An Ghaeilge: Protecting and Reviving Irish

An Ghaeilge Caithfidh na Daonlathaithe Sóisialta dúthracht lenár dteanga náisiúnta a fhorbairt, a chosaint agus a athbheochan mar shócmhainn shárluachmhar shocheacnamaíoch agus chultúrtha. Tabharfaimid aird ar leith ar réigiúin agus pobail Ghaeltachta agus tacóimid leo go praiticiúil, go háirithe de bharr go bhfuil go leor acu faoi mhíbhuntáiste socheacnamaíoch riamh anall. Aithnímid go bhfuil cónaí ar chainteoirí Gaeilge i gcathracha agus fud fad na tíre, agus tabharfaimid tacaíocht do phobail ina bhfuil ardlíon cainteoirí Gaeilge nó ina bhfuil líon na gcainteoirí ag dul i méid, lena n-áirítear ceantair ina bhfuil gaelscoileanna agus gaelcholáistí. Cuirfimid barr feabhais ar an oideachas Gaeilge i scoileanna Béarla, leis. Glacfaimid le cur chuige uile-rialtais trasrannach i leith na Gaeilge agus phobal na Gaeilge, laistigh agus lasmuigh den Ghaeltacht. Glac ár bhfocal air go ndéanfaimid: - Cur i bhfeidhm iomlán na Straitéise 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge agus an Phlean Fáis: Plean Infheistíochta don Ghaeilge agus don Ghaeltacht, 2024-2029. - Cláir éifeachtacha spreagtha geilleagair a chinntiú do cheantair Ghaeltachta, gnólachtaí atá bunaithe sa Ghaeltacht san áireamh. - Beartas náisiúnta a chruthú le tithíocht agus forbairt a phleanáil i gceantair Ghaeltachta, agus feidhmeanna soiléire tithíochta a thabhairt d’Údarás na Gaeltachta. - Dul i gcomhar le heagraíochtaí Gaeilge, grúpaí pobail agus abhcóideachta san áireamh, le tacú le scéimeanna a chuireann úsáid na Gaeilge chun cinn i ngach gné den saol poiblí. - Obair a dhéanamh as lámha a chéile le Foras na Gaeilge, Conradhn a Gaeilge, agus le hÚdarás na Gaeltachta lena chinntiú go dtéann ár n-iarrachtaí, ár mbeartais agus ár bhfeachtais chun fíorthairbhe do chainteoirí Gaeilge, bídís ina gcónaí sa Ghaeltacht nó ná bídís. - Tacú le Líonraí Gaeilge, idir nua agus seanbhunaithe, an Ghaeilge a scaipeadh mar theanga bheo lasmuigh de na ceantair thraidisiúnta Ghaeltachta. - Bille na dTeangacha Oifigiúla, 2019 a chur i bhfeidhm go hiomlán le dul i ngleic leis an easpa seirbhísí stáit atá ar fáil trí Ghaeilge. - A iarraidh go mbeadh scileanna Gaeilge ag líon agus comhréir níos airde fostaithe san earnáil phoiblí d’fhonn a chinntiú go n-urramófaí na cearta atá ag cainteoirí Gaeilge déileáil le comhlachtaí poiblí trí Ghaeilge. - Reachtaíocht a rith le go bhféadfadh Oifig an Choimisinéara Teanga pionóis a ghearradh nuair a theipeann ar Chomhlacht nó ar Ghníomhaireacht stáit cloí leis an Reachtaíocht Rialaithe a bhaineann le húsáid na Gaeilge. - Straitéis nua a fhorbairt don Ghaeilge sa chóras oideachais ón oideachas réamhscoile go dtí an t-oideachas tríú leibhéal. - Tacú le hoiliúint do chleachtóirí luathbhlianta le dul ag obair i suíomhanna Gaeilge. - Tacú le forbairt gaelscoileanna, gaelcholáistí, naíonraí agus ionad oideachais Gaeilge eile i gcás go bhfuil spéis ag an bpobal áitiúil ina leithéid. - Feabhas a chur ar na tacaíochtaí a thugtar do mhúinteoirí agus do cheannairí i scoileanna Béarla lena chinntiú go soláthraítear Curaclam Teanga na Bunscoile ina iomláine, lena n-áirítear tacaíocht oiliúna le Foghlaim Chomhtháite Ábhar agus Teangacha (FCÁT) a sholáthar, le tacú le hábhair eile a mhúineadh trí Ghaeilge. - Straitéis nua a chruthú don Ghaeilge sa Chóras Oideachais ón Luath-Óige go dtí an Tríú Leibhéal, bunaithe ar Chomhchreat Tagartha na hEorpa um Theangacha, ag nascadh gach céim den chóras. - Tacaíochtaí breise a thabhairt do na meáin Ghaeilge, TG4, RTÉ agus Raidió na Gaeltachta ina measc. - Labhairt amach ar son béim níos mó a leagan ar an inniúlacht ó bhéal sa Ghaeilge ar leibhéal na meánscoile, cosúil leis na samhlacha oideachais atá i bhfeidhm sa Bhreatain Bheag. - Cur ar chumas níos mó daoine óga freastal ar scoileanna samhraidh Gaeilge ach cur leis an gcistiú do chláir scoláireachta.

The Irish Language The Social Democrats are committed to the development, protection, and revitalisation of our national language as an invaluable socio-economic and cultural asset, with particular attention and practical support for Gaeltacht regions and their communities, many of which are historically socio-economically disadvantaged. We recognise that Irish speakers live in cities and all across the country and will support communities where there is a higher or growing proportion of Irish speakers, including areas in which gaelscoileanna and gaelcholáistí are based, as well as enhancing Irish language education in English-medium schools. Our emphasis is on a whole-of-government, cross-departmental approach to the Irish language and its community of speakers, both in and outside of the Gaeltacht. We are committed to: - Funding the full implementation of the 20 Year Strategy on Irish, and Plean Fáis - Investment Plan for Irish language and the Gaeltacht. - Ensuring effective economic stimulus programmes for Gaeltacht areas, including Gaeltacht-based businesses. - Creating a national policy for the planning of housing and development in Gaeltacht areas, including giving Údarás na Gaeltachta clear housing functions. - Working with Irish-language organisations, including community and advocacy groups, to support schemes which promote the use of Irish in all aspects of public life. - Working with Foras na Gaeilge, Conradh na Gaeilge, and Údarás na Gaeltachta to ensure our efforts, policies, and campaigns are of real benefit to Irish speakers, whether living in or outside the Gaeltachtaí. - Supporting new and existing Líonraí Gaeilge to spread Irish as a living language outside the traditional Gaeltacht areas. - Fully implementing the Official Languages Bill 2019, to address the lack of state services available through Irish. - Seeking the delivery of an increased number and proportion of public sector employees with Irish language skills to ensure the rights of Irish language speakers to deal with public bodies through Irish. - Legislate for the Office of the Coimisinéir Teanga to levy penalties where a state Body or Agency fails to adhere to the Governing Legislation concerning the use of Irish. - Supporting training for early years practitioners to work in Irish language settings. - Support the development of new gaelscoileanna, gaelcholáistí, naíonraí and other Irish-language educational centres where there is local interest. - Improving supports to teachers and leaders in English medium schools to ensure the full delivery of the Primary Language Curriculum, including training support for the delivery of Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL), to support the teaching of other subjects through Irish. - Creating a new strategy for Irish in the Education System from Early Childhood to Third Level, based on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, linking all stages of the system. - Providing additional supports to Irish language media, including at TG4, RTÉ, and Raidió na Gaeltachta. - Advocating for better emphasis on oral proficiency in Irish at secondary level, similar to education models in place in Wales. - Enabling more young people to attend Irish language summer schools by expanding funding for scholarship programmes. - Supporting the rollout of Irish language classes and social events for adults, including Irish-language immersion period for trainee teachers at the start of the Academic year. - Working in a bilingual manner where practical and possible, including social media, press/media relations. - Supporting new Irish cultural centres and Irish language cafés. - Addressing international organisations and bodies, such as the United Nations, the European Union etc. via the medium of Irish.