Galway County Council has approved measures to protect the Irish language in the Connemara Gaeltacht by placing restrictions on those who wish to build new houses in the area.
The proposal, made by Fine Gael Councillor Mr Pól Ó Foighil, is in the context of a decline in the number of Irish speakers in the Connemara Gaeltacht. Mr Ó Foighil said it is needed due to the influx of English speakers to the Gaeltacht, which many have predicted will cause the language to disappear before long.
Mr Ó Foighil said this morning that the proposal is intended to protect what remains of the Gaeltacht.
It will restrict planning permission for those who wish to build in the Gaeltacht, or Cois Fharraige between Barna and Carna to those who can speak Irish.
Galway County Council processes over 3,000 planning applications each year and until now there has not been a provision for those who speak Irish.