A bi-lingual traffic sign is to be piloted in west Belfast by the Department for Infratructure.
Infrastructure Minister John O’Dowd announced the pilot scheme on Thursday, which will see the traffic signs using Irish and English on the Falls Road between the Springfield Road and Whiterock Road.
The scheme is the first of its kind to be trialled in the north, with the signage expected to be updated to reflect the changes in the coming months.
Mr O’Dowd aid the Gaeltacht Quarter location was “ideal” for the pilot scheme.
“Traffic signs and road markings in this area will soon be in both Irish and English which will complement the use of these languages by other businesses and organisations in the Gaeltacht Quarter,” Mr O’Dowd said.
“I believe this is a positive development which demonstrates my support for Irish as a living language used daily by this thriving community.”
Forbairt Feirste Project Manager Piarais Mac Alastair said: “We are delighted that after many years of campaigning, the Gaeltacht Quarter will have dual language Irish and English road signage- the first of its kind in the north. This will be a catalyst for a wider rollout of dual language road signage across the north where demand for dual language provision is ever increasing.
“Visibility of the Irish language in the public realm is vital in promoting, understanding and building awareness of our shared language. This is a positive first step in ensuring that the Irish language is visible in all our public transport network and we look forward to working with the minister and his department in the coming months and years to further develop this dual language provision.”
