John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 440: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the amount which has been spent by his Department in bringing into effect the provisions of the Official Languages Act 2003. [30532/05]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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In September 2004, my Department published its scheme under the Official Languages Act for the period 2004 to 2007. The scheme details specific commitments regarding improved delivery of the services of my Department through the Irish language. These commitments are being delivered from within the overall budget available to my Department in the relevant years.

As Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, I have overall responsibility to ensure that the provisions of the Official Languages Act 2003 are implemented and that the primary objective of the Act, which is to ensure better availability and a higher standard of public services through Irish, is achieved. Consequently, since the enactment of the Act, my Department has incurred costs in the publication of statutory guidelines as required under section 12 of the Act. In addition, costs were incurred in placing advertisements requesting submissions on the preparation by my Department of a scheme under the Act. In all, these costs, which are once-off, have to date amounted to some €55,600, a breakdown per year of which is set out in the following table.

These figures do not include provision for the Office of an Choimisinéir Teanga.