Taighde: Cad é atá de dhíth ort mar Ghaeilgeoir óg?
Research: What are your needs as a young Irish speaker?

Mianta agus riachtanais na haoise óige i dtaca leis an Ghaeilge

Chuimsigh síorobair abhcóideachta POBAL taighde ar fhíorriachtanais i rannóga éagsúla de phobal na Gaeilge. Bhí teist fhada againn maidir le taighde ceannródaíoch, aimsiú fíricí agus monatóireacht. Ba chuid lárnach d'obair na heagraíochta é ó bunaíodh POBAL, a bheith ag caint leis an phobal lena gceisteanna a réiteach, ag éisteacht lena dtuairimí agus ag tarraingt na fianaise céanna le chéile. Chuidigh seo le POBAL polasaithe agus cleachtas an stáit a athrú maidir le cearta, leis na meáin chumarsáide, le hoideachas, leis na healaíona, le seirbhísí agus tacaíocht do riachtanais speisialta agus le cuid mhaith eile. 

1 2014, chuir POBAL suirbhé le chéile, ag fiosrú cérbh iad na riachtanais is na mianta an aois óg. Mhol an eagraíocht pobail áitiúla a chuir gníomhaíochtaí ar fáil, ach scéal neamhchinnte a bhí ann ag an am. Ba léir do POBAL nach bhfaca ár bpáistí comharthaíocht Ghaeilge go forleathan ina dtimpeallacht áitiúil, nó nár gcluin siad an teanga thart orthu 24/7, nó nach raibh réimse maith rudaí le déanamh agus áiteanna le dul ina mbeadh in ann Gaeilge a úsáid go nádúrtha agus go compordach. D’éiligh POBAL beart dáiríre dea-bheartaithe, mar nár chóir go mbeadh ar na páistí agus daoine óga a thug a gcuid tuairimí sa tuairisc fanacht níos mó. Cé go bhfuil feabhas ar an scéal le tamaill anuas, tá bealach fada le dul go fóill. 

Aspirations and needs of young people in relation to the Irish language

It was always been part of POBAL’s advocacy work to find out what the real needs were of different sections of the Irish speaking community. POBAL had a long track record of ground-breaking research, fact-finding and monitoring. Working out what should be done by talking to people, hearing their views and pulling together evidence was central to all the work the organisation did from its inception. It helped POBAL change state policy and practice on rights, on the media, on education, on the arts, on special needs services and support and lots more as well. 

 In 2014, POBAL put together a survey for young people on their needs and aspirations. The organisation celebrated those local communities that organised activities, but recognised that the picture was, and remains, patchy. POBAL felt that the reality meant that our children do not see widespread Irish language signage in their local environment, or hear the language all around them 24/7, or that they have a wide range of things to do and places to go where using Irish is natural and comfortable. POBAL called for well planned, serious action to be taken, so that the children and young people who spoke so clearly through the report should not have to wait any longer. Although improvements have been made to this picture in recent years, there is still a long way to go.