Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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28. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if her Department has an Irish language service plan; if not, the steps being taken to ensure that her Department can meet its public service delivery objectives through the first official language; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50837/13]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Department of Social Protection is committed to providing a quality customer service in both Irish and English. Since 2007, an Irish Language Scheme for the Department, as required under the Official Languages Act 2003, has been is in place. A new Irish Language Scheme is currently being drafted and there have been on-going discussions with the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in relation to this. Since 2007, this Department’s organisation and structure has changed in a very fundamental way with the transfer of staff and services from a number of other organisations including the Health Service Executive and FÁS. In preparation for the new Scheme, there has been a detailed examination of the level of service available through Irish in the Department (as it is now constituted). An invitation for submissions, from interested parties, on how a better service through Irish might be provided to customers was recently advertised. Consideration will be given to submissions received in the drafting of the new Scheme.