Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 93: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs 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. [7199/11]

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 94: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs 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. [7214/11]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 93 and 94 together.

All external signage for offices occupied by my Department complies with the requirements of the Official Languages Act. The internal signage for the Passport Offices in Dublin and Cork and the Irish Aid Information and Volunteering Centre in Dublin also comply with the requirements of the Official Languages Act. One sign for the Department's Consular Office is currently in English only, this will require replacement at a moderate cost.

There are four bodies operating under the aegis of the Department of Foreign Affairs. These are: the Ireland - United States Commission for Educational Exchange (the Fulbright Commission); the Development Education Advisory Committee; the Irish Aid Expert Advisory Group; and the Emigrant Services Advisory Committee.

The Fulbright Commission, financed jointly by the Irish and US Governments, enjoys autonomy of management and administration in accordance with the Educational Exchange (Ireland and the United States of America) Act, 1991 and questions regarding its compliance with the Official Languages Act are a matter for the Fulbright Commission itself. With regard to the remaining bodies, these are advisory committees none of which has its own office accommodation. Therefore no costs will arise for my Department to ensure their compliance with the requirements of the Official Languages Act.