ONLY 2.9% OF residents surveyed across 536 streets where dual-language signs have been rolled out in Belfast are opposed to the move. 

The data, which was published by Conradh na Gaeilge, comes after Belfast City Council voted through a new policy to promote use of the Irish language. 

The new draft policy aims to remove barriers to the use of the Irish language in public life, promote the learning of Irish, support the promotion of Irish through council facilities, programmes and events and take action to promote and protect the Irish language across its public-facing services.

Of the 536 streets approved for dual language signs, 244 were approved directly through the Council’s People and Communities Committee, with the other 292 residential streets being approved through the Gaeltacht Quarter Scheme.

The policy also includes a pledge for the council to adopt a dual language approach to signage at all its facilities. It comes with a two-year implementation plan and is expected to see a new identity and logo designed for vehicles and uniforms. 

The DUP condemned the policy during Private Members’ Business in Stormont today and lodged a motion calling on Belfast City Council to review its dual language signage policy.

This motion was defeated by 41 to 28.

Under the policy, a resident, an elected politician or a developer can request a dual language sign for a street. A survey involving a canvass of all residents on the street who are registered on the electoral role is then required to get their views on a sign.

At least 15% of residents must be in favour of a proposed dual language sign before it can be approved by the People and Communities Committee, and later the full council at its monthly meeting.

Conradh na Gaeilge collated the data from the 2023-24 Gaeltacht Quarter street signage programme, and from the minutes from Belfast City Council People and Communities Committee between January 2023 and this month. 

There were 25,570 residents contacted for the surveys. Of those, 8,497 residents said they were in favour of the signs, while 985 said they were not in favour of them. 274 said they did not know, while 15,814 did not issue a response. 

According to the data, not a single resident surveyed opposed dual-language signage on 409 out of the 536 relevant streets, and none of the streets had a majority of residents opposed to the signs. 

Conradh na Gaeilge said on average, 1.7% opposition was received per street. 

Excluding the 292 streets where signs were approved under the Gaeltacht Quarter Project, nine out of every 10 residents surveyed supported them. 

On 235 of the remaining 244 streets, more respondents to the survey supported than opposed the signs, while not a single resident opposed them on 133 of the streets. 

Only 3.9% of all residents across 244 streets opposed dual-language signage, the survey found. 

Conradh na Gaeilge president Ciarán Mac Giolla Bhéin said the survey “entirely contradicts long-standing complaints from the DUP and others, who have been boasting fictional mass opposition to signage in order to disrupt the implementation of the policy”. 

That stance simply doesn’t stand up to scrutiny when you study the hard data.

He added: “Rather than continuing to stoke tensions and sow division and fear, the DUP would be better spending their time and energy in implementing their outstanding obligations on Irish Language rights including immediately appointing the Irish language Commissioner and bringing forward an Irish language Strategy, promised in law since 2006. ”

Meanwhile, the PSNI are investigating a report of “hate-motivated criminal damage” to a dual language sign in east Belfast. 

The white sign to Shandon Park was cut with an angle grinder with the Irish language removed sometime around 8.15pm on Saturday. 

Anyone with information is asked to contact the PSNI on 101 quoting 1298 11/10/25.