asked the Minister for Supplies whether it is his custom to answer letters addressed to his Department in the English language with circulars printed in Irish; and, if so, whether in view of the fact that some of his correspondents do not understand Irish he will consider replying to letters written in English in English and to letters written in Irish through the medium of Irish.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Departmental Correspondence.
It is not the custom of my Department to answer letters addressed to the Department in the English language with circulars printed in Irish. It may be that the Deputy has in mind the printed form which is used in acknowledging the receipt of letters addressed to the Department. This form is printed in Irish only. The practice of issuing acknowledgments in Irish has been followed by all Government Departments for over 12 years and I see no reason why any exception should be made to the general rule so far as my Department is concerned.
Might I suggest to the Minister that some note might be put on the Irish circular indicating that it is an acknowledgment of the letter and that a further letter will follow? Repeatedly people in the country write to me saying that they cannot understand this document. That may not have been a serious matter before the vast extension of the work of the Department of Supplies, but now, when every small shopkeeper in rural Ireland is constrained from time to time to get into communication with the Department on matters which, very often, in their judgment, are urgent, it makes it extremely difficult for them if they get a document in reply, the contents of which they do not understand. If there were a footnote to the effect that a further communication would come in due course, or something of that kind, I suggest that it would be a good idea.
Might I put this to the Minister? Generally speaking, when a person in the country gets an acknowledgment of that particular type he does not understand it. To my own personal knowledge, in five cases at least, people have told me that they had a letter from Mr. Lemass himself —although the letter was from the Department of Agriculture—because it was signed "Mise le meas."
Would the Minister consider having something put on the document indicating that it is merely an acknowledgment?
It has been the standard practice in all Government Departments, since 1929, that acknowledgments of correspondence go out in Irish only. There is, I think, a Government order in existence requiring that, but I shall have the Deputy's suggestion considered.