DUP leader, Arlene Foster will meet with Irish language groups this week. Picture by Hugh Russell

DUP leader Arlene Foster is set to meet Irish language groups - including west Belfast-based Pobal - later this week.

Details of the meeting comes days after the party confirmed it had written to Pobal seeking a meeting "as soon as possible".

It follows an announcement from the DUP leader that she wanted to meet with Irish speakers to “respect and better understand” the language and culture.

The party said Mrs Foster would meet Pobal and other groups later this week.

It is not clear whether the meeting will take place at the Pobal offices on the Springfield Road or at an agreed venue elsewhere.

Pobal director Janet Muller confirmed that a meeting was arranged but was remaining tightlipped about the day and the venue.

Confirming the meeting Ms Muller said the group had published "realistic, reasonable proposals for the Irish language act, which should be accepted as the basis for the legislation".

The DUP move marks a major turnaround for the party after Mrs Foster said in February that the the party would never agree to an Irish language act.

An Irish language act is a key demand of Sinn Féin in negotiations to restore devolved government at Stormont.

Mrs Foster angered Irish speakers when she she previously ruled out such legislation, saying that more people in Northern Ireland speak Polish.

A spokesman for the DUP said meetings had been arranged for later this week.

"DUP party leader Arlene Foster has been arranging meetings with Irish language groups and hopes to have engagement with them in the near future. The purpose will be to listen to the views of those who speak the language," a party spokeswoman said.