Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 December 2004
75 Ms Burton asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he has requested, under the terms of the Official Languages Act 2003, any private sector company controlled by a public regulator to translate any of its publications into Irish; if so, the number of times he has requested these companies to do so; the estimated cost of translating these publications into Irish; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33241/04]
View answerI have not made any such request under the Official Languages Act.
76 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the estimated costs arising from meeting the requirements of the Official Languages Act 2003 in terms of translating official publications into Irish; the reason he did not provide such a costing at an earlier stage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33242/04]
View answerAs I have indicated on more than one occasion in response to similar parliamentary 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, but in the normal course 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 public body to public body in regard to demand for delivery of services through Irish. Indeed, some bodies will be better placed than others in regard to having the resources to meet this demand, given that they already operate, to varying degrees, a policy of bilingualism.
It is, however, 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 particular 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 question of provision of funding for specific administrative costs for individual public bodies — regardless of whether these relate to the Official Languages Act 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 budgetary cycle. 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 a normal requirement to meet appropriate standards of customer service and corporate governance.
77 D’fhiafraigh Mr. Sargent den Aire Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta cén dul chun cinn atá déanta maidir le rialacháin a ullmhú i dtaobh úsáid agus caighdeán na Gaeilge ar chomharthaíocht bóthair, ar stáiseannóireacht agus i bhfógairtí ó bhéal. [33277/04]
View answerMar is eol don Teachta, tá forálacha san Acht a chuireann ar chumas an Aire rialacháin a dhéanamh i ndáil le húsáid na Gaeilge, nó na Gaeilge agus an Bhéarla, ar stáiseanóireacht, ar fhógraíocht agus ar chomharthaíocht arna húsáid nó arna cur suas ag comhlachtaí poiblí. Tá obair i ndáil le rialacháin den sórt sin a dhéanamh ag dul ar aghaidh i gcónaí. Tuigfidh an Teachta go raibh dualgas ar mo Roinnse dul i gcomhairle le Ranna Rialtais eile maidir leis an ábhar seo sula bhféadfaí na rialacháin a dhéanamh. Táthar i gcomhairle le hOifig an Dréachtóra Pairliminte faoi láthair agus ní thig liom, mar sin, dáta deimhnitheach a thabhairt faoi chathain a dhéanfar na rialacháin. Tá sé mar sprioc agam, áfach, go mbeidh na rialacháin déanta go luath an bhliain seo chugainn.
