Conradh na Gaeilge celebrates that dual signage policy in Belfast is widely considered

 

A Belfast City Council committee has agreed to adopt a new bilingual signage policy for the city.

It will see 15% of residents having to consent to having a second sign in Irish erected on their street, down from the current two-thirds. Conradh na Gaeilge has been calling for Belfast City Council to amend it's dual street signage policy for a long, long time. This has been a hugely important campaign for the Irish language community for decades. We are nearly there, but full council will still have to vote next month. The current Belfast City Council dual signage policy is widely considered not fit for prupose, a policy that obstructed and denied language rights for decades. We have long argued that this policy be grounded in minority rights & follow guidance & duties in international treaties.

The new policy aims to deliver that. Any individual resident can now request signage directly from the council via email Council will then survey the street and where 15% of residents vote in favour (previously set at 66.6%), the sign will be erected. Non responses will be void.

This has taken a huge effort, outside of council to keep this campaign on the agenda, and inside of council, to get a strong and progressive outcome. Thanks to those parties who have championed this from the start & to those who have supported today. Go raibh maith agaibh