Representatives of Irish language groups will appear before an Oireachtas committee tomorrow to outline their views on the Government's 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language.
Representatives from Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge; Conradh na Gaeilge; Pobal; Comhluadar; TG4; Donnacha Ó hÉalaithe Uasal; and Foras na Gaeilge will submit their views on the strategy to the Joint Committee on Arts, Sport, Tourism, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs.
The 20-year plan - issued in draft form by Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Éamon Ó Cuív, in November - proposes to more than treble the number of daily Irish language speakers by the year 2030.
Speaking ahead of tomorrow's hearing, Committee Chairman Tom Kitt said the meeting would provide an opportunity to examine the strategy "in conjunction with groups promoting Irish and enable those groups to outline their views on the strategy."
The plan proposes that areas currently designated as Gaeltacht areas will be subject to linguistic criteria for the Gaeltacht set down in the new Act. Those that do not meet the criteria will cease to have Gaeltacht status and new areas may also be included in the Gaeltacht if they meet the criteria as outlined in the new Act.
Údarás na Gaeltachta, the agency responsible for the development of economic, social and cultural development in Gaeltacht areas will be restructured as a new national Irish language agency.
The new agency, entitled Údarás na Gaeilge, will have responsibility for Irish language matters throughout the State, but will also retain many of its present functions.
It is proposed that the plan, which will be subject to review every seven years, will be directed from a Strategy Unit within the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs.
