Frank Feighan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 286: To ask the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport the amount of funding spent in 2009 and 2010 by her Department on Irish language training for public servants; the number of persons that participated in Irish language training courses; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35319/10]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has undertaken a number of measures to meet its obligations under The Official Languages Act 2003 to develop language awareness and skills among its staff to meet the needs of all their customers which include the following :-

· making available to all staff of the Department appropriate Irish language training courses,

· supporting and implementing the Irish scholarships programme conducted by Gaeleagreas na Seirbhíse Poiblí by releasing participating officers to attend the Gaeltacht courses under the scholarship courses scheme

· providing advice to staff on the range of Irish language classes available outside office hours

· promoting the refund of fees scheme as a mechanism for encouraging Irish language training.

The information sought by the Deputy is as follows: