FAQs

The policy is the council’s Dual Language Street Signs Policy. The council has powers under Article 11 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 in relation to street naming, street numbering and the provision of street signs. The council also has the discretionary power to erect dual language street signs or secondary nameplates in a language other than English. Belfast City Council adopted a policy for the erection of dual language street name signs in 1998. 

Article 11(4) of the legislation requires the council, to have regard to any views on the matter expressed by the occupiers of premises in a street when the council is considering whether to erect a second nameplate on a street. That is why the council sends a survey out to all occupiers of a street to seek their views on the application for a secondary nameplate.

The aim of the proposed policy is to promote regional and minority language rights, and to benefit and enhance the diverse linguistic communities within the city, through the adoption of dual language street signs as and where appropriate.  

The policy also aims to be consistent with the council’s Language Strategy, Good Relations Strategy and a number of domestic and international frameworks which aim to protect and promote regional minority languages. 

The council is consulting on this policy because it is in the process of being revised.

The policy is being revised to adopt a new policy position following a decision taken by the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee on 23 October 2020, which was ratified by the full Council on 7 January 2021. There are some key changes to the proposed policy which are described in the survey questions. The policy is also being revised to reflect developments both regionally and internationally relating to the protection and promotion of regional and minority languages.

No, it is for all languages. This policy is aligned to council’s Language Strategy, which aims to promote access to, inclusion of and awareness of other languages and heritage. The vision of the Language Strategy is to create a city where linguistic diversity is celebrated and respected and where those who live, work and visit the city can expect to access what Belfast has to offer, using forms of language within which they are familiar and comfortable.

Yes. The policy states that consideration will be given to long streets where there may be different opinions on the erection of a second nameplate between readily identifiable, substantial lengths of the street. The committee will exercise its residual discretion for such applications when deciding whether to erect second language signs in certain portions of those streets. See FAQ: What is the council’s Residual Discretion?.

Yes.

No. Your postal address will remain the same.

The legislation provides that street signs may be erected in English and in one other language.

An occupier or occupiers of the street in question, the elected Member who represents the District Electoral Area in which the street in question is located or a developer may apply.

The proposed process is explained here

It is based on 15% of the occupiers in the street who are eligible to receive surveys.

There is no application fee for this policy.

All occupiers of premises on the street (which, in the case of residential occupiers, means any person whose name appears in the current Electoral Register) plus the owners or tenants in actual possession of commercial premises, but not employees in such premises, will receive a survey. The council has determined that registration on the Electoral Register is the best objective measure for verifying the residential occupiers of a street.

Yes. The council’s duty under the applicable legislation is ‘to have regard to any views on the matter expressed by the occupiers of premises in a street.’ By adding a unique identifier to the survey form, the council is able to evaluate the views of the occupiers of the street in question and audit them if necessary.

No. You will not be required to respond to the street survey.

All non-responses will be counted and reported to committee but they will not be deemed as being either “in favour of” or “not in favour of” the application.

A report will be presented to committee for every application. The report will contain information in respect of the application. This will include the results of the street survey and a form which will indicate that an assessment has taken place and there are either no adverse impacts on equality of opportunity, good relations or rural needs or that a formal equality screening or Equality Impact Assessment has taken place. This is to ensure that the committee receives a comprehensive picture of the circumstances surrounding each application and that the council has regard to any views on the matter expressed by the occupiers of the street.

The council has always retained a discretion to depart from the policy. 

The proposed policy provides further clarification on the factors that may be considered when the council exercises that discretion, which may include:

1. the views of the occupiers of the street; 
2. the results of the assessment of each application to identify and inform the council of any equality of opportunity, good relations or rural needs implications;
3. consideration of the local context of the application; 
4. any other relevant council policies or strategies related to the application; and
5. all material considerations relating to the application.

The exercise of the council’s residual discretion is to ensure that the council can review applications on a case by case basis, taking into account the specific circumstances of each application when determining the outcome. The council must not act unreasonably when making its decision. 

The committee’s decision will be based on a simple majority. 

As with all council decisions, the decision may be subject to reconsideration (also known as call-in). This takes place if 15% of the Members of the council provide a requisition form to the Chief Executive of the council stating that the decision was either (i) not arrived at after a proper consideration of the relevant facts or issues or (ii) that the decision would disproportionately affect adversely any section of the inhabitants of the district. The call in process is set out in legislation. 

If the requisition states wholly or in part that the decision would disproportionately affect adversely any section of the inhabitants of the district, the council is required to obtain the opinion of a practising barrister or solicitor before reconsidering the decision. 

If the practising barrister or solicitor is of the opinion that there is merit to reconsidering the decision, the council must vote again and the reconsidered decision will require a Qualified Majority of at least 80% of the Members present voting in favour of the original decision.

Any application which meets the 15% threshold will be presented to committee, which will evaluate the application and make a decision by exercising its residual discretion. Robust evidence will be presented to the Members in their decision making, which may include: 

1. the views of the occupiers of the street; 
2. the results of the assessment of each application to identify and inform the council of any equality of opportunity, good relations or rural needs implications;
3. consideration of the local context of the application; 
4. any other relevant council policies or strategies related to the application; and
5. all material considerations relating to the application.

The exercise of the council’s residual discretion is to ensure that the council can review applications on a case by case basis, taking into account the specific circumstances of each application when determining the outcome. The council must not act unreasonably when making its decision.

Language Strategy 2018-2023 

The Language Strategy was adopted by the council in 2018.

The vision of the Language Strategy is to create a city: 

1. where linguistic diversity is celebrated and respected, and 
2. where those who live, work and visit the city can expect to access what Belfast has to offer, using forms of language within which they are familiar and comfortable.

Good Relations Strategy 

The proposed Dual Language Street Signs Policy now sits alongside the council’s current Good Relations Strategy, which was adopted in 2019. Under Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, all public bodies, including Belfast City Council must have regard to the desirability of promoting good relations between persons of different religious beliefs, political opinion or racial group. 

The strategy states that it “aims to promote sharing over separation and the economic, social and environmental benefits of such. We need to continue to create spaces for communities to interact and make connections with each other, moving from parallel living to meaningful relationships and casual interactions”. 

The strategy sets out the council’s long-term vision, values and desired outcomes for good relations in Belfast. It aims to promote cultural diversity and respect for everyone’s cultural identity, as well as promoting Belfast as a city for everyone.

The UK is a signatory to the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages, which is a Council of Europe Treaty that came into force on 1 July 2001. The UK subscribed to commitments for Irish and Ulster Scots under Part II of the Charter, and a number of commitments for Irish under Part III of the Charter. The Charter is designed to protect and promote regional and minority languages and to enable speakers to use them both in private and public life. The Council of Europe is a separate body from the European Union and therefore the UK’s commitments under it are unaffected by Brexit. 

The council also considered guidance issued in 2017 from the UN Special Rapporteur on minority issues when revising this policy. The guidance aims to clarify the obligations of state authorities towards linguistic minorities and to promote consistent approaches to the participation and inclusion of minorities in public life and the implementation of their language rights. The guidance recommends an approach that allows bilingual or trilingual signs where between 5 - 20% of the local population speak the regional or minority language. OHCHR | Language Rights of Linguistic Minorities

In 2016 the Department for Communities (DfC) issued guidance on the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. DfC is the lead department for Charter implementation in Northern Ireland. The guidance notes that the Council of Europe has supported the use of minority language signage as a way of enhancing the visibility of a minority language.

The UK and Irish governments have made a commitment under the January 2020 New Decade New Approach agreement to adopt the key principles and practice of citizen and community engagement with regard to the co-design and co-production of the development and delivery of an Irish Language Strategy and an Ulster Scots Language, Heritage and Culture Strategy.

DfC has appointed two Expert Advisory Panels to advise on the direction and development of the Irish Language Strategy and the Ulster Scots Language, Heritage and Culture Strategy.

Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 (the ‘Act’) requires public authorities, (including the council) in carrying out their functions relating to Northern Ireland, to have due regard to the need to promote equality of opportunity and regard to the desirability of promoting good relations across a range of categories outlined in the Act. 

Section 75 of the Act requires Belfast City Council to comply with two statutory duties: 

• Section 75 (1): In carrying out our functions relating to Northern Ireland we are required to have due regard to the need to promote equality of opportunity between: 
  1. persons of different religious belief, political opinion, racial group, age, marital status or sexual orientation 
  2. men and women generally
  3. persons with a disability and persons without
  4. persons with dependants and persons without 
•  Section 75 (2): In addition, without prejudice to the obligations above, in carrying out our functions in relation to Northern Ireland we are required to have regard to the desirability of promoting good relations between persons of different religious belief, political opinion or racial group. 

The ways in which we implement our Section 75 statutory duties are laid out in our Equality Scheme. 

 The proposed policy process will require an assessment of each application to identify and inform the council of any impacts on equality of opportunity, good relations or rural needs. This assessment will rely on the information submitted on the application form, local data and local knowledge as well as the street survey results. This may lead to a more detailed assessment if necessary (screening or an Equality Impact Assessment).

This proposed policy has been screened in for an Equality Impact Assessment, which is running in tandem with this public consultation.

The council’s Strategic Policy and Resources Committee agreed to adopt a new policy position in October 2020 which was called in (reconsidered) and finally agreed by Council on 7 January 2021. In April 2021 officers presented a draft policy to the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee that reflected the approach agreed by Elected Members. This proposed policy was screened in for an Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA) and during the summer months, a quotation was developed and issued to procure specialist equality support for both the EQIA and the public consultation process. In September 2021 an EQIA consultant was appointed and has supported the development of this consultation as well as drafting the EQIA which is running in tandem with this consultation.

All comments received during the course of this consultation will be collated and analysed and the results of that analysis will be presented to the elected Members of Belfast City Council for consideration when finalising the policy. Please note, coordinated campaign responses in the form of petitions or scripted answers will be collated with an overall count reported to committee. Only individual responses to our structured survey (written or via online) will be analysed and presented in detail to committee.

Is é atá sa pholasaí seo ná Polasaí Comharthaí Sráide Dátheangacha na Comhairle. Tá cumhachtaí ag an Chomhairle faoi Alt 11 den Ordú Rialtais Áitiúil (Forálacha Ilghnéitheacha) (Tuaisceart Éireann) 1995 maidir le hainmniú sráideanna, uimhriú sráide agus soláthar na gcomharthaí sráide. Tá cumhacht lánroghnach fosta ag an Chomhairle le comharthaí sráide dátheangacha nó ainmchláir thánaisteacha a fheistiú i dteanga eile seachas Béarla. Ghlac Comhairle Cathrach Bhéal Feirste le polasaí i leith fheistiú na gcomharthaí ainm sráide dátheangacha in 1998. 

Tá de cheangal ar an Chomhairle, le hAlt 11(4) den reachtaíocht, aird a bheith acu ar aon dearcthaí i leith na ceiste a chuirfeadh áitritheoirí na n-áitreabh ar shráid in iúl agus an Chomhairle ag breithniú ar cé acu a fheisteofar an dara hainmchlár ar shráid. Is é sin an fáth a gcuireann an Chomhairle suirbhé amach chuig gach áitritheoir ar shráid lena ndearcthaí a lorg i dtaca le hiarratas ar an dara hainmchlár.

Is é is aidhm leis an pholasaí mholta ná cearta teanga réigiúnaí agus mionlaigh a chur chun cinn, agus leas agus sochar a dhéanamh do na pobail ilchineálacha teanga laistigh den chathair, trí ghlacadh le comharthaí sráide dátheangacha de réir mar is iomchuí agus sna háiteanna iomchuí.  

Táthar ag iarraidh fosta go mbeidh an polasaí ag teacht le Straitéis Teanga na Comhairle, leis an Straitéis Dea-Chaidrimh agus le roinnt creat intíre agus idirnáisiúnta arb é is aidhm leo teangacha mionlaigh réigiúnacha a chosaint agus a chur chun cinn. 

Tá an Chomhairle ag tabhairt faoi chomhairliúchán ar an pholasaí seo mar go bhfuiltear i mbun athbhreithnithe air.

Tá an polasaí á athbhreithniú le go dtig glacadh le staid polasaí úr sna sála ar chinneadh a ghlac an Coiste Polasaí Straitéisigh agus Acmhainní ar an 23^ú Deireadh Fómhair, 2020, cinneadh a dhaingnigh an Chomhairle iomlán ar an 7^ú Eanáir, 2021. Tá roinnt croí-athruithe ann ar an pholasaí mholta a bhfuil cur síos orthu sna ceisteanna suirbhé. Tá an polasaí á athbhreithniú fosta d’fhonn forbairtí ar bhonn réigiúnach agus ar bhonn idirnáisiúnta a bhaineann le teangacha réigiúnacha agus mionlaigh a chosaint agus a chur chun cinn.

Ní hea, baineann sé le gach teanga. Tá an polasaí seo ag teacht le Straitéis Teanga na Comhairle arb é is aidhm leis rochtain ar, cuimsiú agus feasacht ar theangacha agus ar oidhreacht eile a chur chun cinn. Is é is fís don Straitéis Teanga ná cathair a chruthú ina ndéanfaí an ilchineálacht teanga a cheiliúradh agus ina mbeadh meas uirthi, áit a dtig leis an mhuintir a chónaíonn, a oibríonn agus a thugann cuairt ar an chathair a bheith ag súil le rochtain a fháil ar gach dá bhfuil le tairiscint ag Béal Feirste agus na foirmeacha teanga a úsáid a bhfuil siad cleachta agus compordach leo.

Is ceadmhach d’áitritheoir nó áitritheoirí na sráide baintí, Comhalta tofa a dhéanann ionadaíocht don Toghroinn Cheantair ina bhfuil an tsráid bhainteach suite, nó d’fhorbróir iarratas a dhéanamh.

Bainfidh.  

Ní bheidh. Beidh an seoladh poist ceannann céanna agat.

Tá foráil sa reachtaíocht le gur ceadmhach comharthaí sráide a fheistiú i mBéarla agus i dteanga amháin eile.

Is ceadmhach d’áitritheoir nó áitritheoirí na sráide baintí, Comhalta tofa a dhéanann ionadaíocht don Toghroinn Cheantair ina bhfuil an tsráid bhainteach suite, nó d’fhorbróir iarratas a dhéanamh.

Tá míniú ar an phróiseas molta anseo (cáipéis Word i nGaeilge) nó anseo (HTML i mBéarla)

Tá sé bunaithe ar 15% d’áitritheoirí sa tsráid atá i dteideal suirbhé a fháil.

Níl aon táille iarratais ag baint leis an pholasaí seo.

Gheobhaidh gach áitritheoir sna háitribh ar an tsráid (rud a chiallaíonn, i gcás áitritheoirí cónaitheacha, aon duine a bhfuil a (h)ainm le sonrú ar Chlár reatha na dToghthóirí) mar aon le húinéirí nó tionóntaí iarbhír na n-áitreabh tráchtála, ach ní fostaithe sna háitribh sin, suirbhé. Tá cinnte ag an Chomhairle gurb ionann clárúchán ar Chlár na dToghthóirí agus an tomhas oibiachtúil is fearr d’fhonn áitritheoirí cónaitheacha sráide a dheimhniú.

Beidh. Tá sé dhualgas ar an Chomhairle faoin reachtaíocht is infheidhme ‘aird a bheith acu ar aon dearcthaí i leith na ceiste a chuirfeadh áitritheoirí na n-áitreabh ar shráid in iúl.’ Trí aitheantóir uathúil a chur le foirm an tsuirbhé, tá an Chomhairle in ann breithmheas a dhéanamh ar dhearcthaí áitritheoirí na sráide atá i gceist agus iniúchadh a dhéanamh orthu, más gá.

Ní bheidh. Ní bheidh aon cheangal ort an suirbhé sráide a fhreagairt.

Déanfar achan neamhfhreagairt a chuntas agus a thuairisciú don coiste ach ní chuirfear síos dóibh go bhfuil siad “i bhfách le” nó “nach bhfuil siad i bhfách” leis an iarratas

Bainfidh. Tá sonraithe sa pholasaí go ndéanfar breithniú ar shráideanna fada, mar a bhféadfadh sé barúlacha contrártha a bheith ann i leith fheistiú an dara hainmchlár, de réir faid shuntasacha sho-aitheanta den tsráid. Cuirfidh an coiste a lánrogha iarmharach i bhfeidhm i gcás a leithéid d’iarratais agus iad ag cinneadh cé acu a fheisteofar comharthaí sráide sa dara teanga i gcodanna áirithe de na sráideanna seo. Féach Ceist Choitianta: Cad é atá i gceist le Lánrogha Iarmharach na Comhairle?

Cuirfear tuairisc faoi bhráid an choiste le haghaidh achan iarratais. Beidh faisnéis sa tuairisc seo a bhaineann leis an iarratas. Cuimseoidh sí seo torthaí an tsuirbhé sráide agus foirm lena léireofar go ndearnadh measúnacht agus, nach ann d’aon tionchair dhíobhálacha ó thaobh comhionannas deise nó riachtanais thuaithe de, nó go bhfuiltear i ndiaidh scagadh foirmeálta comhionannais nó Measúnacht Tionchair Comhionannais a dhéanamh. Déantar é seo lena chinntiú go bhfaigheann an coiste pictiúr cuimsitheach de na tosca a bhaineann le gach iarratas agus go mbíonn aird ag an Chomhairle ar aon bharúlacha ar an cheist a chuireann áitritheoirí na sráide chun tosaigh.

Choinnigh an Chomhairle aici féin riamh anall lánrogha imeacht ón pholasaí. 

Tá soiléiriú breise sa pholasaí mholta i dtaca leis na tosca a bhféadfaí breithniú orthu agus an lánrogha sin á húsáid ag an Chomhairle. D’fhéadfadh sé go n-áireofaí, ar na tosca sin:

1. dearcthaí áitritheoirí na sráide; 
2. torthaí na measúnachta ar gach iarratas le go sainaithneofaí agus go gcuirfí faoi bhráid na Comhairle aon impleachtaí comhionannas deise, dea-chaidrimh nó riachtanais tuaithe;
3. breithniú ar chomhthéacs áitiúil an iarratais; 
4. aon pholasaithe nó straitéisí ábhartha eile de chuid na Comhairle a bhaineann leis an iarratas; agus
5. gach ceist ábhartha a bhaineann leis an iarratas.

Baintear feidhm as lánrogha iarmharach na Comhairle lena chinntiú go dtig leis an Chomhairle athbhreithniú a dhéanamh ar iarratais cás ar chás, agus cúinsí sainiúla gach iarratais a chur san áireamh agus iad ag cinneadh ar an toradh. Níor cheart don Chomhairle gníomhú gan réasún agus an cinneadh á dhéanamh acu. 

Beidh cinneadh an choiste bunaithe ar thromlach simplí. 

Mar a bhíonn amhlaidh le gach cinneadh, d’fhéadfadh sé go dtiocfadh an cinneadh faoi réir athmhachnaimh (tugtar ‘call-in’ air seo chomh maith).   Tarlaíonn sé seo má chuireann 15% de Chomhaltaí na Comhairle foirm foréilimh faoi bhráid Phríomhfheidhmeannach na Comhairle lena chur in iúl (i) gur thángthas ar chinneadh gan breithniú iomchuí a dhéanamh ar na fíricí nó ceisteanna ábhartha; nó (ii) go mbeadh tionchar díobhálach díréireach ar sciar d’áitritheoirí an cheantair.  Is oibleagáid reachtúil é seo. 

Má shonraítear san fhoréileamh, go hiomlán nó go páirteach, go mbeadh tionchar díobhálach díréireach ag an chinneadh ar aon sciar d’áitritheoirí an cheantair, tá ceanglas ar an Chomhairle barúil abhcóide nó dlíodóra, a bheadh ag cleachtadh a gairme, a fháil, sula ndéanfaí athmhachnamh ar an chinneadh. 

Má tá an t-abhcóide nó an dlíodóir, atá ag cleachtadh a cheirde, den bharúil gur fiú athmhachnamh a dhéanamh ar an chinneadh, ní mór don Chomhairle vótáil arís agus beidh Tromlach Cáilithe de 80%, ar a laghad, de na Comhaltaí a bhí i láthair agus a vótáil ar son an chinnidh bhunaidh, ag teastáil le go nglacfar leis an chinneadh athmhachnaithe.

Cuirfear aon iarratas a chomhlíonann an tairseach 15% faoi bhráid an choiste go ndéana siadsan breithmheas ar an iarratas agus cinneadh ina thaobh trína lánrogha iarmharach a chur i bhfeidhm. Cuirfear fianaise stóinsithe faoi bhráid na gComhaltaí agus iad i mbun cinnteoireachta agus d’fhéadfadh sé na nithe a leanas a bheith san áireamh: 

1. dearcthaí áitritheoirí na sráide; 
2. torthaí na measúnachta ar gach iarratas le go sainaithneofaí agus go gcuirfí faoi bhráid na Comhairle aon impleachtaí comhionannas deise, dea-chaidrimh nó riachtanais tuaithe;
3. breithniú ar chomhthéacs áitiúil an iarratais; 
4. aon pholasaithe nó straitéisí ábhartha eile de chuid na Comhairle a bhaineann leis an iarratas; agus
5. gach ceist ábhartha a bhaineann leis an iarratas.

Baintear feidhm as lánrogha iarmharach na Comhairle lena chinntiú go dtig leis an Chomhairle athbhreithniú a dhéanamh ar iarratais cás ar chás, agus cúinsí sainiúla gach iarratais a chur san áireamh agus iad ag cinneadh ar an toradh. Níor cheart don Chomhairle gníomhú gan réasún agus an cinneadh á dhéanamh acu.

Straitéis Teanga

Ghlac an Chomhairle leis an Straitéis Teanga in 2018.

Is é is fís leis an Straitéis Teanga ná cathair a chruthú: 

1. ina ndéanfaí an ilchineálacht teanga a cheiliúradh, agus ina mbeadh meas uirthi, agus 
2. áit a dtig leis an mhuintir a chónaíonn, a oibríonn agus a thugann cuairt ar an chathair a bheith ag súil le rochtain a fháil ar gach dá bhfuil le tairiscint ag Béal Feirste agus na foirmeacha teanga a úsáid a bhfuil siad cleachta agus compordach leo.

Straitéis Dea-Chaidrimh

Tá Polasaí Molta na gComharthaí Sráide Dátheangacha ann anois taobh le Straitéis reatha Dea-Chaidrimh na Comhairle, ar glacadh léi in 2019. Faoi Alt 75 d’Acht Thuaisceart Éireann 1998, ní mór do gach foras poiblí, lena n-áirítear Comhairle Cathrach Bhéal Feirste, aird chuí a bheith acu ar a inmhianaithe atá sé dea-chaidreamh a chur chun cinn idir daoine de chreideamh reiligiúnach difriúil, a mbeadh barúlacha polaitiúla éagsúla acu nó de chine ciníoch difriúil. 

Tá sonraithe sa straitéis gurb é is aidhm léi “comhroinnt seachas scaradh a chur chun cinn mar aon leis na buntáistí eacnamaíocha, sóisialta agus timpeallachta a thiocfadh lena leithéid. Ní mór dúinn leanúint de bheith ag cruthú spásanna ina dtig le pobail idirghníomhú agus naisc a dhéanamh lena chéile, ag aistriú ón mhaireachtáil chomhthreomhar i dtreo caidreamh bríoch agus idirghníomhuithe ócáideacha”. 

Tá leagtha amach sa straitéis fís fhadtréimhseach, luachanna agus torthaí inmhianaithe na Comhairle i leith an dea-chaidrimh i mBéal Feirste. Tá sé d’aidhm aici an ilchineálacht chultúrtha agus meas ar fhéiniúlacht chultúrtha an uile dhuine a chur chun cinn, mar aon le Béal Feirste a chur chun cinn mar chathair do chách.

Shínigh an Ríocht Aontaithe an Chairt Eorpach um Theangacha Réigiúnacha nó Mionlaigh ar conradh de Chomhairle na hEorpa é a tháinig i bhfeidhm ar an 1 Iúil 2001. Chuir an RA a n-ainm le gealltanais i leith na Gaeilge agus na hUltaise faoi Chuid II den Chairt, agus le roinnt gealltanas i leith na Gaeilge faoi Chuid III den Chairt. Dearadh an Chairt d’fhonn teangacha réigiúnacha agus mionlaigh a chosaint agus lena chur ar chumas cainteoirí iad a úsáid sa tsaol príobháideach agus poiblí. Is foras ar leithligh ón Aontas Eorpach í Comhairle na hEorpa agus dá réir, is amhlaidh nár imir an Breatimeacht aon tionchar ar ghealltanais na RA ina leith. 

Chuir an Chomhairle treoir san áireamh a d’eisigh Rapóirtéir Speisialta na Náisiún Aontaithe ar cheisteanna mionlaigh in 2017, agus an polasaí seo á athbhreithniú acu. Is é is aidhm leis an treoir, soiléiriú a dhéanamh ar oibleagáidí na n-údarás stáit agus cuir chuige chomhsheasmhacha a chur chun cinn i leith rannpháirtíocht agus chuimsiú na bpobal mionlaigh sa tsaol phoiblí agus i leith chur i bhfeidhm na gceart teanga s’acu. Tá molta sa treoir cur chuige a d’éascódh comharthaí dátheangacha nó trítheangacha in áiteanna ina labhraíonn 5 - 20% den daonra áitiúil an teanga réigiúnach nó mhionlaigh. [nasc leis an tuairisc tag lch28]

In 2016, d’eisigh an Roinn Pobal (RP) treoir i dtaca leis an Chairt Eorpach um Theangacha Réigiúnacha nó Mionlaigh. Is í an Roinn Pobail an roinn cheannais atá freagrach as cur i bhfeidhm na Cairte i dTuaisceart Éireann. Tá sonraithe sa treoir go dtacaíonn Comhairle na hEorpa le húsáid comharthaí i dteangacha mionlaigh mar bhealach le hinfheictheacht na teanga mionlaigh a fheabhsú.

Rinne rialtais na RA agus na hÉireann gealltanais faoin Chomhaontú New Decade New Approach i mí Eanáir 2020 chun glacadh le croí-phrionsabail agus croí-chleachtais na rannphairtíochta saoránach agus pobail i dtaca leis an chomhdhearadh agus comhtháirgeadh a bhaineann le forbairt agus soláthar Straitéis Gaeilge agus Straitéis um Theanga, Oidhreacht agus Cultúr na hUltaise.

Tá  an Roinn Pobal i ndiaidh dhá Phainéal Chomhairleacha Saineolaithe a cheapadh le comhairle a thabhairt i dtaca le treo agus forbairt na Straitéise Gaeilge agus na Straitéise um Theanga, Oidhreacht agus Cultúr na hUltaise.

Tá de cheangal, le hAlt 75 d’Acht Thuaisceart Éireann 1998 (‘an tAcht’) ar údaráis phoiblí, (lena n-áirítear an chomhairle) agus iad ag comhlíonadh a gcuid feidhmeanna maidir le Tuaisceart Éireann, aird chuí a bheith acu ar an ghá atá le comhionannas deise a chur chun cinn agus aird acu ar a inmhianaithe atá sé dea-chaidreamh a chur chun cinn thar réimse de chatagóirí mar atá leagtha amach san Acht. 

Tá de cheangal ar Chomhairle Cathrach Bhéal Feirste, faoi Alt 75, cloí le dhá dhualgas reachtúla: 

• Alt 75(1): Agus muid ag comhlíonadh ár gcuid feidhmeanna a bhaineann le Tuaisceart Éireann, tá de cheangal orainn aird chuí a bheith againn ar an ghá atá le comhionannas deise a chur chun cinn idir: 
  1. daoine de chreideamh éagsúil reiligiúnach, a mbeadh barúlacha éagsúla polaitiúla acu, de ghrúpaí ciníocha éagsúla, ar aoiseanna éagsúla, a mbeadh stádas pósta éagsúil acu nó claonadh gnéis éagsúil acu; 
  2. fir agus mná go ginearálta;
  3. daoine atá faoi mhíchumas agus daoine nach bhfuil
  4. daoine a bhfuil cleithiúnaithe acu agus daoine nach bhfuil 
•  Alt 75(2): De bhreis air sin, gan aon dochar don oibleagáid thuas, agus muid ag comhlíonadh ár gcuid feidhmeanna i dtaca le Tuaisceart Éireann, tá de cheangal orainn aird a bheith againn ar a inmhianaithe atá sé dea-chaidreamh a chur cinn idir daoine de chreideamh éagsúil reiligiúnach, a mbeadh barúlacha éagsúla polaitiúla acu nó de ghrúpaí ciníocha éagsúla. 

Tá na bealaí ina gcuirimid i bhfeidhm ár gcuid dualgas reachtúil faoi Alt 75 leagtha amach sa Scéim Comhionannais s’againn, ar féidir é a léamh anseo. 

Éileofar laistigh de phróiseas an pholasaí mholta go ndéanfar grinnscrúdú ar gach iarratas le go sainaithneofaí agus go gcuirfí faoi bhráid na Comhairle aon tionchair ar chomhionannas deise, dea-chaidreamh nó riachtanais thuaithe. Beidh an mheasúnacht seo bunaithe ar an fhaisnéis a chuirfear isteach ar an fhoirm iarratais, ar shonraí áitiúla agus ar eolas áitiúil mar aon le torthaí an tsuirbhé sráide. D’fhéadfadh sé go n-eascródh measúnacht níos mionsonraithe as seo, más gá (scagadh nó Measúnacht Tionchair Comhionannais).

Táthar i ndiaidh an polasaí molta a scagadh le haghaidh Measúnacht Tionchair Comhionannais, rud a bhfuiltear ag gabháil dó comhthreomhar leis an chomhairliúchán phoiblí seo.

D’aontaigh Coiste Polasaí Straitéisigh agus Acmhainní na Comhairle go nglacfaí le staid úr polasaí i mí Dheireadh Fómhair 2020, rud a ndearnadh athmhachnamh air agus ar aontaigh an Chomhairle air, faoi dheireadh, ar an 7 Eanáir 2021. I mí Aibreáin, 2021, chuir oifigigh dréachtpholasaí faoi bhráid an Choiste Polasaí Straitéisigh agus Acmhainní a léirigh an cur chuige ar aontaigh na Comhaltaí tofa air. Rinneadh an polasaí molta a scagadh le haghaidh Measúnacht Tionchair Comhionannais agus, le linn mhíonna an tsamhraidh, forbraíodh agus eisíodh luachan d’fhonn tacaíocht speisialta comhionannais a fháil don Mheasúnacht Tionchair Comhionannais (MTC) agus don phróiseas comhairliúcháin. I mí Mheán Fómhair, 2021, ceapadh comhairleoir MTC agus thacaigh an comhairleoir seo le forbairt an chomhairliúcháin mar aon le dréachtú na MTC atá á reáchtáil comhthreomhar leis an chomhairliúchán seo. 

Déanfar achan aighneacht a fhaightear i rith an chomhairliúcháin seo a thiomsú agus a anailísiú agus cuirfear torthaí na hanailíse sin faoi bhráid na gComhaltaí tofa de chuid Chomhairle Cathrach Bhéal Feirste lena mbreithniú agus an polasaí seo á thabhairt chun críche. Tabhair do d’aire, déanfar freagairtí de chuid feachtais chomhordaithe i bhfoirm achainíocha nó freagraí scriptithe a thiomsú agus déanfar cuntas foriomlán a thuairisciú don choiste. Ní dhéanfar anailís ach amháin ar fhreagairtí aonair ar an tsuirbhé struchtúrtha s’againn (i scríbhinn nó go leictreonach ar líne) agus cuirfear an anailís mhionsonraithe sin faoi bhráid an choiste.