Written answers

Wednesday, 15 April 2015

Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

Irish Language

Photo of Seán KyneSeán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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228. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation to set out his views on the type and extent of training being provided to the cohort of staff identified as proficient in providing services to members of the public who wish to transact with the Department through Irish. [14888/15]

Photo of Richard BrutonRichard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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In accordance with our obligations under the Official Languages Act, 2003, my Department is committed to communicating with clients who wish to transact their business with the Department through the Irish language.

Arrangements are in place whereby 16 staff volunteered to participate in appropriate training courses to enhance their Irish language skills. To date 5 staff have completed this training, which is being provided so that we have a cohort of staff who can assist business units to respond to clients who wish to communicate through the medium of Irish. The training plan developed for the provision and delivery of Irish language training and proficiency testing within my Department contains the following features:

- Training is delivered by Gaelchultúr, at levels 3 to 6 on the National Framework of Qualifications. Completion of the course results is a Certificate in Professional Irish at the level taken;

- Volunteers have their level of proficiency in Irish assessed by Gaelchultúr, and following assessment, are invited to participate in courses to improve/maintain their proficiency;

- Staff whose standard is Level 3 or above are offered a classroom based course (real or virtual, as appropriate) - 30 hours over 10 weeks plus homework per Level, and are afforded time off to attend class and take examinations;

- Staff whose standard is below Level 3 (the level at which the professional certificate in Irish programme can be commenced) are offered an online course called “Gaeilge Gan Stró” (80-100 hours to complete where proficiency of Irish is below the entry requirement for Level 3 of professional certificate in Irish);

- Staff who volunteer to translate requests and documents in Irish are provided with the necessary IT support to assist them with this task.

As part of Seachtain Na Gaeilge 2015, my Department facilitated a lunchtime meeting to encourage staff to meet through the medium of Irish with a view to enhancing their Irish language skills. It is proposed to arrange further similar initiatives over the coming months.

In summary, I am happy to report that staff in my Department, who volunteer to provide services through Irish, are provided with the appropriate supports to enable them communicate through Irish, with members of the public who wish to conduct their business with the Department through the Irish language.

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