11/04/2024

O'Dowd Reaffirms Commitment To Irish Language Roll-Out

The Department for Infrastructure is committed to the continued roll-out of the Irish language in west Belfast, Minister John O'Dowd has said.

Reaffirming his departments commitment, Minister O'Dowd welcomed the progress made in recent years and said the bi-lingual display of passenger information on Glider and Metro services by Translink, including the introduction of bilingual signage and audio announcements on the Glider between Millfield and McKinstry Road, was a positive step.

Speaking after a meeting with Forbairt Feirste on Wednesday to discuss Irish language in the Gaeltacht Quarter, he said: "I was pleased to meet with Forbairt Feirste to discuss my continued commitment to equality for Irish language speakers.

"I have asked officials to develop proposals for a project that would see the use of multi-lingual traffic signs piloted in the Gaeltacht Quarter in Belfast, which is a thriving Irish language community.

"This will help inform the development of future policy for the use of multi-lingual traffic signs.

"Departments and public bodies have a role to play in supporting and promoting the use of the Irish language and Ulster Scots language and my Department will continue to do so."


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