Minister commissions study into economic potential of using the Irish language
Stormont’s economy minister, Caoimhe Archibald, has commissioned a study into the growth potential of the Irish language “with the aim of informing future decisions on public spending”.
Two independent studies called by the Sinn Féin minister and carried out by Queen’s University Belfast will examine the economic impact as well as potential support for the Irish mid-level workforce.
The Irish language became the subject of heated debate at Stormont; Communities Minister Gordon Lyons has been accused of “obstructing” the development of the Irish language strategy and claims Sinn Féin is making a “co-ordinated attack” on the issue.
Belfast band Kneecap rap in English and Irish and have been credited with revitalizing the Irish language in recent years. Irish only gained official language status in Northern Ireland in 2022.
Irish language commissioner Pól Deeds welcomed the new research and said that “the commissioning of this research is particularly timely given the increased focus on Irish language service provision through the Identity and Language (Northern Ireland) Act 2022.”
“The development of the Irish language sector in Northern Ireland shows that investment in social infrastructure for Irish speakers and learners is delivering tangible benefits, attracting additional capital investment and contributing to improved educational outcomes,” he said.
“These benefits in turn provide broader economic returns.
“This research should therefore provide a solid evidence base to inform future decisions on public spending.”
Ms Archibald said: “There is increasing recognition of the cultural and social value of the Irish language.
“However, less attention is paid to its economic potential as both a driver of local regeneration and a contributor to wider economic growth.
“This research will inform policy decisions to support good jobs and skills development and spark wider debate as our society becomes more integrated and inclusive.
“The first study is expected to be launched in autumn 2026, and the second in spring 2027.”
One of the projects will be an economic impact assessment of the Irish language and will aim to “measure the direct and indirect contribution of the Irish language to economic activity and provide an evidence base for future investment and policy decisions”.
It will also be evaluated how the economic potential of other minority languages can be maximized.
The second study to develop Ireland’s middle economy and workforce will evaluate the effectiveness of An Meitheal Meantóireachta’s existing mentoring and capacity building programme, a mentoring and training program run through Fís an Phobail.
