Wellbeing Indicators: 12th Indicator for Language and Culture

Transcript of Dáil Contribution on a 12th Wellbeing Indicator for Language and Culture:

I have a question regarding the well-being framework that is under development at the moment. We are quite closely shadowing the OECD framework, Better Life, which is welcome in many respects. It is a good model to follow. However, one of the issues it omits is a measurement around linguistic and cultural outputs, an element that is included, for example, in the New Zealand model. I take this opportunity to congratulate Ballygunner on its win in the all-Ireland hurling championship. I saw the Taoiseach in the crowd at the game. Its success contributes massively to the well-being of people within that community. Tá an Taoiseach an-tiomanta i leith na Gaeilge agus tuigeann sé go maith cé chomh tábhachtach is atá an Ghaeilge ó thaobh ár gcultúr. Does he see a role for a 12th indicator that is specifically designed to measure linguistic and cultural outputs and does he think we will get a well-being budget by the end of this year?

An Taoiseach: Aontaím leis an Teachta agus admhaím go bhfuil ról faoi leith ag cúrsaí teanga agus cultúir ó thaobh sláinte na tíre. I accept his basic point and will refer it back to my officials and the group that is involved in drawing up the well-being framework. It was a joy to witness Ballygunner win on Saturday. I am not so sure the Ballyhale supporters were as overjoyed. I suppose Ballygunner did to Ballyhale what Ballyhale did to St. Thomas’s. The game illustrated the value of community and that the whole well-being issue is rooted in community, parishes and families. The unbridled joy was something to behold and likewise with Kilcoo.