Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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Question 102: To ask the Taoiseach the cost of translating all State documents into Irish; the cost of printing same; if a proposal for storing these electronically and printing as required has been investigated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43419/09]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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In 2008, the total expenditure from my Department's Vote on translation to Irish was €55,591 and in 2009 this figure was €46,151.

In keeping with the Government's policy to minimise costs in the public sector, it is the practice in my Department to maintain and publish documentation electronically where possible and to make these publications available on the Department's website. Printing costs incurred by my Department amounted to €256,969 in 2008 and €70,480 in 2009. This includes publications where the Department is required to publish the text in the Irish language to meet obligations under the Official Languages Act 2003. However, as it is usual to print the Irish and English text within the same cover, it is not possible to separately identify the cost of printing publications in Irish.