John Perry (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Ó Clochartaigh for the opportunity to address the Seanad on the subject of the Official Languages Act 2003. I express my gratitude to Senators for the interest they have shown in this matter.

The Official Languages Act was signed into law on 14 July 2003. This was the first time that the provision of State services in general through Irish was placed on a statutory footing. The aim of the Act is to increase and improve over a period the quantity and quality of services in Irish that public bodies, designated under the Act, provide. In addition to the general obligations on public bodies under the Act regarding communications, publications, stationery, signage, etc., it is as a result of language schemes that are agreed with public bodies that a system is in place to improve the number and standard of services available to the public through Irish.

In addition to the general obligations on public bodies under the Act regarding communications, publications, stationery, signage etc., it is as a result of language schemes agreed with public bodies that a system is in place to improve the number and standard of services available to the public through Irish. Some 109 language schemes have been agreed with public bodies since the Official Languages Act came into effect. These schemes cover 194 public bodies in total. Although approximately 600 public bodies come under the Act, the schemes that are in place cover those bodies that have most contact with the public. It should be noted that the provisions of each scheme remain in force until a new scheme is agreed.

To date, the National Treasury Management Agency has not been asked to prepare a scheme under section 11 of the Act. This is because the focus has primarily been on agreeing schemes with bodies that have the most contact with the public. I hope the Senator will appreciate that the National Treasury Management Agency would not fall into that category.

The system of language schemes is a central part of the Act and I understand the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht is committed to operating and improving the system so that it operates effectively across the entire public sector. I understand that staff restructuring was undertaken in the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht earlier in the year, as a result of which extra staff are now dealing specifically with the Official Languages Act.

It should be noted, of course, that there has been a considerable change in the State's economic circumstances since the Act was enacted and there have been large reductions in the budgets provided to public bodies in addition to the moratorium on recruitment. These difficult circumstances pose particular challenges for public bodies, particularly with regard to increasing the quality and quantity of the Irish language services they are able to commit to under their language schemes.

Clearly, the language scheme system under the Official Languages Act is not without its faults, and it should be acknowledged that it is a complex process to agree and confirm schemes, particularly in the challenging economic environment we are currently facing. Notwithstanding these difficulties, five schemes have been confirmed to date this year, and approximately 120 draft schemes from public companies are being considered currently. Therefore, I hope there will be an increase in the number of schemes that will be confirmed in the future.

As the Senator will be aware, the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht is currently conducting a review of the Official Languages Act, in accordance with the commitments given in the programme for Government. The review covers all the provisions of the Act, including those relating to language schemes. The objectives of the review are to ensure that the Act is an effective mechanism to support the development of Irish in a cost-effective manner, and that the obligations arising from the Act are appropriate to ensure the satisfactory provision of services in Irish by public bodies which are in line with demand.

A comprehensive review of the legislation has been undertaken by the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht which included a public consultation process, as a result of which approximately 1,600 replies were received. In accordance with the Government's legislative programme, it is hoped that the official languages (amendment) Bill will be published this year, in which provision will be made for the amendments to the Act arising from the review. The appropriate steps are being taken by the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to draft the heads of Bill and it is hoped that the draft heads will be submitted to the Government as soon as possible. The results of the recommendations received through the consultation process have been analysed and they will be published in due course on the Department's website along with the heads of Bill. The Bill will provide for amendments to the legislation arising from the review. In addition, it will provide for amendments arising from the decision to merge the Office of the Irish Language Commissioner with the Office of the Ombudsman, as specified in the Government's public service reform plan. I trust that this provides sufficient information to the House on the steps that are being undertaken by the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht under the Official Languages Act 2003.