Pleanáil Teanga | Language Planning
Tá an iliomad sainmhínithe ar an bpleanáil teanga. Is féidir a rá go hachomair gurb é atá i gceist leis ná modhanna pleanáilte faoina ndéantar iarracht tionchar a imirt ar an teanga a labhraítear in aon phobal faoi leith. Is féidir a rá freisin gur cnuasach smaointe, dlíthe, rialachán agus cleachtas atá ann chun athrú pleanáilte maidir le húsáid teanga i bpobal faoi leith a bhaint amach. Is é an sprioc atá ag an bpleanáil teanga sa chás seo ná lucht labhartha na Gaeilge a mhéadú agus buanú a dhéanamh ar úsáid na Gaeilge mar theanga teaghlaigh agus mar theanga pobail.
Tugann Acht na Gaeltachta 2012 feidhm don Straitéis 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge 2010-2030 ina ndeirtear go ‘dtosófar próiseas pleanála teanga agus déanfar plean teanga a ullmhú ag leibhéal pobail do gach ceantar Gaeltachta faoin Acht nua.’ Mar chuid de seo, déanfar pleanáil teanga i mBailte Seirbhíse Gaeltachta.
Tá tuilleadh eolais maidir leis an phróiseas pleanála teanga ar fáil sna físeán seo thíos a rinneadh ag Glór na nGael.
Language planning has many different definitions. In short, it is when a deliberate effort is made to influence the spoken language in a community. It can also be defined as a set of ideas, laws, rules and practices used to achieve an intentional change with regards the language in a particular community. In this case, the aim of language planning is to increase the number of Irish speakers, and to perpetuate the use of the Irish language as both a household language and a public language.
The Gaeltacht Act 2012 adheres to the 20-Year Strategy of the Irish Language 2010 – 2030 wherein it is stated that “under the new Act, language planning processes will be implemented, and a language plan will be devised at community level for every Gaeltacht area”. As part of this, a language strategy will be formulated in Gaeltacht Service Towns. Additional information about the language planning process can be found in these videos below, created by Glór na nGael.
Cad is Baile Seirbhíse Gaeltachta ann?
Is é atá i gceist leis na Bailte Seirbhíse Gaeltachta ná bailte atá suite i Limistéir Pleanála Teanga Ghaeltachta nó taobh leo agus a bhfuil ról suntasach acu maidir le seirbhísí poiblí, saoráidí áineasa, sóisialta agus tráchtála a sholáthar do na limistéir sin. Faoin Acht, caithfidh daonra de 1,000 duine ar a laghad a bheith i mbaile faoin daonáireamh deiridh chun gur féidir é a áireamh mar Bhaile Seirbhíse Gaeltachta. Tabharfar aitheantas faoin Acht do Bhailte Seirbhíse Gaeltachta ach pleananna teanga a bheith aontaithe leis na pobail sna bailte éagsúla i gcomhréir leis na critéir pleanála teanga forordaithe.
Ainmníodh Líonra Leitir Ceanainn mar Bhaile Seirbhíse Gaeltachta i 2018 le plean teanga a chur le chéile faoi Acht na Gaeltachta 2012. Ceapadh Líonra Leitir Ceanainn mar cheanneagraíocht ar an phróiseas pleanála teanga, mar sin de tá an Líonra freagrach as plean teanga a chur le chéile a chomhlíonann an chritéir ar Bhaile Seirbhíse Gaeltachta, mar atá leagtha amach sa reachtaíocht, agus ina dhiaidh sin leis an phlean a chur i bhfeidhm.
Bhí ar Líonra Leitir Ceanainn an réamhobair, an taighde agus an próiseas comhairliúcháin a chur i ngníomh chun plean teanga a fhorbairt. Ba é an sprioc a bhí ann ná an Ghaeilge a spreagadh sa bhaile agus líon na seirbhísí atá ar fáil trí Ghaeilge i Leitir Ceanainn a mhéadú.
What is a Gaeltacht Services Town?
A Gaeltacht Service Town is a town which is situated in or adjacent to a Gaeltacht Language Planning Area, and that has a prominent role in providing public services as well as recreational, social and commercial facilities to the area. Under the Act, a population of at least 1,000 must be recorded in the most recent census for the town to be recognised as a Gaeltacht Service Town. Recognition will be given to Gaeltacht Service Towns under the Act, but language plans must be agreed with the communities in different towns in accordance with predetermined language planning criteria.
As a Gaeltacht Service Town, Líonra Leitir Ceanainn was nominated to formulate a language plan under The Gaeltacht Act 2012. Líonra Leitir Ceanainn was appointed the head organisation of the language planning process, therefore the network is responsible for devising a language plan in accordance with the Gaeltacht Service Towns criteria, as is laid out in legislation, and subsequently put the plan into motion.
There was preparatory work, research and a listening process which Líonra Leitir Ceanainn had to put into action in order to develop the language plan. The aim of the plan was to increase the use of Irish in the town and the number of services available through Irish.
An Próiseas | The Process
Bhí tréimhse dhá bhliain ag Líonra Leitir Ceanainn leis an phlean seo a chur le chéile. Cuireadh tús leis an tréimhse seo i mí Iúil 2018. Ceapadh Ursula Ní Shabhaois ó Chinnteacht mar Chomhairleoir Phleanála Teanga chun cuidiú linn riachtanais agus mianta an phobail ó thaobh an phlean teanga de a mheas. Cuireadh tús le taighde a dhéanamh sa bhaile, leis an lucht gnó, daoine óga, teaghlaigh agus an pobal i gcoitinne. Bhí baill den choiste agus daoine óga ó Choláiste Ailigh gníomhach sa phróiseas seo, ag gabháil isteach go gnólachtaí, ag bualadh leis an phobal san ionad siopadóireachta agus ar na sráideanna chun suirbhéanna a dhéanamh. Bhí an próiseas fréamhaithe sa phobal ó thús go deireadh.
Tharla an comhairliúchán pobal deireanach i mí Mhárta 2020 inar rinneadh plé ar dhréacht den phlean teanga. I ndiaidh cibé leasaithe a bhí de dhíth a chur in eagar cuireadh an plean faoi bhráid na Roinne i mí Aibreán 2020 agus faomhadh é gan leasú ar bith eile i mí Lúnasa 2020.
Ceapadh Bairbre Uí Chathail mar Chomhordaitheoir Pleanála Teanga i mí na Nollag 2020 agus Aisling Nic Aodha mar Oifigeach Forbartha Gaeilge faoin Scéim Forbartha Líonra Gaeilge i mí Aibreán 2024. Is an ról atá acu ná bearta an phlean a chur i ngníomh ach ar a mhullach air sin, cluas éisteachta a thabhairt i gcónaí – go foirmiúil trí thaighde agus go neamhfhoirmiúil – do mhianta agus riachtanais an phobail chun an plean teanga a choinneáil beo, solúbtha agus ábhartha do phobal an bhaile seo.
Líonra Leitir Ceanainn had a period of two years in which to create the language plan. This period began in July 2018. Ursula Ní Shabhaois from Cinnteacht was taken on as a Language Planning Advisor to help us assess the needs and wishes of the public in terms of a language plan. We began doing reseach in the town, with business people, young people, families and the general public. Members of the Líonra committee and young people from Coláiste Ailigh were actively involved in the process, visiting businesses, meeting the public in shopping centres and on the streets, to do surveys with them. The process was rooted in the community from start to finish.
The final public consultation happened in March 2020 at which the draft plan was discusses. Once any amendments to the plan had been made, it was submitted to the Department in April 2020 and was formally accepted, without any further amendments, in August 2020.
Bairbre Uí Chathail was appointed Language Plan Coordinator in December 2020 and Aisling Nic Aodha as Irish Language Development Officer in April 2024. Their role is to make sure the aims of the plan are put into action but also to make sure we are always listening – formally through research and informally – to the wishes and needs of the community to make sure that the plan remains a living thing, flexible and relevant to the people of this town.
Taighde | Research
Mar chuid den phróiseas pleanála teanga, bhí taighde á dhéanamh ag Líonra Leitir Ceanainn le tuairimí an phobail a mheas maidir leis an Ghaeilge agus cad a ba mhaith leis an phobal sa phlean teanga.
Cruthaíodh suirbhéanna le léargas a fháil ar staid reatha na Gaeilge i Leitir Ceanainn agus le moltaí a fháil maidir leis na beartanna don phlean. Theastaigh ó Líonra Leitir Ceanainn, an oiread tuairimí agus moltaí agus gur féidir linn a fháil ón phobal le cinntiú go bhfreastalódh an plean ar riachtanais an phobail áitiúil.
Cuireadh naisc do na suirbhéanna seo amach ar na meáin shóisialta. Scaipeadh eolas faoin phróiseas trí na meáin chumarsáide áitiúla a úsáid. Bhí an coiste ag iarraidh cloisteáil uathu siúd le Gaeilge agus daoine gan Ghaeilge araon agus le réimse tuairimí leathan a fháil ar cad a ba chóir bheith istigh sa phlean teanga nua. Bhí sé tábhachtach saibhreas de thuairimí a chur san áireamh sa phlean, cluas éisteachta a thabhairt d’oiread daoine agus gur féidir linn trí ghrúpaí fócais agus chruinnithe comhairliúcháin a reáchtáil.
Bunaíodh na suirbhéanna ar shuirbhé comónta atá in úsáid ag coistí pleanála teanga fud fad na tíre. Cuireadh ceithre shuirbhé amach i measc an phobail:
- Suirbhé pobail (375 fhreagra)
- Suirbhé don lucht gnó (193 fhreagra)
- Suirbhé do dhaoine óga (114 fhreagra)
- Suirbhé d’eagraíochta agus do ghrúpaí pobail (11 fhreagra)
Rinneadh anailís ar thorthaí na suirbhéanna seo i gcomhar le Colm Ó Ciardubháin ó Ollscoil Bhaile Átha Cliath. Tá anailís ar thorthaí na suirbhéanna le feiceáil i gCaibidil 9 den phlean.
Ní fiú plean gan phobal agus ní fiú plean a bheith greanta i gcloch. Cuireann, agus cuirfidh muid i dtólamh, fáilte roimh thuairimí an phobail. Déanfaidh muid iarracht i gcónaí cinntiú go mbaineann an plean seo le riachtanais agus mianta an phobail anseo i Leitir Ceanainn. Bíonn taighde fós ar siúl againn* agus beidh mórthionscadal taighde le cur i ngníomh sa séú bhliain den phlean, 2026, ionas go dtiocfadh linn plean nua a fhorbairt agus a chur faoi bhráid na Roinne go luath sa bhliain 2027.
*Cad é mar atá ag éirí linn? Abair linn anseo https://forms.gle/AzqvdDjqoofCDwvu5
As part of the language planning process, Líonra Leitir Ceanainn undertook research to assess the opinions of the public about Irish and what they would like to see in the stratgic language plan.
Surveys were created to get an idea of the current state of the Irish language in Letterkenny and to get suggestions regarding the objectives of the plan. We wanted to get as many opinions and suggestions from the public as possible to make sure that the plan would address the needs of people here.
Links to these surveys were available on social media. Information about the process was spread through local media. The committee wanted to hear from those with Irish and those without and to get a wide range of opinion as to what should be in the new strategic Irish language plan. It was important to get the greatest richness of opinions for the plan through the surveys, focus groups and consultation meetings.
The surveys were based on a standard survey used by language planning committees throughout the country. Four surveys were distributed among thecommunity:
- Community survey (375 answers)
- Survey for the business sector (193 answers)
- Survey for young people (114 answers)
- Survey for organisations and for community groups (11 answers)
The results of these surveys were analysed in collaboration with Colm Ó Ciardubháin from Dublin City University. An analysis of the results of the surveys can be found in Chapter 9 of the plan.
A language plan has to be rooted in a community. Equally there is no point engraving a plan in stone. We welcome, now and going forward, the opinions of the public. We will consistently make every effort to ensure that this plan relates to the needs and wishes of the people here in Letterkenny. We are still doing reseach* and there will be a major research Project happening in 2026 so that we will be able to develop a new plan for submission to the Department early in 2027.
How are we getting on? Let us know here https://forms.gle/AzqvdDjqoofCDwvu5
An Plean | The Plan
Is í an fhís 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 cheantar Leitir Ceanainn agus mhuintir na Gaeltachta.
Léirigh an taighde a rinneadh mar chuid den phróiseas pleanála go bhfuil tuairimí an-dearfacha i leith na Gaeilge agus gur mhaith leis an phobal go mbeadh an teanga níos feiceálaí agus go mbeadh tuilleadh 7 deiseanna ar fáil leis an Ghaeilge a fhoghlaim agus a úsáid. Ní raibh an tsuim le tuilleadh Gaeilge a fheiceáil nó a úsáid teoranta dóibh siúd a bhfuil cumas acu sa Ghaeilge, mar a léirigh an taighde a rinneadh leis an earnáil ghnó go háirithe. Is léir go bhfuil suim ag gnólachtaí gach leibhéal Gaeilge a bheith mar chuid den phlean teanga seo agus agus suim acu iarracht a dhéanamh tuilleadh Gaeilge a úsáid mar chuid dá gcuid gnó.
Léirigh an taighde a rinneadh le daoine óga gur mhaith leo tuilleadh Gaeilge a úsáid ach gur mhaith leo é seo a dhéanamh trí imeachtaí a bhíonn ar siúl nó á dhéanamh acu cheana féin. Léiríodh an-bhród agus an-suim sa teanga agus suim go mbeadh imeachtaí ar fáil trí Ghaeilge, in áit a mbeadh imeachtaí dírithe ar an teanga amháin ar fáil dóibh.
Socraíodh, agus torthaí an taighde seo san áireamh, ar shé bheart agus tríocha, a leagtar amach i gCaibidil 10 den phlean, a chlúdaíonn na réimsí pleanála teanga ar fad, a chomhlíonann na critéir phleanála teanga agus a chuireann béim ar leith ar sholáthar a dhéanamh do theaghlaigh, do dhaoine óga agus don earnáil ghnó. Tá eolas maidir leis na costais agus an maoiniú don phlean teanga ar fáil i gCaibidil 11 agus tá eolas maidir leis an chur chuige monatóireachta ar chur i bhfeidhm an phlean ar fáil i gCaibidil 13.
Cuirfear an plean teanga seo i bhfeidhm thar thréimse seacht mbliana 2020 – 2027. Tá Coiste Líonra Leitir Ceanainn freagrach as cur i bhfeidhm laethúil an phlean agus an comhordaitheoir pleanála teanga freagrach as dul chun cinn na mbeart a stiúradh. Thar aon rud eile, is leis an phobal an plean teanga seo agus beidh deiseanna leanúnacha ag an phobal ionchur a bheith acu ar an phlean teanga agus le moltaí a dhéanamh ina leith. Is plean uaillmhianach ach réadúil é an plean teanga seo atá dírithe ar thuilleadh Gaeilge a fheiceáil agus a chluinstin i Leitir Ceanainn sna blianta amach romhainn.
Is iad na haidhmeanna teanga atá sa phlean teanga seo:
- Feiceálacht na Gaeilge sa bhaile a ardú.
- Deiseanna sóisialta agus cultúrtha trí Ghaeilge a chur ar fáil do gach aoisghrúpa.
- Cur le líon na ndeiseanna foghlama Gaeilge taobh istigh agus taobh amuigh den chóras oideachais do gach aoisghrúpa.
- Gnólachtaí, eagraíochtaí agus soláthróirí seirbhísí sa bhaile a spreagadh le tuilleadh Gaeilge a úsáid.
- Stádas na Gaeilge i Leitir Ceanainn a ardú agus a cheiliúradh.
- Úsáid na Gaeilge mar ghnáth-theanga laethúil i Leitir Ceanainn a chur chun cinn, a chothú agus a mhéadú.
- Nasc a chothú leis na Limistéir Phleanála Teanga uilig i nDún na nGall.
The Vision is
To implement an Irish Language Plan in Letterkenny which will promote the use of Irish throughout educational, social, cultural and economic sectors of the town.
The research carried out as part of the language planning process showed that there are very positive views towards the Irish language and that the community would like the language to be more visible and that more opportunities to use the language would be available. The interest in seeing or using more Irish was not limited to those who have Irish language skills, something which was particularly apparent in the research undertaken with the business sector. It is clear that businesses with all levels of Irish have an interest in being part of the language plan and making an effort to use more of the Irish language as part of their business.
The research carried out with young people showed that they would like to use more Irish but that they would like to do so as part of events which are already taking place or through things which they are already doing. Great pride and interest was shown in the language, along with an interest that events would be available through the Irish language, instead of language-focused events only taking place.
Once the research results had been considered, 36 measures were settled upon, laid out in Chapter 10 of the plan, which cover each of the aspects of language planning and fulfil the Language Planning Criteria and which place a particular emphasis on provision for families, for young people and for the business sector. Information about the costs and the funding for the language plan are available in Chapter 11 and information about the monitoring and implementation of the plan can be found in Chapter 13.
This language plan will be implemented over a period of seven years 2020 – 2027. The Líonra Leitir Ceanainn Committee will be responsible for the day-to-day implementation of the plan and the language planning coordinator is responsible for directing the implementation of the measures. Above all else, this language plan belongs to the community and there will be ongoing opportunities for the community to have input into the plan and to make recommendations. This is an ambitious but realistic plan which is focused on increasing the amount of Irish seen and heard in Letterkenny in the coming years.
The language aims in this plan are:
- To increase the visibility of Irish.
- To provide social and cultural opportunities through Irish for all age groups.
- To increase the number of Irish language learning opportunities, inside and outside the education system, for all age groups.
- To encourage businesses, organisations and service providers to use more Irish.
- To raise and celebrate the status of the Irish language in Letterkenny.
- To promote, foster and increase the use of Irish as an everyday language in Letterkenny.
- To foster a link with all the Language Planning Areas in Donegal.