Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I am committed to supporting the achievement of the Government's objective that 20% of recruits to public bodies should be proficient in Irish.

The Deputy will be aware that this target is led by the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht as part of the implementation of the National Plan for Irish Language Public Services. My Department actively supports delivery of this objective across a range of areas, including civil service recruitment policy, learning and development, digital services and public service reform.

Reflecting the cross-cutting nature of this work, a number of areas across my Department are engaged, and will continue to engage as required, to support the development and implementation of measures that contribute to achievement of the target.

Officials from my Department are closely involved in a number of implementation structures established under the National Plan, including the Irish Language Services Advisory Committee, the recruitment subgroup developing guidance on Irish-language recruitment practices, and the technical working group overseeing the incorporation of Irish-language requirements into digital services.

It is important to note that the 20% target is a whole-of-public-service objective. Under the delegated sanction model, individual Departments and public bodies are responsible for identifying their workforce needs and determining the recruitment measures required to support achievement of the target within their organisations. As Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation I have specific responsibilities in relation to recruitment in the civil service as set out in Section 58 of the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act 2004.

My Department will continue to work closely with the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, public bodies and other stakeholders to support implementation of the Government's Irish-language commitments and progress towards achieving the 20% target.