Stormont’s economy minister Caoimhe Archibald has commissioned research into the growth potential of the Irish language, “to inform future decisions on public expenditure”.
The two pieces of independent work, called for by the Sinn Féin minister and being conducted by Queen’s University Belfast, will look at economic impact as well as potential support for an Irish medium workforce.
The Irish language has become a topic of heated exchanges at Stormont, with Communities minister Gordon Lyons being accused of “blocking” development of an Irish language strategy, and him alleging a “co-ordinated attack” by Sinn Féin on the issue.
The Belfast band Kneecap rap in English and Irish, and have been credited for revitalising the Irish language in recent years. Irish only achieved official language status in Northern Ireland in 2022,.
Irish language commissioner Pól Deeds welcomed the new research, saying its commissioning “is particularly timely given the enhanced focus on Irish-language service provision introduced through the Identity and Language (Northern Ireland) Act 2022”.
“The development of the Irish-language sector in Northern Ireland demonstrates that investment in social infrastructure for Irish speakers and learners delivers tangible benefits, attracting additional capital investment and contributing to improved educational outcomes,” he said.
“These benefits, in turn, generate wider economic returns.
“This research should therefore provide a robust evidence base to inform future decisions on public expenditure.”
Ms Archibald said: “There is growing recognition of the cultural and social value of the Irish language.
“However, less attention has been paid to its economic potential, both as a driver of local regeneration and as a contributor to wider economic growth.
“This research will help inform policy decisions to support good jobs and skills development and lead to broader conversations as our society becomes more integrated and inclusive.
“The first piece of research is expected to be launched in autumn 2026 and the second in spring 2027.”
One project will be an economic impact assessment of the Irish language that will aim to “quantify 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 consider how to maximise the economic potential of other minority languages.
The second piece of work on developing an Irish medium economy and workforce will assess the effectiveness of the existing mentoring and capacity-building programme of An Meitheal Meantóireachta, a mentoring and training programme run through Fís an Phobail.
