Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 308: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if, in relation to the statutory instrument 391 of 2008, he will provide a full listing of all the institutions being obliged to implement the instrument; the estimate of the annual cost to the State inclusive of all the said institutions in implementing this instrument; the estimate across all these institutions of the amount of civil and public servants' time which will be consumed annually in implementing this instrument; if he will quantify the public demand for such expenditure on Irish language or bilingual publications, stationery, signage, software, computers systems and messaging services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9783/09]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the list of public bodies covered by the Statutory Instrument to which he refers — the Official Languages Act 2003 (Section 9) Regulations 2008 — is set out in the first schedule to the Official Language Act 2003, subject to the additions and deletions contained in the Official Languages Act 2003 (Public Bodies) Regulations 2006 (S.I. No. 150 of 2006). Before making this regulation it was debated twice in draft at the Joint Committee on Arts, Sport, Tourism, Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs at which there was cross party support for the proposal.

Contrary to the impression conveyed by the Deputy's Question, these Regulations have been drafted to allow a phased approach to ensuring compliance and to minimise costs. For example, the Regulations provide that existing stocks of stationery that do not comply with the requirements may nonetheless be used up over a period of years. It is not clear, therefore, that any additional costs should arise in that regard.

In relation to signage, the Regulations take immediate effect only in the case of new signage. Existing signs that are not in compliance may nonetheless remain in situ for varying periods of years, up to 1 January 2026. These provisions are intended to ensure that any costs arising in updating signage are minimal and — if any such costs indeed arise — they can be spread over a number of years.

I might also mention that the consultation process with other Departments and public bodies in relation to these Regulations commenced in 2004. This allowed a considerable lead-in time for public bodies to prepare themselves for the introduction of the Regulations well in advance of their commencement date. It also allowed a support service to public bodies to be put in place. For example, Foras na Gaeilge has developed a database of Irish and English versions of standard signage terms, which is available on-line at www.gaeilge.ie. This is particularly relevant to the needs of public bodies in meeting their obligations under the Regulations.

The Deputy will, of course, appreciate that the provision of public services, whether in English, in Irish, or bilingually, requires commitment of time and effort, as well as financial resources, by public bodies. I take it that the Deputy is not in any way suggesting that it is acceptable to allocate resources to provide such services in English, but not to meet the needs of Irish speakers or recognise their existence in our society. In replying to this Question, I am continuing to adhere to my policy, based on respect for Members of the House, to reply to Questions in the official language in which they are put down.