In a historic move, the Irish government has announced its first-ever National Plan for Irish Language Public Services. Launched on October 9, 2024, this six-year strategy aims to create a truly bilingual public service, making Irish more accessible to citizens across the country.
Minister Catherine Martin, heading the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, proudly presented the plan, calling it a “vision of a bilingual public service.” The strategy outlines five key themes to improve the quality and availability of Irish language services in government offices.
But it’s not just about paperwork and policies. The government is embracing technology to make this linguistic leap. They’re setting up an Advisory Committee on the Irish Language in the Digital Sphere to keep up with the latest tech trends that could benefit Irish speakers.
The most exciting part? An artificial intelligence project called ‘Ard-Intleacht na Gaeilge’ (Irish Language Artificial Intelligence) is in the works. This cutting-edge tool aims to revolutionize how people interact with the Irish language in the digital world.
Minister of State Thomas Byrne emphasized that this plan isn’t just about government offices. It’s part of a broader strategy to weave the Irish language into the fabric of everyday life, from Gaeltacht areas to urban centers.
Some highlights of the plan include:
- Exploring Irish language service hubs for Gaeltacht and Irish-speaking communities
- Considering a shared translation service for the public sector
- Ensuring Irish language services match the quality of English ones
- Using technology to make Irish more accessible in public services
- Improving Irish language skills among public sector employees
With this ambitious plan, Ireland is taking a big step towards preserving and promoting its native language. As the country moves towards a more bilingual future, citizens can look forward to easier access to services in Irish, whether they’re dealing with healthcare, social welfare, or any other government department.
The government hopes that by 2030, interacting with public services in Irish will be as natural as doing so in English. It’s a bold vision, but one that could significantly change the linguistic landscape of Ireland for generations to come.