The Government is to introduce legislation to provide a new definition of what constitutes a Gaeltacht area.
The details are contained in a Government draft strategy for the Irish language, which is to be published today.
It says that there will continue to be a senior minister with responsibility for the Irish language.
Gaeltacht communities that cannot comply with the linguistic criteria in the new legislation will be afforded a period of two years to develop plans to ensure they maintain their status as Gaeltacht communities.
Those who fail to do so will no longer be included in the Gaeltacht.
The 20-year strategy, which has been seen by RTÉ, also plans to repeal the Údarás na Gaeltachta legislation and establish a new Údarás na Gaeilge, which will oversee Irish language policy throughout the country.
The McCarthy report on public service spending recommended that the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht affairs be closed.
However, the Government report today says that there will continue to be a senior minister and a Government department with central responsibility for Irish language affairs.
The strategy also proposes that up to 20% of places in Colleges of Education are retained for students educated through Irish.
