The lack of a national plan for the Irish language has "serious implications" for the Government's commitment to language maintenance and revival, according to a Dublin City University academic.
John Walsh, a DCU researcher on the Irish language, has also criticised the fact that language planning, such as it is, and socio-economic development policies have been pursued in "complete isolation from each other".
Information obtained under Freedom of Information legislation revealed that discussion of language, culture and the Gaeltacht had been "extremely marginal" to consultation on the National Spatial Strategy and the National Development Plan, Mr Walsh said.
The researcher, who spoke on the issue at a recent conference in Canada, said he welcomed this week's strategy statement by Údarás na Gaeltachta which gave priority to language planning within its own narrow remit.
However, he said the commitment given to specific initiatives by the new chief executive of the Údarás, Pádraig Ó hAoláin, only underlined the need for an overall plan.
This would involve, and co-ordinate the work of, the three agencies with responsibility for the Irish language - the Department of Gaeltacht Affairs; Foras na Gaeilge and Údarás na Gaeltachta.
Three years ago, the Gaeltacht Commission recommended the "development and implementation of a national plan for Irish containing clearly-defined targets and illustrating the role of the Gaeltacht in the national effort".
It also called for the "development of a national language planning system based on best international practice" with adequate, trained staff; and a dedicated third-level unit for Irish socio-linguistic studies.
Mr Walsh said none of these recommendations have been implemented, and "there is no indication of an imminent breakthrough".
The department did announce a joint language planning strategy in co-operation with Údarás na Gaeltachta in 2004, under which micro-level language planning initiatives would be funded in the Gaeltacht. "However, the money involved is very small - €1.5 million over three years."
This amounted to "putting the linguistic cart before the horse, because there is still no national plan or training structure for language planners". The situation was exacerbated by the dearth of research in the area.
Mr Walsh advocates establishment of a taskforce, similar to the Government's Enterprise Strategy Group, comprising representatives of the State and voluntary sector as well as specialists in language planning and policy.
