Mr Patsy McGlone (Mid Ulster): To ask the Minister for Communities, given the High Court Rulings [2017] NIQB 27 and [2022] NIQB 56, declaring that the Executive had failed to comply with its duty under section 28D of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, (i) what stage the Irish Language Strategy is at; and (ii) when he plans to bring it to the Executive for approval.
Minister for Communities: The Language Strategies Cross-Departmental Working Group is considering the Co-Design Group’s proposed strategy action plan. Officials have updated me on this work.
Once the work of the Cross Departmental Working Group is complete, the draft Strategy will issue to me for consideration prior to Executive consideration and public consultation.
I am currently considering the next steps in the development of the Irish Language Strategy and the Ulster-Scots Language, Heritage and Culture Strategy and the associated action plans. I will then engage with Executive colleagues to ask them to consider and if content agree on those next steps.
ENDS
Your MLA 