Gaeltacht Act 2012

Irish Language Networks.

11.— (1) The Minister may by order designate a specified community, other than a community in a Gaeltacht Language Planning Area or a Gaeltacht area, to be an Irish Language Network.

(2) A community specified in an order made under subsection (1) shall be a community which—

(a) supports the use of the Irish language, and

(b) has agreed to the implementation of an Irish language plan referred to in subsection (3).

(3) An organisation within a community to which subsection (2) applies and which Foras na Gaeilge considers to be representative of the community concerned may prepare, with the assistance of Foras na Gaeilge, an Irish language plan to be implemented by that community and submit that plan to the Minister.

(4) Where the Minister, having regard to prescribed language planning criteria, approves of a plan referred to in subsection (3), the Minister shall make an order under subsection (1), and the organisation concerned shall implement the plan.

(5) The Minister shall review the progress made as respects the implementation of a plan referred to in subsection (4) at such intervals as appear to the Minister to be necessary and appropriate for the implementation of the plan concerned.

(6) Where following a review under subsection (5), the Minister considers, after consultation with Foras na Gaeilge, that the plan concerned is not being implemented or is being implemented inadequately, the Minister shall by notice in writing inform the organisation concerned of—

(a) the deficiencies identified by the Minister in the implementation of the plan, and

(b) the period within which the deficiencies shall be remedied.

(7) The Minister may extend the period within which the deficiencies referred to in the notice under subsection (6) shall be remedied.

(8) Where the Minister has sent a notice under subsection (6) the Minister shall review the progress made in the remedying of the deficiencies referred to in paragraph (a) of that subsection at the end of the period referred to in paragraph (b) of that subsection or any extension of that period under subsection (7).

(9) Where the Minister, after consultation with Foras na Gaeilge, considers that there is no reasonable prospect that the Irish language plan concerned will be implemented or implemented adequately, the Minister may by order revoke the designation of the community concerned with effect from the date specified in the order.