<div dir="ltr"><h1 class="headline">Councillors to consider creating apps for tourists in Irish and Ulster Scots</h1>
<p class="published">Published: 4 Aug 2015 12:00<span class="fr" style="text-align:right"><a href="http://www.impartialreporter.com/news/roundup/articles/2015/08/04/409518-councillors-to-consider-creating-apps-for-tourists-in-irish-and-ulster-scots/#c">0 comments</a></span></p>
<p class="teaser">FERMANAGH and Omagh District councillors will consider
a draft Irish language and Ulster Scots policy at their full council
meeting in Enniskillen Townhall tonight (Thursday).</p><a href="http://www.impartialreporter.com/author/jkenwell/" title="">Julie Kenwell</a> <br><p class="byline">
<span class="socialise">
<em>Social networks...</em><br>
<br>
<br><br>
</span>
</p>
<p>
<span class="st_fblike_large"></span><br><span class="st_plusone_large"></span><br>
<span class="st_pinterest_large"></span> <span class="st_email_large"></span>
</p>
<div class="article-pic portrait p402_hide">
<img class="current" src="http://cdn1.clydeandforthpress.co.uk/img/2015/07/31/ir20140116p01_th01_v01.jpg14383423981888866247.jpg" alt="Enniskillen townhall.">
<div class="pic-caption">
<p>Enniskillen townhall.</p>
<ul class="rrssb-buttons clearfix rrssb-1"><li style="width:calc(25% - 10.5px)" class="rrssb-facebook">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.impartialreporter.com%2Fnews%2Froundup%2Farticles%2F2015%2F08%2F04%2F409518-councillors-to-consider-creating-apps-for-tourists-in-irish-and-ulster-scots%2F" class="popup">
<span class="rrssb-icon">
</span>
<span class="rrssb-text">facebook</span>
</a>
</li><li style="width:calc(25% - 10.5px)" class="rrssb-twitter">
<a href="http://twitter.com/home?status=Councillors+to+consider+creating+apps+for+tourists+in+Irish+and+Ulster+Scots+%7C+News+%7C+Impartial+Reporter%20http%3A%2F%2Fwww.impartialreporter.com%2Fnews%2Froundup%2Farticles%2F2015%2F08%2F04%2F409518-councillors-to-consider-creating-apps-for-tourists-in-irish-and-ulster-scots%2F%20%7C%20http://cdn1.clydeandforthpress.co.uk/img/2015/07/31/ir20140116p01_th01_v01.jpg14383423981888866247.jpg" class="popup">
<span class="rrssb-icon">
</span>
<span class="rrssb-text">twitter</span>
</a>
</li><li style="width:calc(25% - 10.5px)" class="rrssb-googleplus">
<a href="https://plus.google.com/share?url=Councillors+to+consider+creating+apps+for+tourists+in+Irish+and+Ulster+Scots+%7C+News+%7C+Impartial+Reporter%20http%3A%2F%2Fwww.impartialreporter.com%2Fnews%2Froundup%2Farticles%2F2015%2F08%2F04%2F409518-councillors-to-consider-creating-apps-for-tourists-in-irish-and-ulster-scots%2F" class="popup">
<span class="rrssb-icon">
</span>
<span class="rrssb-text">google+</span>
</a>
</li><li style="width:calc(25% - 10.5px)" class="rrssb-pinterest">
<a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.impartialreporter.com%2Fnews%2Froundup%2Farticles%2F2015%2F08%2F04%2F409518-councillors-to-consider-creating-apps-for-tourists-in-irish-and-ulster-scots%2F&media=http://cdn1.clydeandforthpress.co.uk/img/2015/07/31/ir20140116p01_th01_v01.jpg14383423981888866247.jpg&description=Councillors+to+consider+creating+apps+for+tourists+in+Irish+and+Ulster+Scots+%7C+News+%7C+Impartial+Reporter">
<span class="rrssb-icon">
</span>
<span class="rrssb-text">pinterest</span>
</a>
</li><li style="width:42px" class="rrssb-email small">
<a href="mailto:?subject=Councillors+to+consider+creating+apps+for+tourists+in+Irish+and+Ulster+Scots+%7C+News+%7C+Impartial+Reporter&body=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.impartialreporter.com%2Fnews%2Froundup%2Farticles%2F2015%2F08%2F04%2F409518-councillors-to-consider-creating-apps-for-tourists-in-irish-and-ulster-scots%2F">
<span class="rrssb-icon">
</span>
<span class="rrssb-text"></span>
</a>
</li></ul>
</div>
</div>
<div id="middleBanner" class="inline advertising banner middleBanner">
</div><div class="article-content">
<p>The draft policies aspire to “protect, promote and enhance linguistic diversity within the District”.</p>
<p>They include proposed initiatives such as introducing a dedicated
voice messaging service for Irish speakers, exploring opportunities to
provide ‘apps’ or visitor guides in Irish and Ulster Scots, using
leaflets posters, social media and the council’s website to promote
Irish language projects, and providing bi-lingual versions of street
names, on request.</p>
<p>A report on both policies was brought before members at the latest Policy and Resources committee meeting.</p>
<p>According to the report, meetings were held with repreentatives from
Foras na Gaelige and Conradh na Gaelighe to inform the development of
the draft policies.</p>
<p>Desktop research was also conducted to examine the Irish language and
the Ulster Scots policies from Derry City and Strabane District
Council, together with the developing Irish language policy from the
Mid-Ulster Council.</p>
<p>And in drafting both policies, officers from the Policy and Strategic
Services section worked with colleagues from the Community, Health and
Leisure department who had a remit for language and cultural promotion.</p>
<p>Subject to approval tonight, it is proposed that a broader
consultation now takes place with a particular focus on groups,
organisations or individuals with an interest in the development of
either or both languages.</p>
<p>According to 2011 census figures, within the Fermanagh and Omagh
District 14.54 per cent of the local population had some knowledge of
the Irish language. There are 5,049 people within the district who have
the ability to speak, read and write in Irish, representing 4.46 per
cent of the district’s population.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, 4.4 per cent of the local population had some knowledge of Ulster Scots in the same census.</p>
<p>The council states that “all necessary human, financial and material
resources” will be made available to implement the policies if approved,
“whilst being mindful of budgetary constraints”.</p>
<p>An implementation timeframe is provided for both policies.</p>
<p>The timeframe for the Irish language policy suggests that the council
will, among other things: accept and reply to all written
correspondence in Irish; respond in a positive manner to requests for
Irish translations of an Council documents and ensure that the council’s
website makes available all information in Irish.</p>
<p>It suggests that by September this year the council should introduce a
dedicated voice messaging service for those who choose to leave a
message in Irish.</p>
<p>On an ongoing basis the council will provide bi-lingual versions of
street names, in English and Irish or English and Ulster Scots, on
request, provided residents can show community consensus on this.</p>
<p>Frontline employees will be trained in procedures for dealing in an
appropriate and welcoming manner with an enquiry or request in Irish or
Ulster Scots.</p>
<p>And by Decembver this year it suggests that materials such as
leaflets, posters and tools such as the council website and social media
should be used to promote Irish language projects or initiatives.</p>
<p>Both draft policies say the council “recognises and celebrates the
rich diversity of linguistic traditions that has helped to shape the
history of the district, and that continues to reflect in the variety of
languages that are written, spoken, and understood by the District’s
residents and visitors”.</p>
<p>The council says the policies represent a “local response” to various
regional, national and international initiatives and programmes, along
with statutory obligations falling on the Council, while also “aspiring
to help promote good relations within the Council and the District
generally”.</p>
<p>It adds that the aim of the policies, besides establishing a
“transparent set of principles and procedures for promoting, protecting
and enhancing both languages and cultures, is to develop opportunities
for residents, customers and visitors to use the both languages when
accessing the Council’s facilities and services.</p><p><a href="http://www.impartialreporter.com/news/roundup/articles/2015/08/04/409518-councillors-to-consider-creating-apps-for-tourists-in-irish-and-ulster-scots/">http://www.impartialreporter.com/news/roundup/articles/2015/08/04/409518-councillors-to-consider-creating-apps-for-tourists-in-irish-and-ulster-scots/</a><br></p></div><br clear="all"><br>-- <br><div class="gmail_signature">**************************************<br>N.b.: Listing on the lgpolicy-list is merely intended as a service to its members<br>and implies neither approval, confirmation nor agreement by the owner or sponsor of the list as to the veracity of a message's contents. Members who disagree with a message are encouraged to post a rebuttal, and to write directly to the original sender of any offensive message. A copy of this may be forwarded to this list as well. (H. Schiffman, Moderator)<br><br>For more information about the lgpolicy-list, go to <a href="https://groups.sas.upenn.edu/mailman/" target="_blank">https://groups.sas.upenn.edu/mailman/</a><br>listinfo/lgpolicy-list<br>*******************************************</div>
</div>