Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 May 2023
750. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide a list of universities which currently have an Irish language strategy/scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22570/23]
View answerHigher Education Institutions (HEIs) are autonomous and academically independent and each Higher Education Institution is responsible for its own Irish language strategy. Information would need to be sought from the HEIs directly.
However, my Department is committed to the implementation of the Official Languages Act and provision of Irish-language services to its customers, and the Official Languages (Amendment) Bill 2019 is of high importance to Ireland and the life of the language in this country. With regard to the functions of the Higher Education Authority (HEA) set out in the HEA Act 2022 under Object 8 (b) the HEA sponsors the Conradh na Gailege initiative, ‘Gníomhaí Gaeilge’ which is run in conjunction with the Union of Students of Ireland.
Gníomhaí Gaeilge refers to a person who is actively engaged in using and promoting the Irish language and the initiative is an Irish language mentoring initiative open to all students in our HEIs which aims to: Build on the development, strengthening and increasing the number of Irish Language Societies and Irish Language Officers achieved over the last 20 years; Develop ‘Gníomhaí Gaeilge’ Awards at 3rd level; Develop and award a ‘Gníomhaí Gaeilge’ Certificate for active students; Set up a training, personal development and mentoring scheme for ‘Gníomhaí Gaeilge’.
The initiative is working to achieve its objectives by providing: Irish language clubs and societies with skills and mentorship in developing the use of the language within Higher Education; training workshops to equip students/officers with additional skills helpful in promoting the language, including social media, graphic design, how to find sponsorship and guest speakers for events, public speaking and writing press releases; and delivering a system of certification and awards to enhance the participation of students and Irish language societies in HEIs.
The Department of Further and Higher Education works with the Coimisinéir Teanga to ensure that public bodies are providing services to the public in Irish to meet the obligations set out in the Official Languages Act 2003 and Official Languages (Amendment) Act 2021. The Official Languages Act 2003 under the auspices of the Department for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport, and Media aims to ensure the improved provision of public services through the Irish language. This is done through the provisions of the Act along with regulations which apply to all public bodies under the Act.
