Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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222. To ask the Taoiseach the steps being taken to promote the use of Irish in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14179/15]

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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In keeping with the spirit of the Official Languages Act, my Department is committed to developing and maintaining a culture that encourages the use of Irish both within the Department and with our customers. To that end, Irish language courses are readily available to all staff through the Department's Training Unit.

The primary focus of my Department's work involves interaction with other Government Departments and Agencies. As a result, it does not experience a significant level of demand from the public for services in Irish.

A number of staff members in my Department have indicated that they have proficiency in Irish and are competent to provide a variety of services in Irish to varying degrees.

Of these, two officers with a high level of proficiency have been designated to provide services to the public in Irish, and this number is sufficient to meet the existing demand.

My Department recognises the importance of having a number of staff fluent in and capable of providing services in Irish. In accordance with Government policy, future language schemes of my Department under the Official Languages Act will specify the posts that have an Irish language competency requirement.

The use of the Irish language is also a feature of my Department's Customer Charter, which states that customers who wish to conduct their business through Irish will be accommodated.