{"id":576486,"date":"2025-11-17T16:26:24","date_gmt":"2025-11-17T16:26:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/576486\/"},"modified":"2025-11-17T16:26:24","modified_gmt":"2025-11-17T16:26:24","slug":"uup-councillor-brands-application-for-dual-language-sign-on-road-with-irish-name-ridiculous","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/576486\/","title":{"rendered":"UUP councillor brands application for dual language sign on road with Irish name \u2018ridiculous\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ulster Unionist councillor John McClaughry has been an outspoken critic of the policy, branding it unfair and undemocratic as an application requires only 15% of residents to support dual language signage.<\/p>\n

The council is currently working through a long list of applications which requires officials to survey every resident for their views, where possible, then assess if the threshold is met.<\/p>\n

The process then begins to prepare and erect dual language signs in areas which are approved.<\/p>\n

The figures are brought before the Environmental Services Committee each month showing the number of applications processed and approved or not.<\/p>\n

This month saw 14 applications assessed of which two did not meet the threshold.<\/p>\n

Preparations are underway to erect dual language signage on the remaining 12, which is estimated to cost \u00a326,000.<\/p>\n

While registering his \u201cnormal disdain and objections\u201d, Mr McClaughry also noted an issue around an application for dual language signage at Ardtearmann, in Carrickmore.<\/p>\n

He said: \u201cI\u2019m not a Gaeilgeoir but even I can tell that\u2019s in Irish, so I\u2019m wondering who actually proposed it. I understand it translates as high safe place or sanctuary.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy did we waste officers\u2019 time getting a sign translated into Irish that was already Irish? It seems quite ridiculous. It\u2019s time we totally reviewed this policy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sinn F\u00e9in councillor Ruaidhri Lyttle replied: \u201cYou could be right about reviewing the policy because a lot of my constituents are voicing frustration that the process is too slow and the roll-out is inefficient and ineffective.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe should look to increase the number of applications processed from the current 14 or 15 up to 30 or 40.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Sinn<\/p>\n

Sinn F\u00e9in councillor Ruaidhri Lyttle<\/p>\n

Party colleague Declan McArdle noted a company in his constituency has secured a high value contract to \u201creplace signage down south in Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal areas\u201d.<\/p>\n

He enquired if the company would be in a position to \u201cget a stab at it\u201d in the district, as \u201cthings had to be speeded up a bit and increase to 30 or 40 signs\u201d.<\/p>\n

“I know in the Erne West area there are a lot of applications in for dual language and there\u2019s a lot of interest in when they will be installed,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

\"Sinn<\/p>\n

Sinn Fein councillor Declan McArdle<\/p>\n

Director of Environment and Place, John News, said all procurements are publicly advertised and any company which is able to provide services is entitled to tender.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are currently in contact with a provider, but we always welcome a competitive tendering process,\u201d he concluded<\/p>\n

The latest dual language signage position passed by majority with both unionist groupings dissenting.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Ulster Unionist councillor John McClaughry has been an outspoken critic of the policy, branding it unfair and undemocratic…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":576487,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5011],"tags":[5819,1248,1144,16,15719,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-576486","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-northern-ireland","8":"tag-fermanagh-and-omagh-district-council","9":"tag-fermanagh-news","10":"tag-northern-ireland","11":"tag-uk","12":"tag-ulster-unionist-party","13":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/115565979182033318","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/576486","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=576486"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/576486\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/576487"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=576486"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=576486"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=576486"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}