One of the groups leading the campaign for an Irish language act says a senior DUP member acknowledged that the cost of the proposed legislation was "reasonable".
The remarks were reportedly made by Lagan Valley MLA Edwin Poots during a meeting between an Arlene Foster-led DUP delegation and representatives of Irish-language Advocacy group Conradh na Gaeilge.
The meeting was one of a number of engagements Mrs Foster had with Irish language groups following her controversial characterisation of Sinn Féin as a "hungry crocodile".
During the April 27 meeting, Conradh na Gaeilge set out its proposals for a an Acht na Gaeilge, including indicative costs.
According to the Irish language advocacy group, implementing its proposals would require a one-off cost of £9 million to build the infrastructure to support the the legislation, and £2 million a year thereafter.
Conradh na Gaeilge's proposals include provisions for official status for the language; Irish in the Stormont assembly and local government; Irish and the BBC, placenames, and the role of a language commissioner.
When the group outlined these to Mrs Foster and her party colleagues, Mr Poots acknowledged the costs were "reasonable" – a claim that is not contested by the DUP.
Conradh na Gaeilge regard the former health minister's remarks as a "considerable development" that contrasts with previous statements about Irish language act proposals.
The group's advocacy manager Ciarán Mac Giolla Bhéin said that if the DUP was satisfied the costings were reasonable, and therefore achievable, then there was little basis for the continued public opposition to an Irish language act from certain party members.
"Fears expressed by some members of the DUP around the potential excessive costs of an Irish language act – £30m-£100m annually – have been consistently used as a reason to prevent the introduction of legislation that was promised over ten years ago at St Andrews, specifically in the period of difficult economic circumstances in which we find ourselves," he said.
"We would hope therefore that significant progress can be made during the ongoing talks given the DUP's acceptance that our proposals are reasonable, alongside the additional support of a majority of MLAs who have previously and publicly supported the campaign for an Irish language act."
A DUP spokesman said the party's views were "well known and documented".
"We want to see mutual respect for all languages and cultures in Northern Ireland but not one elevated above all others," he said.
