Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 May 2004
425 Mr. O’Shea asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if her Department has prepared an estimate of the cost to her Department of implementing the provisions of the Official Languages Act 2003; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13574/04]
View answer426 Mr. O’Shea asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if estimates have been prepared by the public bodies funded by her Department in regard to the cost of implementing the provisions of the Official Languages Act 2003. [13589/04]
View answerI propose to take Questions 425 and 426 together.
My Department recognises the rights of customers to be dealt with in Irish if they so wish and makes every effort to ensure that service through Irish is available and of a high standard. The policy in relation to the use of Irish is informed by the principles of quality customer service which were adopted by the Government in 2000, the Department's statement of strategy 2003-2005 and customer action plans since 1997.
It is not possible to quantify the precise amount of money spent specifically on Irish in any given year, whether arising from the requirements of the Official Languages Act or otherwise. Providing services to customers through Irish involves translation and printing of forms and leaflets, training of staff in written and spoken Irish, and providing public area signage with both directions and information on the availability of service through Irish. The cost of the Irish element is, in many instances, included in the total cost and cannot be separately identified.
The Official Languages Act provides for preparation in due course by my Department, and individually by each by the bodies under its aegis, of a scheme in relation to the delivery of services to the public in the Irish language. It is not possible at this stage to specify what services through Irish will be provided for in the scheme. The Department will be assessing costs as part of the process of preparing for the delivery of services through Irish.
A similar situation pertains to the four statutory agencies under the aegis of my Department — Combat Poverty Agency, Comhairle, the Pensions Board and the Family Support Agency.
