Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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202. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department has an operating language scheme in accordance with the Official Languages Act 2003; and the date when such a scheme was introduced. [15489/19]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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My Department is committed to ensuring that it provides the best service possible, in both official languages, to the general public.

My Department has had three Irish Language Schemes.  The first Irish Language Scheme ran from 2005-2008. The second Irish Language Scheme ran from 2013-2016.  The third Irish Language Scheme is currently in place and runs from 2016-2019. 

This Third Scheme was confirmed by the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. It commenced with effect from 24 October 2016 and remains in force for a period of 3 years or until a new scheme has been confirmed - whichever is the later - in accordance with section 14(3) of the Official Languages Act 2003. This scheme can be found on the Department's website:

The Act provides for the preparation by public bodies of a language scheme detailing the services which they will provide:

- through the medium of Irish,

- through the medium of English, and

- through the medium of Irish and English

and the measures to be adopted in order to provide services through Irish.

My Department intends to draft its fourth language scheme during 2019.