Brian O'Shea
Question:123 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food 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. [15069/03]
Written Answers. - Irish Language.
Brian O'Shea
Question:124 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food his Department's objective in relation to its expenditure on the Irish language; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15083/03]
Brian O'Shea
Question:125 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food 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. [15097/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 123 to 125, inclusive, together.
My Department follows Government policy in relation to the use of the Irish language in particular by facilitating the provision of services in the Irish language. The policy is reflected in my Department's customer action plan, 2001 to 2004, which commits my Department to providing quality services through Irish and-or bilingually, and informs customers of their right to be dealt with through one or other of the official languages.
My Department's human resource strategy, published in 2002, sets out the actions being taken to ensure that there is adequate Irish language capability amongst its staff. The actions set out in both the customer service action plan and the human resource strategy are subject to periodic review.
My Department facilitates staff members participation in Irish language training courses and scholarships as part of an ongoing Civil Service-wide scheme at no direct cost to this Department. The cost of printing of documents and forms in Irish is met from general printing expenditure.