A major drop in the number of Irish speakers across Co Donegal has been found in the latest 2016 Census.
Deputy Pearse Doherty described the findings compared to the previous survey carried out in 2011 as “deeply alarming.”
He said the decline is the clearest evidence yet that Government policy on the language has been a failure.
The Census data shows that over the last five year period the total number of daily Irish speakers in the Donegal Gaeltacht fell from 7,047 speakers back in April 2011, down to just 5,929 last year.
Speaking in the Dáil today in relation to the findings, Deputy Doherty said “The Taoiseach promised at least twenty times that the Official Language Act would be published – this hasn’t happened. Will it take place now in light of these latest Census figures?
“The Joint-Committee on Irish, the Gaeltacht and the Islands was established – they wrote to the Taoiseach four times to attend the committee in order to discuss various problems – yet he declined on each of those occasions.
“An Coimisinéar Teanga, Rónan Ó Domhnaill, said during Tuesday’s committee meeting that state departments and Ministers are breaking the law in relation to language schemes and, despite this, that it is being allowed to happen. Is this government serious about the language at all?”
Tá Polasaí an Rialtais Taobh Thiar den Laghdú atá Tagtha ar Líon na gCainteoirí Gaeilge i nDún na nGall – Doherty
Deir an tUrlabhraí Airgeadais Shinn Féin Pearse Doherty gur ‘cúis imní’ iad torthaí an Daonáirimh 2016 a leiríonn gur tháining laghdú ar líon na gcainteoirí Gaeilge i nDún na nGall i gcomparáid leis an suirbhé deirneach a bhí déanta sa bhliain 2011, agus maíonn sé gur léir go bhfuil polasaí an rialtais i leith an teanga ag cliseadh.
De réir na figiúirí ón Daonáireamh, thit líon na gcainteoirí laethúla Ghaeilge i nGaeltacht Thír Chonaill ó 7,047 sa mhí Aibreáin 2011 síos go dtí 5,929 anuraidh.
Ag labhairt sa Dáil inniú fá dtaobh de na huimhreacha, Dúirt Teachta Doherty:
“Gheall an Taoiseach ar a laghad fiche uair go bhfoilseofar Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla – níor tharla sé seo – an ndéanfar anois é i bhfianaise na bhfigiúirí ón daonáireamh
“Bunaíodh Comhchoiste na Gaeilge na Gaeltachta agus na nOileán – scríobh siad chuig an Taoiseach ceithre huaire freastal ar an Choiste chun fadhbanna a phlé – dhiúltaigh sé gach uair
“Dúirt an Coimisinéar Teanga Rónán Ó Domhnaill Dé Máirt ag an Choiste sin go bhfuil Ranna Stáit agus Airí Stáit ag briseadh an dlí maidir le scémeanna teanga agus go bhfuiltear ag ligint dóibh – an bhfuil an Rialtas seo dáiríre faoin Gheailge scor ar bith?”
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