Tipperary County Council to consider proposal to increase its promotion of Irish language

A Tipperary County Council committee is to examine a councillor’s proposal to increase the local authority’s role in promoting the Irish language both internally and throughout the county.

The Library Services, Culture & Biodiversity Strategic Policy Committee has been tasked to consider the motion unanimously passed at the Council’s latest monthly meeting calling on the authority to set-up an Irish language sub-committee to improve its Irish language service and promotion.

The motion also called for the development of a strategy to ensure targeted growth of Irish in the wider community through pro-active initiatives.

Newcastle Cllr Máirín McGrath tabled the motion to coincide with the annual Seachtain na Gaeilge, which concluded on St Patrick’s Day last week.

The Council, in its written response, highlighted that it has an Irish Language Scheme that includes commitments to promoting Irish.

It outlined that it provides bilingual forms on its website and a query email: asgaeilge@tipperarycoco.ie.

It said the scheme was to be replaced this year with Language Standards that will set out the services to be provided through Irish and levels of competence in the language required of staff. A public consultation process on Language Standards is to take place shortly.

The Council also outlined that it fully complies with the Official Languages Act’s requirements and encourages its staff to avail of courses through Gaelchultúr. It also supports and promotes activities during Seachtain na Gaeilge.

Cllr McGrath responded that she appreciated the Council’s decision to refer her motion to the Library Services, Culture & Biodiversity SPC and agreed the Council is fully compliant with its obligations under the Official Languages Act.

But she suggested that appointing an Irish language officer would ensure a ground up effort to support the language in our communities.

Cllr McGrath requested the Council to look into emulating the Dublin City Council’s Gaeilge 365 Irish language promotion initiative.

She pointed out the four Dublin local authorities secured funding for Gaeilge 365 from Gaeltacht Minister Dara Calleary to ensure the development of the language inside and outside the councils.

She found this heartening to see and suggested it was an initiative Tipperary County Council could take on.

“We have a responsibility to promote the use of Irish and I look forward to the discussion being progressed at SPC level,” she added.

Fianna Fáil Cllr Micheál Anglim supported Cllr McGrath’s push for the Council to increase its role in promoting Irish.

He pointed out that Dublin City Council was up for an award at the Local Authority Members’ Association (LAMA) awards for its Gaeilge 365 initiative and the Minister asked for it to be extended to all four councils in Dublin.

The Ardfinnan councillor noted that the expansion of Gaeilge 365 is included in the Programme for Government and offered to give the Council details about the scheme.

Tipperary Town Cllr Annemarie Ryan, who seconded Cllr McGrath’s motion, agreed with its proposals and spoke of how her son was one of three students from Tipperary Town attending a Gaelcholaiste on Inish Meáin as they were unable to get places in the Clonmel Gaelcholaiste.

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Council Meetings Administrator Ger Walsh said the Libraries, Culture & Biodiversity SPC had to consider whether to set up a separate Irish Language Sub-Committee and include it on the SPC and whether there would be any budget requirements for future years.

He suggested the committee could certainly look at introducing Gaeltacht scholarships and the promotion of Irish language events in the county.