Thomas Pringle
Question:511 Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 286 of 6 December 2011, when a reply will issue. [9433/12]
View answerTuesday, 21 February 2012
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Written answers
The information which was sought by the Deputy on the 6 December 2011 is only recently to hand. I have been informed by the Garda authorities that all Gardaí, inter alia, have a responsibility to conduct business with members of the public through Irish as and when the need arises. ‘Conducting business through Irish' is part of the language curriculum which is delivered to all Garda Trainees in the Garda College. If a member of the Garda Síochána cannot provide an immediate service through Irish when required, a more proficient member of An Garda Síochána will complete the business and to this end there is a panel of fluent Irish speakers available in each Garda Division to deal with issues as they arise.
A Gaeltacht Allowance is paid to members of the Garda Síochána who have attained a set level of oral and written proficiency in the Irish language and are serving in a defined Gaeltacht area. I am awaiting a list of the stations to which Gardaí in receipt of the Gaeltacht allowance are assigned in the Donegal Division and I will write directly to the Deputy when it becomes available.