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Homes in the Gaeltacht

If the Government wants to protect our language, it must address housing problems in Gaeltachtaí

Letters to the Editor. Illustration: Paul Scott — The Irish Times – Letters to the Editor

Wed Oct 28 2026 - 06:00 • 1 MIN READ

Sir, – As someone whose mother was from Inis Mór, it is exasperating to see successive governments pay lip service to our Gaeltachtaí and islands without any meaningful reform to their housing problem.

If they really wish to protect them and give young people a chance of their own home and at the same time ensure the language’s survival, they must reform local planning laws and prohibit the sale of houses to outsiders as holiday homes. If people want to buy there they must live there also and commit to learning Irish.

I’m sure this would have a dampening effect on house prices. – Yours, etc,

ENDA SCANLON,