Géarchéim tithíochta na Gaeltachta faoi béim i bParlaimint na hEorpa – Kathleen Funchion MEP
18 March 2025
Tá an easpa deiseanna tithíochta do chainteoirí Gaeilge sna ceantair Ghaeltachta ag cur brú ar an Ghaeilge, agus tá sé ag cur brú ar chultúr bríomhar teanga, ceoil, damhsa agus scéalaíochta a tháinig slán tríd an Gorta Mór agus Riail Choilíneach.
Dúirt an Fheisire de Pharlaimint na hEorpa Kathleen Funchion:
“Tá mé ag súil go mór le fáilte a chur roimh baill de Todhchaí na Tuaithe. Grúpa feachtais de Ghaeilgeoirí atá ag troid ar son cearta tithíochta do chainteoirí Gaeilge inár nGaeltachtaí.
“Léiríonn figiúirí daonáirimh go bhfuil laghdú ar an méid cainteoirí Gaeilge i gceantair Ghaeltachta. Creidim fhéin, go léiríonn sé seo géarchéim tithíochta dár bpobail Ghaeltachta.
“De bharr an meadú sa méid lóistín atá ar fáil ar Airbnb agus an ardú i tithe saoire, atá mar dara teach do dhaoine, tá méadú ar praghsanna tithíocht do mhuintir na Gaeltachta. Chomh maith leo seo, tá deacrachtaí a bhaineann le cead pleanála a fháil, agus de bharr na fadhbanna seo uilig, tá sé deacair do mhuintir na Gaeltachta fanacht sa Ghaeltacht.
“Caithfidh na húdaráis áitiúla agus an rialtas aghaidh a thabhairt ar an gcothromaíocht idir turasóireacht inbhuanaithe agus cearta na saoránach a chosaint.
“Chomh maith le seo, tá sé tábhachtach go glacadh na húdaráis áitiúla agus an rialtas ról láidir, chun cinntiú go gcoinneoidh ár bPobal Gaeltachta an stair agus an oidhreacht a bhaineann leo. Ba mhór an náire a mbeadh ann, dá ligfí dár réigiúin Ghaeltachta imeacht uainn.
“Táim tharr a bheith sásta go mbeidh na Teachtaí Dála, Mairéad Farrell TD agus Conor McGuinness TD, chomh maith le Breanndán Ó Beaglaoich, ag teacht amach go dtí an Bhruiséil ar an toscaireacht seo.
“Beidh deis ag an toscaireacht cruinnithe a bheith acu le ionadaithe ón gCoimisiún Eorpach, agus le Ard-Rúnaí an ghrúpa cearta teanga Eorpach, ELEN, Davyth Hicks.”
Gaeltacht housing crisis highlighted at European Parliament – Kathleen Funchion MEP
A lack of housing opportunities for Irish speakers in Gaeltacht areas is significantly threatening the Irish language and in particular endangering a vibrant culture of language, music, dance and storytelling that has survived for generations through famine and Colonial rule.
Kathleen Funchion MEP, speaking this week from Brussels, where she is hosting a number of Gaeltacht campaigners, said:
“I’m really delighted to host members of Todhchaí na Tuaithe, a campaign group of Irish speakers, and others, who have been unrelenting in their campaign to promote housing rights for Irish speakers in Gaeltacht regions.
“Recent census figures show a worrying decline in the number of Irish speakers in Gaeltacht areas, which I believe points to a hidden housing crisis specific to Gaeltacht communities.
“The proliferation of Airbnb and second home ownership is pricing Irish speakers out of their communities; coupled with planning permission regulations preventing them from building on their land, is leading to less and less Irish speakers living, working and raising their families in Gaeltacht areas.
“It’s imperative local authorities and the government take a proactive role in ensuring our vibrant Gaeltacht communities retain their significant history and heritage. It would be a travesty if we allowed our Gaeltacht regions to slowly fade away.
“I’m thrilled Mairéad Farrell TD and Conor McGuinness TD, both fluent gaelgoirs, along with Breanndán Ó Beaglaoich will be joining us in Brussels, where delegates will meet a number of key officials with special responsibility for policy in the European Commission on Housing. We are also delighted to have secured a meeting with European Language Equality Network Secretary General Davyth Hicks.
“Davyth has worked for a number of years in the area of housing rights for indigenous speakers, he will speak to the impact Airbnb and second home ownership is having in regions such as Wales, Catalonia, Majorca, Cornwall and Scotland.”
