Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 29 May 2003

Vol. 567 No. 7

Written Answers. - Irish Language.

Brian O'Shea

Question:

230 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the amount of money his Department has spent on the Irish language in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15077/03]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

As the Deputy will be aware, the Irish language is one of the official languages of the State and official language equality has been adopted by my Department as one of three new principles for quality customer service. Expenditure to develop the use of Irish Language through staff training and translation services which allow our customers a right to choose to be dealt with through one or other of the official languages have been some of the initiatives used to develop the Irish language usage within the Department. The details of expenditure in relation to the Irish language are set out below.

Translation Costs

Year	€
1998	823.75
1999	508.00
2000	3,964.66
2001	6,131.04
2002	3,539.56

Publicity material and application forms for the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000-06 are normally available in both Irish and English. This necessitates translating, printing and advertisement costs. The Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000-06, which funds the establishment of and support of child care places, has committed almost €9 million of grant support to Irish language child care services. The Department's strategy statement 2001-04 was translated into Irish at a cost of €5,700.14. The cost of the strategy statement 2003-05 has not yet been established.

Irish language training for the staff in the Department is provided by Gaeleagras na Seirbhisí Poiblí attached to CMOD, the Department of Finance. Gaeleagras invites Departments to nominate staff for participation in courses. Typically these refer to day, night and scholarship courses. The funding for these courses is provided centrally though the Department of Finance with this Department providing contribution towards scholarship expenses. Night courses are attended out of office hours and are also funded centrally. Scholarship costs are detailed below.

Scholarships Costs

Year	€
1998	88.88
1999	177.76
2000	888.82
2001	355.53
2002	177.76

Costs for advertising in Irish written newspapers

Year	€
1998	3,228.27
1999	5,296.84
2000	2,864.05
2001	7,514.52
2002	9,202.12

Other Costs

Bilingual stationary/signage in Irish and English:

Year	€
2001	9,922.81
2002	15,355.13

The information sought in as far as it relates to the Garda Síochána is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy in due course.

Brian O'Shea

Question:

231 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his Department's objective in relation to its expenditure on the Irish language; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15091/03]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

As the Deputy will be aware, the Irish language is one of the official languages of the State and official language equality has been adopted as one of three new principles for quality customer service. In this regard my Department recognises the rights of people to have documentation translated into the Irish language.

Brian O'Shea

Question:

232 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the monitoring system his Department has in place in regard to his Department's objective in relation to the Irish language; the expenditure in achieving that objective; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15105/03]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

I can inform the Deputy that my Department does not have a specific system or person monitoring the use of the Irish language in the Department, and that therefore no expenditure in this regard arises. However, I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 230 of today which refers to expenditure to develop the use of the Irish language through staff training and translation services which allow our customers a right to choose to be dealt with through one or other of the official languages.