Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 129: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the cost to date to his Department of implementing the Official Languages Act, 2003 including translation and printing costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7433/07]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 161: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the progress to date on the implementation of the Irish language policy within his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7432/07]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 129 and 161 together.

A statutory Scheme for the provision of services through Irish as provided for under Section 11 of the Official Languages Act 2003 was prepared by my Department, following public consultation during 2004-2005. The Scheme, which came into effect on 15 August 2005, sets out how the Department will give effect over a three-year period to the provisions of the Official Languages Act, taking into account what is reasonably practicable within the timescale.

Progress is measured on an annual basis in relation to the implementation of the Scheme and this is reported on in the Department's Annual Report. To date progress has included, for example, the provision of a wide range of information resources — core policy documents, leaflets, advertisements and interactive services — in Irish, and the availability of language supports, including Irish language training, for staff.

Following the first year of implementation of the Scheme, a report was prepared for An Coimisinéir Teanga and my Department also met with the Coimisinéir's office. In the letter's subsequent assessment, the good progress made in relation to many aspects of the Scheme was noted. Recommendations and advice were also provided on its ongoing implementation.

Substantial costs are incurred by my Department in the translation, advertising, and publishing of documents bilingually, in advertising in the Irish language media and in providing Irish language training for staff. However, the total amount of money spent on this is not readily available and its compilation would involve a disproportionate amount of time and work. A commitment is given in the Department's Language Scheme, however, that the Department will consider during 2007 the need to provide an in-house translation service having regard to the demand for services through Irish. In order to determine the need for such a service, information will be compiled as part of the Department's annual progress report on implementation of the Scheme on costs associated with translation.