I propose to take Questions Nos. 298 and 299 together.
It was departmental policy, prior to the enactment of the Official Languages Act 2003, to publish most classes of documents intended for public consumption in both Irish and English. This was part of a wider initiative, aimed at developing the Department's capability to accommodate customers who preferred to conduct their business with the Department through Irish. Expenditure by the Department to date in 2004, which can be directly attributed to implementing the provisions of the Act, is €24,642.24. There are no public bodies or agencies under the aegis of the Department.