Language JC 5 December 2000
Language Sector
Dublin, Tuesday 5 December 2000
Joint Communiqué
1. The second meeting of the North/South Ministerial Council in its Language Sector was held in Dublin on Tuesday 5 December, 2000. The meeting dealt with issues relating to the Language Body and its two constituent agencies, i.e., Foras na Gaeilge and Tha Boord o Ulster-Scotch. The Language Agency is one of the six North/South Implementation Bodies.
2. The Irish Government was represented by Éamon Ó Cuív, TD, Minister of State at the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands. The Northern Ireland Executive Committee was represented by Mr Michael Mc Gimpsey MLA, Minister for Culture, Arts and Leisure and Dr Seán Farren MLA, Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment.
Report from Language Body
3. The meeting commenced with a progress report by the Joint Chairperson of the Language Body, Maighréad Uí Mháirtín - Foras na Gaeilge, on the activities of the Body, and by the Interim Chief Executives of the two agencies (Micheál Ó Gruagáin - Foras na Gaeilge and John Hegarty - Tha Boord o Ulster-Scotch).
4. The Ministers welcomed the progress made in the establishment of the two Agencies and the considerable volume of work which had been carried out to date.
Foras na Gaeilge - Interim Programme of Activities 2001
5. The Council considered and approved an interim programme of activities for Foras na Gaeilge for 2001 including interim staffing arrangements to manage that programme. The programme of activities is divided into four main sectors as follows:
- The development of a corporate plan and detailed organisational structure for Foras na Gaeilge subject to the approval of the NSMC;
- The allocation of over IR£7 million to Irish Language organisations and to Irish Language projects, including an allocation of an estimated IR£750,000 to a new pre-school organisation and an estimated IR£400,000 for Irish language newspapers and journals;
- Projects and partnerships run by the Foras itself including book publishing and distribution;
- Administration and Personnel, including an increase in staff numbers from 40 to 65 and the establishment of a permanent office in Belfast.
The Council also noted a progress report on Foras na Gaeilge's corporate plan.
Irish Language Dictionary Project
6. The Council approved in principle funding of IR£3.1m (Stg2.37m) over a 5 year period for a modern high quality English/Irish dictionary which would supercede the current major English/Irish Dictionary, edited by Tomás De Bhaldraithe, which was first published in 1959. This new authoritative Dictionary would have 50,000 key words and 250,000 sample sentences.
Irish Language Text Books and Eductional Resources
7. The Council also agreed in principle a 3 year action plan to ensure that there is an adequate provision of Irish Language textbooks and resources for primary and post-primary schools and colleges. The plan would include ensuring that teachers were released from their teaching duties to produce the resources and that they would receive training to do so. The material would be made available in printed and electronic formats.
Tha Boord o Ulster-Scotch Corporate Plan
8. The Council considered and approved the body of the corporate plan for Tha Boord o Ulster-Scotch. The plan supports four major themes at a total cost of £1,450,000. They are:
- Linguistic Development - supporting Ulster-Scots as a living language and promoting its use and development,Culture - acting as a key contributor to the development of Ulster-Scots culture,
- Education - establishing partnerships with the education and community sectors to promote the study of the Ulster-Scots language, culture and history,
- Public understanding of Ulster Scots - developing the public's understanding of the Ulster-Scots language and culture.
Assistance to Chairperson of Tha Boord o Ulster-Scotch
9. The Council considered a request by the Chairperson of Tha Boord o Ulster-Scotch for the provision of assistance in carrying out his duties and agreed a means by which this could be done.
Resignation of Member from Foras na Gaeilge
10. The Council noted the resignation from the Board of Foras na Gaeilge of Cllr. Cionnaith Ó Súileabháin and appointed Gearóid Ó hEara as his replacement.
Appointment of Chief Executive for Special EU Programmes Body
11. The Council considered the recommendations of a Selection Panel on the appointment of a Chief Executive to the Special EU Programmes Body. The name of the candidate put forward by the Selection Panel was accepted by the Council and a further announcement will be made in due course following acceptance of the appointment.
Date of Next Meeting
12. The Council agreed to meet again in this Sectoral format in Northern Ireland in February/March 2001.
Joint Secretariat
5 December 2000