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Learning Irish
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The Official Languages ​​Act 2003 and the 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language
The European Charter for Minority Languages
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Get Involved with Conradh na Gaeilge
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Using Irish State Services
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Irish Language Careers Booklet
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‘meascan-mearai-den-mhaith-agus-den-olc-iad-torthai-an-daonairimh-ach-comhartha-dochais-i-an-ghluin-og’

‘Meascán mearaí den mhaith agus den olc iad torthaí an daonáirimh ach comhartha dóchais í an ghlúin óg’

Is “meascán mearaí den mhaith agus den olc” iad na staitisticí faoi úsáid na Gaeilge ó dheas a d’fhoilsigh an Phríomh-Oifig Staidrimh inniu, dar le Paula Melvin, Uachtarán Chonradh na Gaeilge, ach gur “comhartha dóchais” í an ghlúin óg cainteoirí Gaeilge sa tír.

“Níl aon amhras ann ach go bhfuil meascán mearaí ann den mhaith agus den olc, den fhás agus den titim, sna figiúirí ar maidin maidir leis an Ghaeilge agus an Ghaeltacht sa Daonáireamh. Cé go bhfuil scéal dearfach ann go bhfuil ardú ag teacht trí chéile ar líon na ndaoine le Gaeilge, sa Ghaeltacht agus taobh amuigh den Ghaeltacht, sa Ghaeltacht agus taobh amuigh den Ghaeltacht, is údar buairim é do Chonradh na Gaeilge go bhfuil pobal labhartha na Gaeilge ag titim, sa Ghaeltacht agus taobh amuigh den Ghaeltacht,” a dúirt Paula.

Ina ainneoin sin, áfach, dúirt sí go bhfuil “comharthaí dóchais” ann don teanga agus thagair don “fhás mór” atá tagtha ar líon na ndaoine óga atá ag úsáid na Gaeilge ó bhí 2016 ann.

“Tá comharthaí dóchais ann, áfach, nuair a chaitheann muid súil ar líon na ndaoine óga, go háirithe sa raon aoise idir 15-24 , agus an fás mór a tháinig ar úsáid na Gaeilge san aoisghrúpa sin ó bhí 2016 ann. Léiríonn na figiúir arís eile go bhfuil neart le déanamh againn chun úsáid na Gaeilge ar fud na tíre a spreagadh agus a chur chun cinn,” a dúirt sí.

Tháinig titim ar líon an ndaoine a chuir in iúl go labhraíonn siad an Ghaeilge ar bhonn laethúil ó 73,803 in 2016 go 71,960 in 2022. Bhí titim i gceist freisin i líon na ndaoine a labhraíonn an Ghaeilge ar bhonn seachtainiúil, ó 111,473 in 2016 go 109,099 in 2022.

Ar an láimh eile, tháinig méadú ar líon na ndaoine a thug le fios go bhfuil Gaeilge acu ó 1,761,420 in 2016 go 1,873,997 in 2022 – 40.4% de dhaonra an stáit.  Bhí ardú i gceist sna ceantair Ghaeltachta freisin agus 65,156 duine sa Ghaeltacht tar éis a rá go bhfuil Gaeilge acu i gcomparáid le 63,664 in 2016. Mar sin féin, tháinig laghdú ar líon na ndaoine Gaeltachta a labhraíonn an Ghaeilge gach lá – ó 20,586 in 2016 go 20,261 in 2022.

Dúirt Julian de Spáinn, Ard-Rúnaí Chonradh na Gaeilge, gur “fadhb atá thar a bheith tromchúiseach” í an titim sin agus go gcaithfear “tacú le pobal na Gaeilge agus na Gaeltachta an teanga a úsáid mar theanga tí, mar theanga teaghlaigh, agus mar theanga phobail”.

“Chun an cheist seo a réiteach, tá géarghá le tacaíocht láidir, leanúnach agus uaillmhianach ón stát gan mhoill leis an taoide a chasadh agus borradh suntasach a bhaint amach maidir le húsáid na Gaeilge. Tá neart rudaí is gá a dhéanamh chun an fhís sin a bhaint amach agus leis an bhfás atá de dhíth a bhuanú,” a dúirt sé.

Dúirt Julian gur “anois an t-am le beartais láidre a aontú agus a chur i bhfeidhm” agus gur gá na “hacmhainní cuí” a chur ar fáil leis sin a dhéanamh.

“Tá deis iontach againn sin a dhéanamh ach an toil agus an tiomantas a bheith ann i measc polaiteoirí agus an phobail ar fud na tíre,” a dúirt sé.

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