Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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426. To ask the Minister for Health the number of vacancies which exist within his Department for candidates who must display competence in the Irish language; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5436/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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My Department is committed to ensuring that customers who wish to conduct their business through Irish can be facilitated to the greatest extent possible. The Department has 10 staff or almost 3 % of the total number of employees who are capable of carrying out their duties through both the Irish and English languages. All written correspondence addressed to the Department in Irish is replied to in Irish and any telephone queries are referred to one of the members of staff competent in Irish.

The Department's Language Scheme 2015-2018 sets out the extent to which the Department’s services are currently available through Irish, and identifies areas for future enhancement such as press and communication services and the Department’s website.

From 2015, Public Appointments Service panels include persons with specific competencies in the Irish language and it is the intention of the Department to fill any gaps identified in our current staffing in this area from such panels. In addition 9 members of staff are currently undertaking a Certificate in Professional Irish course approved by the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.