Mr. Seán Ó Cuirreáin:

Tabharfaidh mé freagra i nGaeilge agus athchoimre i mBéarla.

I dtús báire, tá sé thar a bheith tábhachtach go ndéarfainn leis an Teachta nach bhfuil aon riachtanas ann gach caipéis Stáit a chur ar fáil tri Ghaeilge. There is a myth that all public documents must be produced in Irish. A small number of core documents are required to be published simultaneously in Irish and English. I did not decide this. The Houses of the Oireachtas decided it in the Official Languages Act. My job is to ensure that is complied with.

Déanann an Teachta tagairt do chóras níos fearr a chur ar bun. Aontaím leis go bhféadfaí leasú a dhéanamh ar an Acht agus rudaí a dhéanamh níos fearr. Rinne mise sraith moltaí thart ar dhá bhliain ó shin agus dúirt mé gur cheart féachaint céard iad na háiteacha a bhfuil seirbhísí á gcur ar fáil agus go n-oibreofaí amach ord tosaíochta dóibh. Arís, táimid ag fanacht dhá bhliain leis an toradh air sin. Deputy Flanagan talks about a targeted translation of material or provision of services. More than two years ago, I published a paper suggesting that we needed to prioritise the services we provide in Irish. The paper was presented as part of the review of the Act, but it is hanging somewhere and I know not where. Ba chóir go mbéadh tosaíocht tugtha do sheirbhísí áirithe.

Cuireann an Teachta ceist céard é an rud is mó a bhéadh ag teastáil in ndeireadh an lae. The Deputy asked what is the ultimate development. Sílim gur cheart go mbéadh deis ag an teanga stairiúil seo maireachtáil sa tír seo. Le sin a dhéanamh, níl aon chiall dúinn a bheith ag múineadh Gaeilge i gcóras oideachais na tíre munar féidir le daoine ina dhiaidh sin an teanga sin a úsáid go furasta agus iad ag plé leis an Stát. The ultimate development is that the State provides services in Irish for those who choose to use that language, be they in the Gaeltacht or outside it. If we teach Irish as a required subject in schools up to leaving certificate it is hypocritical, in the least, to tell people they must study Irish and then refuse them the right to deal with the State in that language. We are teaching them a language but not facilitating them to use that language with ease afterwards. I see a huge disconnect in those two things.

Luann sé ciorraithe airgid agus buiséid. Tá ciorraithe buiséid i ngach cuid den chóras. Bhí ciorraithe buiséid de 45% in oifig s'againne. Is oifig an-bheag í, níl ach 4.4 fóirne ag obair innti, agus glacaimid le ciorraithe áirithe. Ach tá teorainn leis an méid oibre a dhéanann tú le foireann beag. Yes, all Government Departments and agencies have had staff cuts and budget cuts. We have had a cut of 45% over the last five years, which is significant. We are reduced to 4.4 civil servants. That is the sum total of the staff of the office. It is a very small office and what one can do with a staff of that size is very limited. I am not asking for any special privilege or favour. Cé gur daoine maithe agus díograiseacha iad tá teorainn leis an méid gur féidir leat a bhaint amach.

Go raibh maith ag an Teachta Flanagan freisin as na focla cineálta a dúirt sé.