Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 279: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the cost to his Department of sign replacement resulting from the requirement of the Department and all agencies and bodies under the Department's remit to replace signs which were in place prior to March 2009 where the existing signs in Irish did not or would not meet the requirements in terms of Irish text required by 2012. [7201/11]

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 280: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the anticipated cost to his Department of ensuring compliance by the Department and by all agencies and bodies under its remit with the requirements under the Official Languages Act to replace any sign currently in English only by March 2013. [7216/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 279 and 280 together.

I can inform the Deputy that no cost has been incurred as a result of changing signs where existing signs in Irish did not meet the requirements in terms of Irish text required by 2012.

In relation to the anticipated cost of ensuring compliance with the requirements under the Official Languages Act to replace any sign currently in English only by 2013, until such a time as my Department receives quotations from the relevant suppliers of the goods and services referred to, I will not be in a position to assess the costs in relation to the issues raised by the Deputy. However, I do not anticipate these costs to be significant in the context of my Department's budget.

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 281: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the cost to date of providing a facility to ensure that any person appearing before the courts can vindicate their entitlement to give evidence or provide documents in Irish; the numbers who have availed of this facility since the coming into force of the Official Languages Act 2003; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7225/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service and my Department has no role in the matter. Section 4(3) of the 1998 Act provides that the Courts Service is independent in the performance of its functions, which are specified in section 5 as follows: - management of the Courts; - provision of support services for the judges; - provision of information on the courts system to the public; - provision, maintenance and management of court buildings and - provision of facilities for court users.

In the circumstances, I am asking the Chief Executive of the Courts Service to note the terms of the question from the Deputy and to respond to him directly in the matter.