Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 October 2012
199. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Finance the cost in 2011 to his Department and to each body under the aegis of his Department of implementing the Official Languages Act 2003; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44466/12]
View answerThe following table details the information requested by the Deputy in relation to my Department and the Office and Agencies under the remit of my Department.
|
Costs of Implementing 2003 Official Language Act by Department/Office |
2011 |
|
Department of Finance |
7,781 |
|
Comptroller and Auditor General |
67,149 |
|
Appeal Commissioners |
Nil |
|
Revenue Commissioners |
56,935 |
|
Central Bank |
67,000 |
|
NTMA |
10,740 |
|
NPRF Commission |
4,270 |
|
NAMA |
8,452 |
|
Total |
198,865 |
The Official Languages Act, 2003, and subsequent Regulations place a wide range of responsibilities on public bodies in relation to the promotion of the Irish language. These include for example the use of Irish in correspondence, publications, stationery, signage, computer programmes, training and other areas.
The costs for my own Department relate primarily to the translation of Budget documents and the Finance Accounts.
For the Comptroller and Auditor General - the following documents are published bilingually in accordance with the provisions of section 10 of the Official Languages Act 2003: Comptroller and Auditor General Annual Report; Audited Appropriation Accounts; Corporate Report;The Statement of Strategy.
The Office also commits to publishing all electronic versions of the above documents on its website in accordance with the commitments under the Act.
For the Central Bank of Ireland, the principal costs in connection with the Official Languages Act, 2003 identified for 2011 relate to translation, design and printing costs for publications such as the Irish language Annual Report and Annual Performance Statement ; translation of correspondence and other material; dealing with internal/external parties concerning the correct and compliant practice on the use of the Irish language in the course of the Central Bank’s business; administration matters relating to developing compliance practice and raising awareness in the Bank.
In the case of Revenue, there are significant additional costs associated with the requirement for bilingual publications and associated separate printing, packaging, cataloguing, website development, ROS/self service offerings, training and storage costs.
The costs of implementing the provisions of the Act and legislations cannot be readily extracted or distinguished from the cost of providing services generally. However, the additional costs incurred by Revenue on external translation services in 2011 are shown in the table above.
Costs for the NTMA, NPRF and NAMA relate primarily to the publication of Annual Reports and Accounts in Irish. In addition to those costs shown in the table, costs of €7,179 were incurred by An Post in the production of State Savings forms and brochures in Irish. An Post acts as agent of the NTMA in relation to the State Savings products. These costs are treated as management fees for the operation of State Savings products and are charged to the Central Fund.
