for clarification around the implementation of the 3km rule, asked for significant increased investment in the delivery of social and affordable homes, and has asked why Ministers Browne and Cummins have failed to address planning issues on the islands.
Most worryingly, the proposals regarding a new Language Impact Statement in Gaeltacht areas will significantly reduce the number of Irish speakers allocated new homes in Gaeltacht housing estates.
Conor D. McGuinness TD said:
“Once again, the Government has ignored the calls of the Gaeltacht community, the thousands of Gaeilgeoirí who marched through the streets of Dublin only nine months ago, and Irish language groups like Bánú and Conradh na Gaeilge. Rather than publishing a Housing Plan for the Gaeltacht as a stand-alone, comprehensive document they have lumped the Gaeltacht plans in with rural plans and have made a mess of it.
“Decisions that will massively affect the future of the Gaeltacht quickly fall apart when put under the smallest bit of scrutiny and simply do not reflect the respect that the Gaeltacht community deserves.
“One of the most detrimental proposals is based around the Language Impact Statement, where it has been stated quite clearly that the percentage of homes in an estate dedicated to Irish speakers will be based on the number of daily speakers outside the education system as a percentage of the population aged 3 years or over in the Gaeltacht Language Planning Area in which the development is to be situated as defined in the relevant, most recent Census. To enhance the use of the language on a daily basis, 10% above that percentage must be daily Irish speakers.
“This would mean in effect, that in an area like the Waterford Gaeltacht, the current allocation of houses for Irish speakers in new estates would be reduced from around 80% to just 37%. If this were to be implemented, it would be much more difficult to maintain Irish as a community language.”
“It is unbelievable that the Government would be claiming to be on one hand trying to protect the Irish language, whilst at the same time, proposing a policy that will reduce the number of Irish speakers in new housing developments. This is completely contrary to the objectives of the State’s commitments to the Irish language and the wishes of the Gaeltacht community.”
Sinn Féin will now be seeking public consultations and demanding that these proposals be removed from the draft policy.
END
Conor D. McGuinness TD 