Kildare homes 'should be provided for those with a knowledge of Irish'
There wasn’t much support for the idea
Social or affordable homes should be provided to people with “moderate proficiency to fluency” in Irish.
That was the essence of a motion tabled by Sinn Féin councillor Noel Connolly at a Kildare County Council meeting - but it was not overwhelmingly welcomed.
Cllr Connolly said KCC should engage with interested parties to launch a pilot project which would see these homes occupied by people with Irish language skills.
He said this would build on “the success of the micro Gaeltacht that has flourished on the Rathasker Road in Naas.”
And he referred to “that community’s significant contribution to the development of the Irish language in Kildare since 1969.”
Cllr Connolly also noted the work of Irish language groups in Naas, Sallins and Maynooth ti support the language and Irish heritage.
However the only other councillor to comment was Fianna Fáil's Suzanne Doyle, who said that while the move was “well intended” she was wary of supporting it.
She added that issues around how housing is allocated are "incendiary."
The meeting decided to refer the request to an internal committee made up of councillors.