New Strategic Direction published by Irish language agency Foras na Gaeilge

The all-Ireland agency for the promotion of the Irish language, Foras na Gaeilge, has published a new Strategic Direction for the years 2025-2030. The comprehensive document was produced as a result of a public consultation and identifies the organisation’s work priorities for the coming years at a high strategic level.

The document sets out the priorities for the period under four major objectives:

• Ability: Through pre-school, Irish-medium education, English-medium schools, higher education and adult learners, Foras na Gaeilge will support the learner’s journey from start to finish. The establishment of nursery schools, supports for learning Irish in English-medium schools the forthcoming Policy for Irish-Medium Education will be among its priorities to help learners. The target of 20% of Irish-speaking civil service recruits in the Republic of Ireland will be supported by enabling students to become proficient in Irish in their working lives.

Foras na Gaeilge has invested heavily in lexicography and terminology over the past 25 years. It will be a priority for Foras na Gaeilge to publish further resources such as an Irish-French dictionary as well as establishing a permanent lexicography and terminology unit within the organisation.

• Use: Foras na Gaeilge will aim to strengthen its Irish Language Network Development Scheme and establish a permanent language planning unit within the organisation. It will support further investment in existing Irish Language Centres and support development plans for such centres in each language planning area.

Foras na Gaeilge strongly believes that the Irish language belongs to all and should be accessible to everyone, regardless of ethnic background, minority status or disability. Foras na Gaeilge will seek additional investment to serve groups whose work relates to diversity and equality.

• Status and Attitudes: Foras na Gaeilge will raise awareness about Irish through its public awareness campaign with support from public service broadcaster RTÉ. It will also work on campaigns targeting immigrants and Protestant/unionist/Loyalist communities in Northern Ireland and in relation to employment/innovation opportunities linked to the Irish language. The organisation will highlight international employment and cultural opportunities and the results of a major research project on public attitudes will be published.
• Organisational Governance: Foras na Gaeilge will review the structure of the organisation that has been in place since its establishment 25 years ago.

Foras na Gaeilge Chairperson, Professor Regina Uí Chollatáin, said:

“Since 2008, our income has fallen by 45% but the demand for our support has been increasing over time and we cannot meet it. This has implications not only for our own work but for the entire Irish language sector. We are determined in the new strategy period to work that we will work at the highest level with both Governments to agree a long-term sustainable funding plan so that the major objectives of this Strategic Direction can be achieved in line with our vision and our future mission.”

Foras na Gaeilge CEO Seán Ó Coinn said:

“We were encouraged by the way organisations and individuals participated in the consultation process for this important publication. We gathered suggestions and opinions from meetings, surveys and submissions and these are now reflected in our vision for the next five years. We have tried to identify here the things that will most benefit the continued development of the Irish language across the island, and we will aim to prioritise them over the next five years.”

Read the Strategic Direction here: https://www.forasnagaeilge.ie