Minister for the Environment John Gormley is planning changes to the law to resolve the dispute over the name of An Daingean or Dingle in Kerry.
The minister said it remains Government policy that names within the Gaeltacht should generally be recognised by the State in Irish.
However, if the local community wishes to vote to change the name to an alternative Irish only name, or to an Irish and English version, that will supersede any place names order under the Official Languages Act.
He said the reality is that place names in Ireland generally have both an Irish and an English version, and that in future proposals for place name changes must specify the proposed name in both languages, unless it is indicated that an Irish name only is to be adopted.
Regarding Daingean, Minister Gormley is proposing that Daingean Uí Chúis should be the official name of the town in Irish, and Dingle the official name in English.
Road signs will continue to be shown in Irish only.
