Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)

I thank Senator Ó Clochartaigh for raising the matter. I am afraid I am not as proficient as he is as Gaeilge and I hope he will forgive me if I respond in English. The position with regard to the provision of services in Irish by members of the Garda Síochána is an issue of some importance. The House is aware that the allocation of resources is a matter for the Commissioner and his senior management team. He has informed me that the personnel strength in areas referred to by the Senator are as follows: 585 in Galway; 304 in Mayo; 436 in Donegal; 296 in Meath; 307 in Kerry; 290 in Waterford; 678 in Cork city; 303 in north Cork; and 310 in west Cork.

There have been substantial increases in these numbers over the past ten years and I am circulating with this speech a table showing the strength at present, five years ago and ten years ago. A substantial number of Garda members serving in the relevant Garda divisions have been and are in receipt of the specific Gaeltacht allowance. The table shows that a substantial number of Garda personnel continue to be paid the allowance to cater for areas where members of the force are required to be proficient in Irish. Details of further Garda members who can also carry out their duties in Irish are not readily available.

The payment of the allowance is determined on the basis of Garda districts. A Garda headquarters circular sets out the conditions for the deployment or payment of the Gaeltacht allowances to Garda personnel serving in the "fior" and "breac" Gaeltacht areas in the divisions of Galway west, Donegal and Kerry. The Garda authorities advise that the term "fior" in the concept of Garda usage denotes a Gaeltacht area where Irish is the main vernacular of the local population, whereas the term "breac" signifies a Gaeltacht area where English is, in the main, the more dominant language of the local population. Additionally, I understand from the Garda authorities that the arrangements for the payment of Gaeltacht allowances are being examined by the Garda Commissioner.

Section 33 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 prescribes that the Garda Commissioner shall, in so far as is practicable, ensure that members of the organisation stationed in a district which includes a Gaeltacht area have sufficient Irish competency to perform their duties. Additionally, An Garda Síochána has developed and introduced a scheme under section 11 of the Official Languages Act 2003 to enhance current Irish language services provided by the organisation. As part of that scheme, each divisional officer has nominated an inspector to co-ordinate the divisional arrangements and to monitor achievements against the specific commitments set down in the scheme.

I would also emphasise that conducting business through Irish is part of the language curriculum delivered to all Garda trainees in the Garda College. In addition, arrangements have been made to ensure that if a member of the force cannot provide an immediate service through Irish when a member of the public requests it, an Irish-proficient member of An Garda Síochána will be contacted and made available. I assure the Senator that the Government and An Garda Síochána are, and will continue to be, strongly committed to the Irish language.