I propose to take Questions No. 183 and 185 together.
The only specific provision in the 2005 Estimates for my Department with regard to the cost of implementing the provisions of the Official Languages Act 2003 is a sum of €700,000 in respect of the estimated operating costs of Oifig Choimisinéir na dTeangacha Oifigiúla for 2005. As the Deputy is aware, my Department has published its scheme under the Official Languages Act 2003. The scheme details specific commitments with regard to the improved delivery of our services through the Irish language. These commitments will be delivered from within the overall budget available to my Department in the relevant years and do not require the provision of additional funding.
On the general issue of costs, as I have indicated in response to previous questions in this House, no formal costings have been done in regard to the full implementation of the Official Languages Act 2003 on the basis that such an exercise would not be feasible in advance of consideration on a case-by-case basis by each public body of what, if any, specific costs might arise for it. It is clear, however, that there will be some cost issues involved, particularly at start-up. In the normal course, however, these should be met from within existing administrative allocations.
Since costs will arise in connection with such matters as training and translation services, the position for individual public bodies, or indeed on an overall basis, cannot be established until individual schemes have been agreed in accordance with the legislation. Circumstances will vary greatly from one public body to another in regard to demand for the delivery of services through Irish. Some public bodies will be better placed than others in having the resources to meet this demand, given that they already operate, to varying degrees, a policy of bilingualism. It is a matter for each public body in the first instance to ensure that resources are made available in order to comply with the provisions of this legislation, in the same way as resources are made available to ensure compliance with obligations imposed by other legislation and by the requirements to provide quality customer service.
The issue of provision of funding for specific administrative costs for individual public bodies, regardless of whether these relate to the Official Languages Act 2003 or any other service delivery or policy obligation arising, falls to be assessed against formal business cases or proposals submitted as part of the normal annual Estimates and budget cycle and not otherwise. Given its position as the first constitutional language, the objective is to ensure that delivery of public services by public bodies, including provision of information about services and activities through the Irish language, is seen as normal and required to meet minimum standards of customer service and corporate governance, rather than an optional extra or add-on.