Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 May 2004
242 Mr. O’Shea asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism 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. [13568/04]
View answer243 Mr. O’Shea asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism 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. [13583/04]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 242 and 243 together.
At the outset I should make the point that, even prior to the enactment of the Official Languages Act 2003, my Department was already meeting the required standards of bilingual practice in areas, for example, such as signage, stationery and in publications such as the Department's statement of strategy, annual report and customer charter. The Act in these areas therefore involves no extra costs for the Department.
As the Deputy is aware, the Act provides for preparation in due course by my Department, and individually by each of the public bodies under its aegis listed in the first schedule to the Act, of a scheme for the delivery of our services in the Irish language to the general public. I am informed that the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs is preparing guidelines to assist public bodies in preparing these schemes. It is anticipated that the guidelines will finalised in the near future. As my colleague, the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, has already informed the House, it is anticipated then that the first tranche of public bodies will be asked to prepare draft schemes for approval by him once the draft guidelines have gone through the necessary statutory consultation procedure. When my Department has prepared its draft scheme, I will be in a position to say what, if any, additional costs may arise in its implementation.
In so far as the public bodies funded by my Department are concerned, the preparation of schemes in accordance with the Act and guidelines referred to above, including an assessment of any additional costs arising, is a day to day matter for each of the public bodies concerned.
