Cost of Irish Language Act in North £2million per year, says Conradh na Gaeilge

» John Hedges

An Phoblacht Editor

‘We believe that this document presents a realistic and deliverable framework’ – Julian de Spáinn

_{IRISH-LANGUAGE organisation Conradh na Gaeilge have launched new figures in a discussion document explaining proposed costs associated with the introduction of an Irish Language Act.}

_{The document includes a breakdown of the different sections that would be involved in an Irish Language Act “and particular proposals that are workable to implement them”, Conradh na Gaeilge says.}

_{Eleven sections are proposed as part of an Irish Language Act, including provisions which concern the official status of the language; Irish in the Assembly; Irish in local government; Irish and the BBC; Irish in the Department of Education; the role of a Language Commissioner; and place-names.}

_{Conradh says its projected costs for the different sections are:-}

• _{One-off costs to bring in an Irish Language Act – £8.5million to £9million over five years}
• _{Annual implementation cost – £2million per annum}
• _{The total cost over the initial five years would be £19million – equivalent of £3.8million per year over a five-year lifespan of an Executive.}

_{Dr Niall Comer, President of Conradh na Gaeilge, says:}

_{“It is our aim that this discussion document will inform people on what an Irish Language Act involves, what proposals we are making, why we need the provisions we are recommending, and what the best ways to implement those provisions are.}

_{“Already, five parties – alongside a majority 50 of the 90 newly-elected MLAs –support protective legislation for the Irish language in the form of an Act. We are calling on the parties now to come together and support these proposals and to implement Irish-language legislation, as recently recommended by both the Council of Europe and the United Nations – and as was promised over ten years ago in the St Andrews Agreement.”}

_{Julian de Spáinn, General Secretary of Conradh na Gaeilge, says:}

_{“The Irish Language Act is now at the top of the parties’ agendas during current negotiations. We are confident that we can overcome this challenge and that the rights of the Irish-language community will finally be delivered.}

_{“We believe that this document presents a realistic and deliverable framework that will meet the basic legitimate expectations of the Irish-language community.”}