John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 641: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the amount spent by his Department in bringing into effect the provisions of the Official Languages Act 2003. [30537/05]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The total amount spent by my Department in bringing into effect the provisions of the Official Languages Act 2003 is €11,277 in respect of the publication of notices under section 13 of the Act. Notices were placed in six publications viz. the Irish Independent, The Irish Times, Irish Examiner, Irish Daily Star, Foinse and Lá. My Department has been included in the first tranche of public bodies required to produce an Irish language scheme under the Official Languages Act 2003. Our scheme took effect in August 2005. Prior to the enactment of the legislation, my Department was already making available Irish versions of publications such as the Department's statement of strategy and annual report, and providing replies to correspondence in the language in which it was received. Accordingly, the Act in these areas involves no extra costs for my Department.