Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 292: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the cost to his Department, in each year since its introduction, of implementing the provisions of the Official Languages Act 2003; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3404/09]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Prior to the coming into force of the Official Languages Act 2003, the Department was already providing a range of services in both Irish and English, such as signage, stationery and certain corporate publications. Because these services formed an integral part of the work of the Department, Irish language expenditure was not recorded separately.

Pursuant to Section 11 of the 2003 Act, the Department, in 2005, introduced its first Language Scheme to enhance the quantity and quality of services provided to the public through Irish. The additional costs of implementation of this Scheme in respect of services to the public are as set out in tabular form below. Since mid 2008 the Department is recording the total cost of providing services through Irish. Accordingly the figure shown in the table for 2008 is not comparable with the figures for the other years.