The Government is being called on to address the housing crisis in Gaeltacht areas to ensure the Irish language can "survive". 

Conradh na Gaeilge (CnaG) wants Housing Minister Darragh O'Brien to devise a national housing policy, to specifically address depopulation in Irish speaking regions. 

The organisation passed a motion to call for these housing measures at their annual Ard Fheis in Blanchardstown this weekend. 

CnaG General Secretary Julian De Spáinn said certain obstacles to living in the Gaeltacht need to be removed. 

“The important thing is to do with the housing crisis in the Gaeltacht and calling on the Government to have comprehensive plan to solve the planning problems,” he said. 

“[It will ensure] that people can live in the Gaeltachts and ensure their survival and they’ll be stronger into the future.” 

Funding the Gaeltacht

CnaG also passed a motion at the Ard Fheis to call for political parties to create an investment model call An Plean Fáis.  

The proposal would see 0.4% of government spending allocated to Irish language initiatives.  

General Secretary Julian De Spáinn adequate funding has always been lacking, compromising the use of Irish. 

“You see from the general population they're all behind the language they want to they want to see the language and use language more but that they find that they can't find those opportunities,” he said. 

“We need to fund that - we've never really funded the Irish language or the Gaeltacht properly or fairly and that's something again that came up in our session over the weekend.” 

Minister of State Jack Chambers also attended the Ard Fheis, noting that when he was Minister of State for the Gaeltacht, he “spent a lot of time” visiting Irish-speaking areas and “enjoyed it”.