Around 3 in 10 people living in the Republic feel confident in their ability to speak Irish.
It compares to around 1 in 10 people in Northern Ireland.
Research by Conradh na Gaeilge has found nearly two million people on the island of Ireland are confident in their ability to understand or to speak Irish.
The @CnaG survey was carried out by @Kantar_Media and you'll find that the answer to the numbers 'confident in speaking Irish' is pretty consistent over the last 6 years a chairde
'Bruscar' V 'Firicí'
Nuacht an-mhaith don #gaeilge pic.twitter.com/dURxd0UyJM
— Julian de Spáinn (@juleser1) January 13, 2021
But the organisation's Julian de Spáinn says we don't use it enough.
"I think that what we need to do is provide people with the opportunity [to use the language]."
"That's what hugely lacking in this country," he said.
The survey showed 6 in 10 people believe an Irish language youth radio station available on FM should be funded by the licence fee.
Manager of Radió Rí Ró - which is an online Irish language youth radio station - is Niamh Ní Chróinín
"The effect of having the station on FM would be huge."
"We've seen it with TG4 and the change in attitude that's had toward Irish."
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Meanwhile, other language enthusiasts have spent lockdown scrubbing up on their cúpla focal.
Eimear Ní Chinnéide from Gaelchultur, which provides Irish classes, says their popularity increased during the pandemic.
"People not only from throughout Ireland but all over the world [have signed up]".
"We had learners from California to Beijing and all with a variety in levels."
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The survey also found that 67% in the Republic believe the Irish language can have a positive impact on the development of tourism.
