Local councils in the north

Local councils in the north

 There are a number of obligations on the state with regard to the protection and promotion of Irish, as has been affirmed in international treaties and political agreements. There are 11 local councils in the north, all of whom have a range of responsibilities, from community development to street signage, as well as duties in promoting good relations and equality. Through this, as well as their role in cultural and heritage activities, and through their own branding, local councils have significant potential to promote the language. 

The European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages (ECRML) is the most significant treaty that we have at local government level with regard to regional and minority languages. The absence of domestic legislation for Irish in the north means that the commitments and undertakings in the ECRML may only be of interpretative value; this has consistently been used as a tool to stall progressive measures relating to Irish language service provision in local councils.

What is more, the duty to promote ‘good relations’ has often been deliberately misinterpreted to justify local councils' inaction regarding the Irish language; instead, local councils should embark upon programmes which seek to increase awareness and understanding of the Irish language, thus contributing to the fulfilment of their duty to promote good relations. 

Some councils have taken steps to support the language and provide basic services to Irish speakers, but there is a great level of disparity between what is available in some council areas compared to others. The below table outlines the current Irish language provision across the 11 council areas.