WITH one week of a consultation period left for the Irish Language Policy of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, Irish speakers in the district are being encouraged to have their voices heard before the July 1 deadline.

With the announcement last week that the British government will legislate for an Acht na Gaeilge in October if it is not delivered in Stormont by then, Jim Ledwith – a member of Sruth na hEirne – believes it is vital for interested Gaeilgeoiri to respond to the consultation on the Irish Language Policy, Strategy and Action Plan in the Council.

He said: “We want to impress upon councillors and Council officials the need to do more to grow the language, even grow the capabilities for it if people want to learn it.

“We want people introduced to [the Irish] language and its history locally. We want people to know where the language came from.”

Jim also believes the Irish language legislation will have massive implications for the Council if they do not have their strategy in place by the time it is legislated.

“Within the commissioner role, they can impose obligations for the provision of services in Irish for local authorities and statutory bodies.

“It’s a new era because of the legislation. The obligation will be imposed on councils. It’s a different ball game, because legislation will protect people wanting services in Irish.

“We are after progress, and are not going to stand still. I would call on people to fill [the consultation] out before July 1.”

Several responses have been returned already with issues around funding, communication, the visibility of the language in the district and tourism around the language all raised.

At a previous meeting of Sruth na hEirne, stakeholders felt a progressive change was needed on engagement from the Council as a statutory partner working closer with community-based Gaeilgeoiri and organisations.

Anyone wishing to respond to the Irish Language Consultation Survey can do so in English or Irish at: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/FODCIrishLanguage, or alternatively at https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/FODCGaeilge.