COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF ARTS, CULTURE, GAEILGE, HERITAGE AND LIBRARIES SPC
Wednesday, February 19, 2020
HEADED ITEM NO.
HEADED ITEM: N. Noonan
2. SDCC Irish Language Strategy
REPLY:
South Dublin County Council introduced its first Irish language scheme in 2009 and since then the council has made significant progress in the provision of services in Irish. The most recent scheme (2015 - 2019) expired on 16 October 2019 with the new scheme being adopted by Council at the full October council meeting for submission to the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. The Council's Fourth Irish Language Scheme will run until 2023. The scheme details actions the Council takes in relation to staff training in the Irish language, a commitment to responding to the public and to elected members in Irish, and other areas.
South Dublin County Council is guided by a number of principles in relation to the provision of the Irish language services
- the underlying level of demand for specific services in the Irish language,
- the importance of a proactive approach to the provision of such services, and
- the resources, including human and financial resources, and the capacity of South Dublin County Council to develop or access the necessary language capability.
Beyond the commitments outlined in the Fourth Irish Language Scheme, the Council supports the Irish language in a number of ways. Irish classes are offered through the Council's library network while the community section offer supports, such as through community grants to groups like Gaelphobail Thomlachta. The Communications Unit support and promote Seachtain na Gaeilge (SnaG) each year by providing funding to groups like Áras Chrónáin to run events and produce promotional materials. In 2020, the Council have committed to providing funding to County libraries to run a range of events, to Áras Chrónáin to celebrate SnaG with events such as their annual ceili and to print brochures for the range of events that will be taking place. The Council will be placing promotional stands in both County Hall, Tallaght and the Civic Office in Clondalkin with materials from Áras Chrónáin and Foras na Gaeilge, including badges, pens, posters and copy books.
(This will be translated if approved)