Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 34: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the work programme, timeframe, and membership of the Placenames Commission; if a special budget has been assigned to the Commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31280/06]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The function of the Placenames Commission is to advise me, as Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, on: (a) Irish forms of placenames for legal purposes as provided for in Part 5 of the Official Languages Act 2003, including: the placenames of Ireland as they are defined in section 31 of the Act in order to confirm the Irish forms of those placenames, and preparation of placename orders as provided for in section 32 of the Act; (b) Irish forms of placenames not given in the Act, that is to say streetnames; (c) publication and official usage of Irish forms of placenames; (d) development of research and study in relation to placenames in third level institutions and other educational institutions; (e) appropriate marketing on the research of the Placenames Branch; and (f) other matters pertaining to the placenames of Ireland.

The Commission is appointed for a three-year term and a new Commission has been appointed with effect from 10 September 2006. During the course of its three-year term of the appointment, the outgoing Commission met on eighteen occasions and advised me on matters relating to ten Placenames Orders which I have made under the provisions of the Official Languages Act 2003. These related to the official Irish versions of the placenames of counties Kilkenny, Louth, Limerick, Monaghan, Waterford, Tipperary and Offaly; Gaeltacht areas; centres and districts of population; and counties and provinces.

As indicated above, I have recently appointed a new Commission. The current membership is set out in the following table. The Commission does not have a separate budget. The staff of the Placenames Branch of my Department are civil servants and work under the guidance of the Commission. Salary and other costs arising are met from the Vote for my Department.

Members of the Placenames Commission

Seosamh Ó Braonáin (Chairman)

Dr. Nollaig Ó Muraile

Proinsias de Priondargast

Professor Pádraig Ó Riain

Marcus Ó Floinn

Dr. Edel Bhreathnach

Dr. Úna Uí Bheirn

Tomás Ó Cruadhlaoich

Máire Ní Chiarba

Professor Máire Herbert

Dr. Máire Ní Annracháin

Eilín Bean Uí Churráin

Dr. Eithne Ní Ghallchobhair

Niall Ó Muilleoir

Séamus Mac Gairbheith.