Written answers

Thursday, 27 September 2007

Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs

Official Languages Act

5:00 pm

Photo of Pat RabbittePat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Question 28: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs what is the up to date position regarding the implementation of the provisions of the Official Languages Act; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20989/07]

Photo of Éamon Ó CuívÉamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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As I have indicated previously in reply to similar Questions in this House, considerable progress has been made to date in the implementation, on a phased basis, of the provisions of the Official Languages Act 2003.

All provisions of the Act are in operation since 14 July 2006.

A total of 62 language schemes, which cover almost 100 public bodies, including my own Department, have now been confirmed by me and published. All 62 schemes are available on the website of An Coimisinéir Teanga at www.coimisineir.ie. In addition, in excess of 50 additional schemes, covering some 120 public bodies, are currently in preparation and my Department is in discussion with the public bodies concerned in relation to the completion of the process of drafting these schemes.

On 14 December 2006 both the Dáil and the Seanad approved a draft of Regulations dealing with the use of the Irish and English languages by public bodies in pre-recorded oral announcements, on stationery and on signage. My Department has since carried out a further consultation exercise with all public bodies covered by the Act in relation to the draft Regulations. I expect to be in a position to make the Regulations shortly after further discussion by the appropriate Oireachtas Committee.

Oifig Choimisinéir na dTeangacha Oifigiúla has been established. The Coimisinéir published his Annual Report for 2006 earlier this year.

In April 2006, I made Regulations that updated the list of public bodies covered under the Act. I intend to make further Regulations as soon as possible in order to further update the list.

I have made 10 Placenames Orders to date including An tOrdú Logainmneacha (Ceantair Ghaeltachta) 2004.

At my request, Foras na Gaeilge has developed an acreditation system for Irish language translators.

As I have stated from the beginning, while it will not be possible to achieve everything overnight, my main objective is that improvements in the range and quality of services available through Irish will be achieved over the lifetime of a number of schemes, subject to demand.

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