Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 May 2004
236 Mr. O’Shea asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if his Department has prepared an estimate of the cost to his Department of implementing the provisions of the Official Languages Act 2003; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13567/04]
View answerMy Department is working to progress the implementation of the Official Languages Act 2003 within 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 customers who telephone or visit the Department and wish to conduct their business in Irish. My Department's internal telephone list clearly identifies staff who are proficient in Irish, and can readily be called upon to answer telephone calls and translate documents as required. If in-house staff are not available to translate documents, the Department employs the services of a translation service.
The Department has not prepared a specific estimate on the cost of implementing the requirements of the Official Languages Act 2003. The annual cost of meeting all translation requirements will be quantified in light of experience over the coming months. Line managers have devolved allocations for the budget areas affected, such as printing and advertising. Line managers are responsible for meeting statutory obligations and administrative requirements, within budget.
237 Mr. O’Shea asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if estimates have been prepared by the public bodies funded by his Department in regard to the cost of implementing the provisions of the Official Languages Act 2003; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13582/04]
View answerThe preparation of estimates by the bodies funded by my Department on the cost of implementing the provisions of the Official Languages Act 2003 is a matter for the bodies themselves and is one in which I have no function. I would expect the bodies to meet the costs of implementation from within existing resources.
