Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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390. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the position regarding the derogation on the status of the Irish language in the EU that will end at the end of 2016 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26009/14]

Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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A decision on whether or not to extend the derogation for the use of Irish in EU institutions for a further period of time is required by December 2015 at the latest. In this context, my Department, in conjunction with the Department of the Taoiseach, is engaged in discussions with various stakeholders, including the EU institutions, in order to formulate specific proposals on the optimal approach to the derogation. This matter will be brought forward for consideration by Government in due course. It should also be noted that, as part of the Government's strategy to ensure that a sufficient number of qualified personnel are available to meet the needs arising from the recognition of Irish as an official and working language of the EU, my Department continues to provide substantial funding for a range of specialised third level courses and for the development of Irish language terminology for the EU terminology database, InterActive Terminology for Europe (IATE).