Social Democrats TD Liam Quaide has criticised the Government’s lack of support for Gaeltacht areas in the updated National Development Plan.
Deputy Quaide, who is the party’s spokesperson on the Gaeltacht, said:
“The government’s updated National Development Plan includes funding for housing, energy, water and transport projects between 2026 and 2030, but fails to set out much needed investment in the Irish language and in our Gaeltacht areas.
“Conradh na Gaeilge has highlighted how the revised NDP made no reference to investment in Gaeltacht areas, nor in the Irish language itself. The only place where the word ‘Gaeltacht’ is even mentioned is in a footnote about the transfer of powers between departments following the last general election.
“The NDP has so far only been published in English, another concern raised by Conradh na Gaeilge.
“This neglect by the government of our national language and Gaeltacht communities is not acceptable. There are plenty of areas in need of capital investment, including housing, language planning and the delivery of promised new Irish language centres. However, none of these are referenced in the updated National Development Plan.
“Even stated commitments in the previous version of the National Development Plan (2021-2030), such as support for Irish language media, have now disappeared.
“Our Gaeltacht communities are in need of significant public investment in essential services, such as affordable housing, healthcare and public transport. The government must show real commitment to their preservation and development and provide the capital needed to allow these communities to continue to live, learn and work through our national language.”
July 29, 2025