Gaeltacht policy based on a fallacy
Saturday September 16 2006
Why, oh why do we persist with the fantasy that is the current Gaeltacht? Those who love the Irish language, or who genuinely wish to preserve what's left of it, should be screaming for a major rethink of the whole notion of having an official Gaeltacht. At the very least, they should be demanding a review of its extent. The current Gaeltacht boundary, which dates from the 50s, still marks a very a real border: that between reality and fantasy. In huge chunks, probably the bigger part, of today's Gaeltacht, the Irish language is no more present than Urdu. Yet resources allocated on the basis of language support, continue to be squandered in these very areas. Udaras na Gaeltachta showers grants on enterprises that are on the right side of the magic line. And housing grants shuffle their way into the hands of those inside the linguistic fantasia, regardless of their chosen language. In theory they need to commit to raising a family through Irish, but like the fallacy that barristers need to be proficient in Irish, this is all a sham. In this way scarce resources that are allocated to preserve the language are doled out willy-nilly. This practice, which is the opposite of targeted spending, makes a mockery of Irish language policy and is a fraud on the ordinary tax payer. It is one reason for the well of cynicism towards the language. And the response from so-called language enthusiasts: ciunas. Why are there no calls for urgent reform from leaders in the language movement? No cries of wasted resources by the Irish language organisations? The reason is all too clear: a review of the Gaeltacht areas would reveal the stark reality about the language: that its survival as a community language hangs by a thread. In most parishes the thread has already broken. But the numerous language organisations want to avoid this reality-check. They are happy enough to draw on public support based on a lie. To face reality would shake up their dreamworld where they spend their own time and other peoples money, promoting the fallacy that the current Gaeltacht is the language heartland, wounded but alive, and that it deserves our full support. If there is any hope for the preservation of Irish, the lie must be punctured. CIARAN MAC AONGHUSA, CHURCHTOWN, DUBLIN 14
