Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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380. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the mechanisms that are in place to ensure that Irish language supports are provided as part of social protection services in particularly with regard to customer-facing services such as INTREO offices; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58335/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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My Department is committed to providing a high standard of service in either Irish or English to its customers.The Department is aware of its obligations under the Official Languages Act 2003 and the commitments as set out in our Irish Language Scheme 2019-2022.

Currently, the Department has 200 staff in our various Intreo and Departmental offices across the country that are available to provide services through Irish. In situations where staff are unavailable, an interpreter service is offered. This service, which can be arranged at very short notice, can be provided either by 3-way phone call, or in-person, as required.

All digital platform services and information within www.MyGovid.ie, www.MyWelfare.ie and www.WelfarePartners.ie are available to our customers in both Irish and English.

Application forms and relevant information leaflets are available for download in both Irish and English on gov.ie - An Roinn Coimirce Sóisialai (www.gov.ie)

In addition, my Department is committed to the continued development and training of staff to facilitate the provision of services through Irish and continues to encourage staff to avail of the range of training supports to enhance fluency in the Irish language.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.