New research from Údarás na Gaeltachta has shown that the use of Irish in Gaeltacht areas is on the decline, and at a more rapid rate than previously thought.
Using data garnered from census figures between 2006 and 2011, the state agency examined the social use of Irish in Gaeltacht areas, and showed that the use of the language is "more confined to the academic setting of the classroom while declining in the community setting".
According to RTÉ, there are 155 constituencies that are considered part of the Gaeltacht, there were only 21 where more than 67% (the tipping point for language survival) of the people speak the language on a daily basis.
The publishing of the report has been delayed for more than a year as a result of a dispute between Professor Conchúr Ó Giollagáin and the other authors with Údarás na Gaeltachta over a section which made recommendations regarding actions to be taken over preserving the language, which has not been included in the document, which is due to be launched in Donegal today.
