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Irish Language.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 November 2004

Thursday, 25 November 2004

Questions (185, 186, 187)

Brian O'Shea

Question:

183 Mr. O’Shea asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if any provision has been made in the 2005 Estimates for his Department for the cost of implementing the provisions of the Official Languages Act 2003; the amount of any such provision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30798/04]

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Brian O'Shea

Question:

185 Mr. O’Shea asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if a survey has been carried out or if it is intended to carry out an estimate of the full cost of implementing the provisions of the Official Languages Act 2003; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30836/04]

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Written answers

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.

Brian O'Shea

Question:

184 Mr. O’Shea asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the amount of money that has been spent in each of the past five years on the Irish language in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30812/04]

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My Department allocates resources to the promotion of the Irish language in a number of different policy areas, which include funding to Foras na Gaeilge and to voluntary organisations outside the Gaeltacht through Ciste na Gaeilge. In addition, my Department supports the Irish language within the Gaeltacht through a range of different programmes and initiatives, including Scéim na bhFoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge, Scéim Labhairt na Gaeilge, grants under the Housing Acts (Gaeltacht) 1929-2001, Gaeltacht improvement schemes, the Gaeltacht summer camps scheme, the language assistants scheme, assistance for third level education centres, and specific measures arising from the implementation of the recommendations of Coimisiún na Gaeltachta. Funding is also provided to Údarás na Gaeltachta to enable it to achieve its objectives of developing the economy of the Gaeltacht and encouraging the preservation and extension of the Irish language in the Gaeltacht.

In this context, the expenditure for my Department under the heading, An Ghaeilge agus An Ghaeltacht, is as shown in the appropriation accounts for the years 2000 to 2003 and the Estimates provisions for 2004 and 2005. This information is set out in the following table.

Year

2000

£54,019,000

2001

£63,920,000

2002

€86,135,000

2003

€78,343,000

2004

€84,532,000

2005

€91,923,000

The Deputy will note that included in these figures are allocations relating to the islands, both Gaeltacht and non-Gaeltacht, the Ulster-Scots Agency, industry, infrastructure and so on that would be incurred by the State even if the Irish language and the Gaeltacht did not exist.

Question No. 185 answered with QuestionNo. 183.
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