Just five gardaí assigned to the Donegal Gaeltacht are proficient in Irish

IT has been revealed that just five of the 26 gardaí assigned to the Donegal Gaeltacht are proficient in Irish.

In correspondence to the Public Accounts Committee, An Garda Síochána disclosed that less than half of the 89 gardaí assigned to Gaeltacht areas across the country have the ability to work in the Irish language, as reported by The Irish Times.

Reacting to the figures, the Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council’s Irish Language Committee, Cllr Micheál Choilm Mac Giolla Easbuig, said he was not surprised by the numbers.

The independent councillor, pictured right, stressed that the stark figure does not reflect the dedication of the gardaí on the ground, but rather the government’s attitude toward the Gaeltacht.

“This could be any other section within the state’s services – it just reflects the attitude Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil have toward the Gaeltacht,” he said.

Cllr Mac Giolla Easbuig recognised that there are gardaí in the Gaeltacht who do have Irish and make a significant effort locally.

However, he stressed that people in the Gaeltacht should be able to access vital services – from the county council to the health service – in their native language.

“The fact that they (the government) chose not to invest heavily in our community in the services we absolutely need for everyday living, this is just another reflection of how they treat us with contempt.

“We should be able to access all services through Gaeilge,” Cllr Mac Giolla Easbuig added.

He also criticised the government for its lack of real interest in reviving the Gaeltacht, accusing them of “paying lip service” to anything related to the Irish language.