Written Answers Nos. 46 - 51
49. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the date on which the 1926 census will be published in view of the work that has been done to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4497/13]
View answerMy Department is continuing to work with the National Archives of Ireland and the Central Statistics Office with a view to progressing the work preparatory to enabling the publication of the 1926 Census in line with prevailing legislation.
50. D'fhiafraigh Deputy John Browne den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta cén dul chun cinn atá déanta maidir leis na Pleananna Teanga a luaitear in Acht na Gaeltachta, cén méid airgid a leithroinnfidh a Roinn i gcomhair Pleanáil Teanga sa Ghaeltacht [4457/13]
View answerGlacaim leis go bhfuil an Teachta ag tagairt do phleanáil teanga sna Limistéir Pleanála Teanga Ghaeltachta. Faoi Acht na Gaeltachta 2012, is faoi Údarás na Gaeltachta atá sé eagraíochtaí pobalbhunaithe a roghnú sna limistéir sin chun pleananna teanga a ullmhú agus a fheidhmiú. Ina theannta sin, is faoin Údarás atá sé faoin Acht cabhrú leis na heagraíochtaí sin i ndáil leis na pleananna teanga a ullmhú agus a fheidhmiú i gcomhar leis an bpobal sna limistéir sin. Tuigtear dom go bhfuil an tÚdarás ag plé le heagraíochtaí éagsúla sna limistéir sin chun tús áite a thabhairt do chur i bhfeidhm an phróisis pleanála teanga ar an talamh.
Ar ndóigh, beidh orduithe agus rialacháin le síniú agamsa chun feidhm reachtúil a thabhairt do chuid 2 den Acht a bhaineann leis an bpróiseas pleanála teanga. Tá na céimeanna cuí maidir leis an reachtaíocht thánaisteach seo idir lámha ag mo Roinnse faoi láthair. Maidir le cúrsaí airgid, tá allúntas reatha de €3.4m ag Údarás na Gaeltachta do 2013 atá le caitheamh ar chur i bhfeidhm na Straitéise 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge sa Ghaeltacht agus, ach go háirithe, chun an próiseas pleanála teanga a fheidhmiú sa Ghaeltacht. Chomh maith leis sin, tá allúntas reatha de thart ar €6.7m ag mo Roinn féin do 2013 atá le caitheamh sa Ghaeltacht ar mhaithe leis na críocha céanna. Ní miste a nótáil go bhfuil na figiúirí seo faoi réir na Meastachán Athbhreithnithe a bheith foilsithe agus faofa i dtráth cuí. Tá sé i gceist go mbainfear leas as an soláthar seo chun tús áite a thabhairt don phróiseas pleanála teanga sa Ghaeltacht, i gcomhréir le hAcht na Gaeltachta agus an Straitéis 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge 2010-2030.
51. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if there is a step-by-step plan in place to ensure that the current derogation on the Irish language as a working language of the European Union is abolished, particularly in view of Ireland holding the Presidency of the European Parliament at the beginning of 2013, in view of statements from Martin Schultz (details supplied), President of the European Parliament, that the decision to remove the aforementioned derogation is entirely at his discretion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1662/13]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, Irish became an official and working language of the European Union on 1 January 2007. This development has had the welcome effect of greatly increasing the availability and visibility of Irish in the EU institutions. Notwithstanding the status of the language in the EU, there is, however, a derogation in place for practical reasons which states that the EU institutions are not bound by the obligation to translate all legal texts. This stems from the difficulties in recruiting a sufficient number of qualified personnel to meet requirements in the EU institutions.
The original derogation with regard to the use of Irish in the EU institutions applied for 5 years from 1 January 2007 to 31 December 2011. This was extended for another 5 years from 1 January 2012 to 31 December 2016. Under the terms of the derogation, only EU laws made under the co-decision procedure must be translated into Irish. The Lisbon Treaty, which came into effect on 1 December 2009, resulted in the co-decision procedure becoming the norm, rather than the exception, for EU law-making. This has resulted in a significant increase in the proportion of EU laws that must be translated into Irish.
A decision on whether to extend the derogation for another 5 years must be made by December 2015 at the latest. This matter will be considered by the Government in due course, having regard to the various implications that arise from it. In that context, it is worth noting that the 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030 states:
"The Government will work to create the circumstances in which a sufficient number of qualified graduates are in place to meet EU requirement needs so that this derogation can be ended during the lifetime of this Strategy."
My Department is working with the EU institutions on a continuous basis to ensure that a sufficient number of qualified personnel are employed in the institutions to meet the requirements arising from the status of Irish in the EU. To this end, my Department provides funding under the Advanced Irish Language Skills Initiative for a range of specialised third-level Irish language courses in areas such as translation, interpretation and law. In addition, my Department also provides funding to Fiontar in Dublin City University to translate Irish language terms for the EU terminology database, IATE (InterActive Terminology for Europe).
