Fermanagh and Omagh District Council have spent a total of £96,290 in 2022-2023 on the installation of a number of new dual language signs across the district, replacing signage that, in some cases, had only been installed by the Council less than three years previously.

Signs are being replaced where 15 per cent or more of the occupiers of that road/street have indicated that they are in favour of the erection of a second language sign; then such a sign may be erected, subject to certain residual discretion and protections/mitigations.

If the minimum threshold of 15 per cent is not met, the application will end.

The new dual language signs feature the road name, townland and Irish translation, whereas the signs which are being replaced just feature the road name and townland.

At this time, not all signs are being replaced, only certain signs that have been agreed upon.

These previous signs had been installed as part of a project to promote the use of townlands in Co. Fermanagh which had been rolled out in phases since 2018. The project was completed by December, 2020.

In response to questions asked by The Impartial Reporter regarding the cost of the installation of the new dual language signs, a spokesperson for the Council said: "The total accrued capital expenditure, on fabrication and installation of dual language signs throughout the district in 2022-2023, was £96,290.

"The Council's Environmental Services Committee considers a monthly report on the installation of signage in a language other than English.

"The cost of signage provision varies depending on the location of the road – urban/rural – and number of signs required; these costs are set out in the monthly report.

"Where possible, the Council seeks to remove and re-use old signs and poles," added the spokesperson.

This newspaper also asked the Council how much it had cost to install the previous signs as part of the 2018-2020 townlands project. However, the Council spokesperson did not answer this query directly.

When asked by The Impartial Reporter why the signage that was installed over the 2018-2020 period did not include dual language, the Council spokesperson outlined: "The Council's 'Street Naming and Numbering Policy (Including Dual Language Signs)' was updated in July, 2021, with further amendments in December, 2021 and April, 2022.

"A copy of the policy is available on the Council's website; Annex C sets out the procedure by which the Council will consider applications for the installation of dual language signs."