Written answers

Tuesday, 1 October 2013

Department of Social Protection

Official Languages Act 2003 Compliance

Photo of Gerry AdamsGerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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346. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the arrangements put in place by her Department to ensure compliance with the Official Languages Act, specifically requirements for signage in departmental offices, schools, third level institutions; details of any assessments undertaken by departmental staff to assess requirements; the number of signs assessed; when any corrective actions were put in place; if any or all of the actions taken by her Department were within the designated timeframes set out in legislation, and if not the reasoning for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40552/13]

Photo of Joan BurtonJoan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Department is committed to providing a quality service in both Irish and English and to implementing the requirements of the Official Languages Act. To achieve these aims a range of measures have been put in place including responding to correspondence in the official language in which it is written and publishing certain documents simultaneously in both official languages. Significant material, including forms, leaflets and other documents, are available in both languages on the Departments website www.welfare.ie. There is a dedicated Official Languages Act site on Stór (the Departments Intranet site) which gives guidance on the implementation of the Act. Staff induction courses include a module on the Official Languages Act and a range of supports are in place to equip staff with the necessary skills to deliver a quality customer service in Irish by phone, letter or in person.

The Department is committed to achieving the requirements of the Official Languages Act within the designated timeframes set out in legislation. With regard to the implementation of the Regulations on signage, a range of measures are in place including:

- There is a clear policy that all new permanent signage erected is to be compliant with the Regulations and the Facilities Management Unit of my Department are responsible for ensuring that this is implemented. When an office is being transformed into an Intreo Centre (the principal public facing offices of the Department) all permanent signage is reviewed and replaced with the new corporate identity signage which is bi-lingual;

- Business areas are kept informed of their obligations under the Act and, in advance of each of the signage implementation dates, there was an information campaign to remind business areas to implement the signage Regulations. Information campaigns have included: office notices, notices on Stór, articles in the staff magazine and briefing sessions (including a session given by an official from Oifig An Coimisinéir Teanga);

- Guidance material on compliant signage is distributed to all business areas and is also available on Stór. A database and templates of common signs have been developed and are available on Stór. There is also advice and support available from the Corporate Services Unit of the Department;

- In late 2012/ early 2013 all Business Areas were requested to carry out a review of all signage to check whether it was compliant. Arrangements have been put in place to remedy any deficiencies recorded.

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