Vol. 461 No. 7
168 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for the Environment if he has satisfied himself that local authorities, including Dublin Corporation, are implementing guidelines regarding bilingualism particularly in relation to motor tax renewal forms requested in Irish by members of the public from time to time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3856/96]
It is a matter for each local authority to make appropriate arrangements to implement the recommendations in the guidelines on expanding bilingualism in the State sector approved by my colleague, the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht.
Apart from these general guidelines, local authorities also have available to them more specific recommendations relating to the provisions which they might make for the use of Irish. These recommendations were issued in 1986 by the Grúpa Stiúrtha which was set up by my Department to co-ordinate advice to local authorities on the use of Irish. An updated version of these guidelines was launched last month.
The Grúpa Stiúrtha meets Oifigigh Gaeilge of the local authorities on a regular basis, and are satisfied that steady progress is being made by local authorities generally towards meeting the objectives of ensuring that persons wishing to conduct business with them through Irish can do so.
Dublin Corporation has appointed a senior officer as Oifigeach Gaeilge and has drawn up a formal action programme setting out its policy in relation to the promotion of bi-lingualism. I am informed that the objectives of the action programme were the subject of a recent progress report to the members of the City Council's Cultural Committee which was noted with satisfaction. The corporation has a range of bilingual and Irish language versions of forms available for public use.
Motor tax renewal forms RF1a and RF1b are issued to the motor tax sections of local authorities by my Department and are made available in separate English and Irish language versions. I have been assured by Dublin Corporation that they endeavour to have both versions available and on display in their motor tax offices at all times.
