Belfast City Council committee approved Irish language street signs for seven roads that did not meet the 15% household support threshold. The decision passed by one vote and awaits full council ratification in early June.

Sinn Fein councillor JJ Magee proposed using committee discretion to approve the applications despite low responses. Three roads received support from fewer than one in ten households. One street saw support from 7.79% of residents.

University Street near Queen's University received approval after two applications by nationalist politicians. Surveys there showed less than 15% backing, with 25% of respondents opposed or neutral.

Other approved locations include streets in Dunmurry and the Markets area near Lanyon Place train station. In Colinvale, Dunmurry, 246 surveys yielded over 210 non-responses. Stewart Street in the Markets had seven replies from 77 surveys, with six in favour.

Magee stated that respondents in six of the seven areas fully supported the signs, though two streets had neutral replies not counted as support.

The DUP, UUP and Alliance opposed the approvals, favouring the three-year policy requiring 15% support. Sinn Fein, SDLP, People Before Profit and Greens voted in favour.