I propose to take Questions Nos. 887 to 889, inclusive, together.
My Department's recent progress report in relation to the Programme for Government can be accessed on the Department of the Taoiseach's website at:
http://193.178.1.117/attachedfiles/Pdf%20files/CommunityEnglish.pdf
My Department continues to provide significant support in the three interlinked areas referred to by the Deputy, both directly through Ciste na Gaeilge and by way of legislative provisions, and indirectly through Foras na Gaeilge. Funding of some €1m per annum has been provided by my Department via the Higher Education Authority for high-level skills initiatives to meet the requirements arising from the official and working language status of Irish in the EU and the implementation of the Official Languages Act. These requirements particularly relate to translation services, but also to increasing the supply of other professionals needed to serve the Irish language community.
In addition, 86 language schemes have been agreed to date under the Official Languages Act with public bodies to improve their provision of public services through Irish.
My Department is continuing to work with Foras na Gaeilge and other interested parties in relation to putting in place key resources to enhance the capacity of the public service to provide services through Irish. With regard to the development of a Quality Assurance System for Translators, Foras na Gaeilge has, at my request, developed an accreditation system for Irish language translators. 125 translators have now achieved the required standard. The system is a significant resource for public bodies in their implementation of the Official Languages Act. The accreditation system will be a continuous process and will involve examination of translators at regular intervals on an ongoing basis. In that regard, I understand that it is intended to hold a further examination before May 2009. Full details of the panel of accredited translators is available on the website of Foras na Gaeilge, www.gaeilge.ie.
In addition, I understand from Foras na Gaeilge that they will continue to provide training/upskilling opportunities for translators, including an online course for translators, accredited by NUI Maynooth, and a series of intensive workshops, which will be held in venues throughout the island between March and November 2009.
With regard to the development of an Accreditation System for Editors, Foras na Gaeilge will introduce such a system before end-2009. In order to ensure the highest standards, Foras will instigate a series of training opportunities during 2009 for accredited translators who wish to achieve accreditation as editors/revisers. A new course for editors, funded by Foras na Gaeilge, has been written and will be published as a textbook for the translation sector in August 2009.