Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 3 Dec 2002

Vol. 558 No. 4

Written Answers. - Official Language Equality.

Brian O'Shea

Question:

278 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the additional costs which have arisen from the obligations on his Department in relation to the adoption by the Government in July 2002 of official language equality as one of the three new principles for quality customer services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24599/02]

Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources (Mr. D. Ahern)

The Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources is progressing the implementation of the official languages equality principle out of existing resources.

The Department is committed to providing a high quality service to customers who wish to conduct their business with us in Irish. Correspondence received in Irish is answered in Irish and every effort is made to accommodate cus tomers who telephone or visit the Department and who wish to conduct their business in Irish.

In addition, during 2003, the Department will make available Irish versions of the strategy statement, 2003 to 2005, and the annual report for 2002. It is also the Department's intention that material in Irish will be included on the Department's website.