Mayo Gaeltacht areas under threat of extinction amidst housing crisis

Demonstrators gathered outside Leinster House today to demand urgent action from the government to address the ongoing Gaeltacht Housing Crisis. Organised by the Meitheal Náisiúnta Pleanála Teanga, the protest drew support from a wide array of Irish language and Gaeltacht advocacy groups, highlighting the severity and urgency of the situation.

Mayo has three major Gaeltacht regions, Erris, Achill and Tourmakeady.

The Gaeltacht Housing Crisis has been a longstanding issue, with residents facing significant obstacles in obtaining planning permission in their own communities. Dónall Ó Cnáimhsí, spokesperson for Meitheal Náisiúnta Pleanála Teanga, spoke about the frustrating reality for Gaeltacht residents, particularly young couples, who are increasingly being denied planning permission under restrictive interpretations of "local need." This trend directly contradicts the government's stated commitment to language planning, as outlined in the Gaeltacht Act 2012.

Róisín Ní Chinnéide, another spokesperson for the organisation, highlighted the government's failure to deliver on promises, notably the long-awaited Gaeltacht Planning Guidelines. Despite commitments made by the Minister for Housing over two years ago, the guidelines remain unpublished, leaving Gaeltacht communities without crucial planning context as significant legislative discussions, such as the Planning and Development Bill 2023, progress through the Oireachtas.

The demonstration expressed the frustration and impatience felt by Gaeltacht residents and advocacy groups, who have grown weary of government inaction. The absence of concrete solutions to the housing crisis threatens the vitality and sustainability of Gaeltacht communities, prompting calls for immediate intervention and prioritisation of Gaeltacht needs within legislative frameworks.

Support for the demonstration came from various quarters, including Conradh na Gaeilge, An Dream Dearg, and the Union of Students in Ireland, reflecting a broad coalition of voices united in their demand for action. As discussions on the Planning and Development Bill 2023 unfold, demonstrators have made it clear that the Gaeltacht must be central to the conversation, signalling their determination to continue advocating until tangible solutions are implemented to alleviate the Gaeltacht Housing Crisis.