My Department has undertaken a number of measures to meet its obligations under The Official Languages Act 2003 to develop language awareness and skills among its staff to meet the needs of all their customers which include the following:—
making available to all staff of the Department appropriate Irish language training courses,
supporting and implementing the Irish scholarships programme conducted by Gaeleagreas na Seirbhíse Poiblí by releasing participating officers to attend the Gaeltacht courses under the scholarship courses scheme
providing advice to staff on the range of Irish language classes available outside office hours
promoting the refund of fees scheme as a mechanism for encouraging Irish language training.
The information sought by the Deputy is as follows:
Expenditure details
|
2009
|
2010
|
Breakdown
|
Annual exp.
|
No. of staff
|
Annual exp.
|
No. of staff
|
|
€
|
|
€
|
|
Irish Language classes
|
7,122.02
|
12
|
4,000 (estimated)
|
5
|
Refunds under the Gaeleagras scheme
|
0
|
0
|
250
|
2
|