Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 27 February 2014
145. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he willl ensure that services in Irish are made available to the Irish speaking community to the same standard as those services in English; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9980/14]
View answerThe primary objective of the Official Languages Act 2003 is to ensure the improved provision of public services through the Irish language. The Act seeks to give legislative effect, insofar as the delivery of public services through Irish is concerned, to Article 8 of the Constitution and to how that article has been interpreted by the Supreme Court. The Act provides a framework for improvements in the delivery of public services through Irish over time so that the State’s obligations can be met in a coherent manner which is commensurate with available resources. This is an ongoing process which can be challenging for public bodies, particularly having regard to current resource pressures.
