Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 February 2014
423. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if planning for the measures of increasing Irish language awareness and language training so as to enable a strengthened and consolidated service provision by public service staff through the Irish language, as envisaged in the 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language, has commenced; and if there are any plans to introduce any such measures in the first phase of the strategy. [8323/14]
View answerIn order to strengthen my Department’s mandate in respect of the public service generally as outlined in the 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030, a Service Level Agreement (SLA) has been put in place between my Department and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform for the provision of Irish language training services and Irish language proficiency testing to Government Departments/Offices and certain public service organisations. The purpose of this SLA is to enhance the capacity of staff in the civil service and certain public service organisations to deliver Irish language services and to provide an accredited proficiency testing regime for civil servants. In tandem with this SLA, it should be noted that Foras na Gaeilge has a three year contract in place since November 2011 with a company, Gaelchultúr, for the provision of Irish language training for the public service.
In summary, I am satisfied that these measures are helping to increase the level and standard of services in Irish provided by public bodies.
