(Béarla thios)
Agus é ar chuairt ar Leitir Ceanainn, Co. Dhún na nGall, sheol Jack Chambers TD, Príomh-Aoire an Rialtais agus Aire Stáit na Ghaeltachta agus an Spóirt, Plean Teanga Baile Seirbhíse Gaeltachta Leitir Ceanainn go hoifigiúil ar an Aoine 4 Meitheamh.
Is é Líonra Leitir Ceanainn a chuir plean teanga Leitir Ceanainn, a cheadaigh an Roinn i bhfómhar 2020, i dtoll a chéile. Tá Comhordaitheoir Pleanála Teanga, fostaithe ó shin chun an plean a chur i bhfeidhm faoi stiúir na heagraíochta.
Agus an plean á sheoladh aige dúirt an tAire Stáit Chambers:
“Ba mhaith liom tréaslú le Líonra Leitir Ceanainn - Ceanneagraíocht an Bhaile Seirbhíse Gaeltachta - agus le gach duine a bhí bainteach leis an bplean teanga a chur le chéile do cheantar Leitir Ceanainn. Ach an oiread leis na pleananna ar fad atá á bhfeidhmiú cheana féin, tabharfar deiseanna faoi phlean teanga Leitir Ceanainn do phobal an cheantair seo a bheith lárnach san iarracht bhreise is gá a dhéanamh chun go rachaidh an Ghaeilge ar aghaidh go slán, sábháilte chuig na glúine atá le teacht.”
Is é Foras na Gaeilge atá freagrach as cabhrú le BSG Leitir Ceanainn sa chás seo chun an plean teanga a chur chun feidhme – ar nós na mbailte eile atá lonnaithe lasmuigh den Ghaeltacht. Is é Údarás na Gaeltachta a bheidh freagrach as cabhrú le Bailte Seirbhíse Gaeltachta atá lonnaithe sa Ghaeltacht.
• Cuirfear buiséad bliantúil suas le €80,000 in aghaidh na bliana ar fáil thar thréimhse 7 mbliana nuair atá pleananna ceadaithe faoin bpróiseas seachas Cathair na Gaillimhe agus Cathair Chorcaí; cuirfear buiséad bliantúil suas le €100,000 ar fáil sa dá chás sin. D’fhógair an tAire Stáit agus é ar an gClochán Liath inné maoiniú de €3.4m d’Údarás na Gaeltachta agus Foras na Gaeilge faoin bPróiseas Pleanála Teanga.
• Tugtar léargas cuimsitheach ar a bhfuil ar bun agus beartaithe ar leas na Gaeilge agus na Gaeltachta i bPlean Gníomhaíochta 2018 - 2022 an Rialtais don Ghaeilge - a bhfuil fáil air ag an nasc seo a leanas: https://www.gov.ie/ga/eolas-polasaithe/plean-gniomhaiochta-2018-go-2022/
Chuir Cathaoirleach Líonra Leitir Ceanainn Cathal Mac Grianna fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit agus gach duine a bhí i láthair. Mhinigh sé gur bunaíodh Líonra Leitir Ceanainn nuair a d’fhógair an tAire Stáit Seán Kyne ag Samhain 2016 go mbeadh Leitir Ceanainn ar cheann de na bailte a d’fhéadfadh a bheith aitheanta mar Baile Seirbhíse Gaeltachta.
Fostaíodh Bairbre Uí Chathail mar Chomordaitheoir Pleanála Teanga Mí na Nollag 2020 agus labhair sí ag an seoladh,
"I dtús báire ba mhaith liom, thar ceann Líonra Leitir Ceanainn ár mbuíochas a ghabháil le Foras na Gaeilge agus Colm Ó Baoill, le Glór na nGael agus Caitríona Nic Seoin, le Ursula Ní Shabhaois a bhí mar chomhairleoir pleanála teanga againn agus le Comhairle Contae Dhún na nGall as ucht an tacaíocht agus an chomhairle ar thug siad uilig dúinn agus muid ar an aistear go dtí an pointe seo.
Seo plean uaillmhianach, ilghnéitheach ach réadúil atá bunaithe ar thaighde agus comhairliúcháin. Bhí muidne mar Líonra Leitir Ceanainn amuigh i mbun an taighde sin. Bhuail muid le daoine san ionad siopadóireachta, ar na sráideanna, sna gnólachtaí, ag na cruinnithe poiblí agus na cruinnithe comhairliúcháin, ag imeachtaí a bhí a reáchtáil againn agus nuair a bhi muid i dteagmháil le daoine chun iad a chlárú fá choinne ranganna Gaeilge. Chuaigh dearfacht na ndaoine i leith na Gaeilge go mór i bhfeidhm orainn agus tuigeann muid uilig an tábhacht a bhaineann leis an dearfacht sin.. Mar a dúirt Spolsky faoin phróiseas pleanála teanga, beidh rath an phlean ag brath ar “chumhacht an phobail agus freagracht an duine aonair”. (Spolsky)
An fís atá againn ná
Plean teanga a chur i bhfeidhm i Leitir Ceanainn a spreagfaidh úsáid na Gaeilge i gcúrsaí oideachais, sóisialta, cultúrtha agus eacnamaíochta an bhaile, ag freastal ar riachtanais mhuintir Leitir Ceanainn agus mhuintir na Gaeltachta.
Rinne an coiste cinneadh díriú isteach ar trí mhór-réimse ar leith - teaghlaigh, daoine óga agus an earnáil gnó
Seo iad na haidhmeanna teanga
Feiceálacht na Gaeilge sa bhaile a ardú
Deiseanna sóisialta agus cultúrtha trí Ghaeilge a sholáthar do gach aoisghrúpa
Cur le líon na ndeiseanna foghlama Gaeilge taobh istigh agus taobh amuigh den chóras oideachais do gach aoisghrúpa
Gnólachtaí, eagraíochtaí agus solathróirí seirbhísí a spreagadh le tuilleadh Gaeilge a úsáid
Stádas na Gaeilge i Leitir Ceanainn a ardú agus a cheilliúradh
Úsáid na Gaeilge mar ghnáth-theanga laethiúil i Leitir Ceanainn a chur chun cinn, a chothú agus a mhéadú
Nasc a chothú leis na Limistéir Pleanála Teanga uilig i nDún na nGall
Is fríd bearta an phlean a chuirfidh muid na haidhmeanna seo agus stádas s'againne mar Bhaile Seirbhíse Gaeltachta, chun cinn.
Feicim féin an dul chun cinn atá ag tarlú cheánna féin
· Maidir le deiseanna sóisialta agus cultúrtha bíonn ciorcail comhrá, ciorcail scéalaíochta agus imeachtaí do theaghlaigh – ceol scéalaíocht agus ealaín ar siúil againn go rialta. Beidh muid ag toiseacht ar imeachtaí amuigh faoin aer do ghrúpa “Tuistí agus Tachráin” ar an mhí seo chugainn
· Maidir le deiseanna foghlama bhí ranganna Céimeanna Comhrá leibhéal 1 agus 3 ar siúil againn le maoiniú ón Bhord Oideachas agus Oiliúna agus faoi láthair tá muid ag obair le CLG Ghaeil Leitir Ceanainn chun ranganna Buntús Cainte a sholáthar agus seisear duine is fiche ag freastal orthu
· Maidir leis na gnólachtaí bhí ceardlann againn faoi buntáistí breise na Gaeilge don earnáil gnó. Tá muid ag obair as lámh a chéile le Cumann Trádála Leitir Ceanainn agus beidh Gradaim Gnó na hÉireann, scéim nua de chuid Glór na nGael le seoladh againn san fhómhar. Tá cuid de na gnólachtaí réidh chun tairbhe a bhaint as Scéim tacaíochta Gnó de chuid Foras na Gaeilge chun comharthaíocht dátheangach a chur in airde – rud a chuirfidh go mór le feiceálacht na Gaeilge anseo.
· Maidir le stádas agus úsáid na Gaeilge – tá sé róshoiléir go bhfuil daoine ag éirí níos muiníní faoi labhairt na Gaeilge agus níos sásta tús a chur leis an chomhrá i nGaeilge. Beidh an Ghaeilge – agus an Ghàidhlig - le ceiliúradh againn ar ardán idirnáisiúnta anocht agus an clár Slí Cholmcille le craoladh againn ar a hocht a chloig ar leathanach Facebook s’againne. Seo clár ar dhúchas agus oidhreacht Cholmcille a léirigh muidne in éineacht leis an Ionad Cultúrtha Réigiúnach agus le ceoltóirí, scéalaithe agus saineolaithe den scoth anseo agus in Albain a bhí maoinithe ag Foras na Gaeilge agus Bord na Gàidhlig. An sprioc a bhí againn agus a bhíonn againn i gcónaí ná cinntiú go bhfuil an Ghaeilge i lar an aonaigh.
Rachaidh na torthaí seo uilig chun leasa muintir Leitir Ceanainn agus muintir na Gaeltachta rud atá fíor tábhachtach dúinn mar Bhaile Seirbhíse Gaeltachta
Tá sé mar dhualgas orainn, mar Líonra Leitir Ceanainn tionchar a imirt ar an tírdhreach teangeolaíoch chun tacú le daoine muinín a bheith acu agus gach deis a thapú an Ghaeilge a labhairt.
Ach tá sé ríthábhachtach freagracht an duine aonair a chumasú fosta agus tá sé mar príomhaidhm againn inspreagadh intreach a mhúscailt, a chothú agus a neartú i bpobal na Gaeilge anseo.
Tá trí ghné ar leith riachtanach chun sin a dhéanamh agus sin cinntiú
Go bhfuil daoine muiníneach as an chumas teanga atá acu
Go bhfuil deiseanna acu na scileanna teanga sin a úsáid agus a fhorbairt
Go mothaíonn siad go bhfuil siad rannpháirteach i dtionscadal atá níos mó ná iad féin amháin
Ar an ábhar sin, is mór an trua , dá bharr srianta Covid, nach féidir leis an phobal bheith i láthair linn inniu. Níl plean gan pobal. Cé go bhfuil teoiricí agus síceolaíocht taobh thiar de ní rud acadúil é an phróiseas pleanála teanga. Is obair forbairt pobail atá i gceist. Caithfidh muid tógáil ar fís agus fuinneamh an phobail i gcónaí. Cuireann muid béim ar léith ar chomhoibriú agus rannpháirteachas – leis an phobal, le muintir na Gaeltachta agus oifigí pleanála teanga s'acu, le gnólachtaí, eagraíochtaí, seirbhísí, grúpaí pobail, an córas oideachais, le ceantracha gaeltachta eile sa tír, le cumainn spóirt agus leis an chumann lúthchleas gael, agus go háirithe le Foras na Gaeilge, Glór na nGael agus Údarás na Gaeltachta.
Caithfear deiseanna leanúnacha, foirmiúil agus neamhfhoirmiúil, a sholáthar don phobal inchur a bheith acu sa phlean. Caithfidh muid athbhreithniú rialta a dheanamh agus bheith solúbtha go leor an plean a leasú mar is gá. Is rud beo síor-éabhlóideach é an plean atá a seoladh againn anseo inniu.
Labhair an tUasal Dónal Mac Giolla Chomhaill, Méara Leitir Ceanainn. Chuir sé fáilte roimh seoladh an phlean agus dúirt go mbeadh an Comhairle Contae sásta tacú le Líonra Leitir Ceanainn an plean a chur chun cinn. Mar a dúirt Cathal Mac Grianna ansin, "Is cinnte go bhfuil an Comhairle Contae bábhúil don Ghaeilge agus ag déanamh á ndícheall an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn agus a fhorbairt trí Choiste na Gaeilge, ag cur ranganna Gaeilge ar fáil don fhoireann agus do na comhairleoirí, agus ag claoigh le Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúl agus go leor eile. Tá an Comhairle an-chuidiúil do Líonra Leitir Ceanainn agus tacaíonn siad linn ar go leor dóigheanna. Gabhaim buíochas agus comhghairdeas leis an Chomhairle Contae."
On a visit to Letterkenny Jack Chambers TD, Minister of State with responsibility for the Gaeltacht launched the Irish Language Strategic Plan for Letterkenny as a Gaeltacht Service Town.
Launching the plan, Minister of State Chambers said: “I would like to congratulate Líonra Leitir Ceanainn - the Lead Organisation of the Gaeltacht Service Town - and all those involved in putting together the language plan for the Letterkenny area.
“As with all the plans already in place, the Letterkenny language plan will provide opportunities for the community of this area to be central to the extra effort required to ensure the safe and secure transmission of the Irish language to generations to come.”
Foras na Gaeilge will be responsible for assisting BSG Leitir Ceanainn in this case to implement the language plan – similar to the other towns in the above list which are not in the Gaeltacht. Údarás na Gaeltachta will be responsible for assisting Gaeltacht Service Towns located in the Gaeltacht.
An annual budget of up to €80,000 a year will be provided over a period of seven years once the plans are approved under the process; other than Galway and Cork city for which a yearly budget of €100,000 each will be provided.
On Thursday, the Minister of State announced funding of €3.4m for Údarás na Gaeltachta and Foras na Gaeilge under the Language Planning Process.
The Government's Action Plan 2018 - 2022 for the Irish Language provides a comprehensive overview of what is going on and planned for the benefit of the Irish language and the Gaeltacht - which can be found at the following link: https://www.gov.ie/ga/eolas-polasaithe/plean-gniomhaiochta-2018-go-2022/
The Chairperson of Líonra Leitir Ceanainn Cathal Mac Grianna welcomed the Minister of State an dall who were present. He explained that Líonra Leitir Ceanainn was founded after the Minister of State Seán Kyne announced in November 2016 that Letterkenny was one of the towns which could receive recognition as a Gaeltacht Service Town.
Bairbre Uí Chathail was employed as Language Development Coordinator in December 2020 and she spoke at the launch.
"Firstly on behalf of Líonra Leitir Ceanainn I would like to thank Foras na Gaeilge and Colm Ó Baoill, Glór na nGael and Caitríona Nic Seoin, Ursula Ní Shabhaois who was our language planning consultant and Donegal County Council for the support and advice they gave us on the journey to this point.
This is an ambitious, multifaceted but realistic plan which is based on research and consultation. As the committee of Líonra Leitir Ceanainn we were involved with that research. We met people in the shopping centre, on the streets, in the businesses, at public meetings and consultations, at events we had organised and when we were registering people for Irish classes. People's positiviey about Irish really impacted upon us. As Spolsky says of the language planning process, the success of the plan depends on "the power of the people and the personal responsibility of the individual."
Our vision is, to implement a language plan in Letterkenny which will promote the use of Irish in the educational, social, cultural and business life of the town, responding to the needs of the people of Letterkenny and the people of the Gaeltacht.
The committee made a decision at the beginning to focus on three main areas in particular - families, young people and the business sector.
The aims of the plan are:
To increase the visibility of Irish in the town
To provide social and cultural opportunities through Irish for every age group
To increase the number of opportunities to learn Irish both within and without the education system for every age group
To encourage businesses, organisations and service providers to use more Irish
To raise and to celebrate the status of Irish in Letterkenny
To promote, nurture and strengthen the use of Irish as a language of normal, every day in Letterkenny
To create a link with all the Language Planning Areas in Donegal
The objectives contained in the plan are what will enable us to attain these aims and to further our status as a Gaeltacht Service Town.
I can already see developments happening:-
In terms of social and cultural opportunities we have conversations circles, a storytelling circle and events for families - encompassing storytelling, art and music - happening on a regular basis. We plan to begin outdoor events for parents and toddlers from next month.
Regarding opportunities to learn Irish, we have run the Céimeanna Comhrá levels 1 and 3 with funding support from the ETB and are currently working with Letterkenny Gaels to provide Buntús Cainte classes - with 26 people involved.
Regarding businesses, we had workshops about the added benefits of Irish for the business sector. We are working closely with Letterkenny Chamber of Commerce and we will be launching the Glór na nGael Irish Business Awards scheme n the autumn. Some of the businesses are ready to benefit from the Foras na Gaeilge Business Support Scheme to put up bilingual signage - something which will contribute significalntly to the increasinbg visibility of Irish here.
Regarding the status and use of Irish - it is very clear that people are becoming more confident about speaking Irish and more willing to begin the conversation in Irish. We will be celebrating Irish and Gaidhlig on an international stage tonight with the launch of the programme Slí Cholmcille. This is a programme about the heritage and legacy of Colmcille which we developed in cooperation with the Regional Cultural Centre, with the best of musicians, storytellers and experts both here and in Scotland. The project was funded by Foras na Gaeilge and Bord na Gaidhlig. Our intention was and always is to put Irish right at the heart of life.
All of these positive developments benefit the people of Letterkenny and the people of the Gaeltacht, something that is very important to us as a Gaeltacht Service Town.
It is the responsibility of Líonra Leitir Ceanainn to influence the linguistic environment in order to support people's confidence and encourage them to take every opportunity to speak Irish. But it is also extremely important to empower individuals and it is a key aim of ours to awaken, nurture and strengthen the personal intrinsic motivation of the community here too.
Three things are vital in order to do that; we must ensure that
People feel confident about their language ability
That people have opportunities to use and develop their language skills
That people feel they are part of something bigger than just themselves
In that regard, it is a great pity that because of the Covid restrictions the public cannot be with us today. There is no language plan without a community. Although there are theories and psychology behind it the language planning process is not an academic thing, rather it is fundamentally about community development work. We always need to build upon the vision and energy of the local community. We put a particular emphasis on collaboration and building partnerships - with the community, with the Gaeltacht communities and their Language Planning Officers, with businesses, organisations, services, community groups, education providers, with other Gaeltacht areas in the country, with sports clubs and particularly the GAA and with Foras na Gaeilge, Glór na nGael and Údarás na Gaeltachta.
It is important that we provide people with ongoing formal and informal opportunities to have an input into this plan. We need to review it regularly and be flexible enough to adapt it as needed. This plan which we are launching today is a living and evolving entity."
Donal Coyle, Mayor of Letterkenny then spoke, welcoming the launch of the plan and saying that the County Council would support Líonra Leitir Ceaninn in the rollout of the plan. As Cathal Mac Grianna then said, "It is clear that the council is positively disposed to the Irish language and is doing everything to promote the language through the Coiste na Gaeilge and providing Irish classes for staff and Councillors as well as adhering to the Official Languages Act and plenty more besides. The Council is very helpful to Líonra Leitir Ceanainn and has supported us in many ways and I would like to thank them for that."
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