The Department is aware of its obligations under Section 11 of the Official Languages Act 2003. This Department has set out its obligations as part of our Irish Languages Scheme 2014-2017.
Generally the Department does not provide services directly to the public but where there is a need for translation and Divisions do not have a member of staff proficient in Irish, or where such a person is not available, a designated member of staff from another Division will provide a service in Irish where required. A Language and Qualifications survey was carried out during 2014 which indicated that 7 members of staff have some proficiency in Irish. This represents some 2.3% of the current staff compliment of the Department.
As part of the 2014-2017 Irish Languages Scheme within this Department, the Department plans to carry out the following activities:
Means of Communicating with the Public/Information to the Public
In conjunction with this new Irish Language Scheme, the Department is updating its Customer Service Action Plan and Customer Charter.
The revised Charter will continue to reflect the principles of Quality Customer Service and in this way ensure that persons who wish to conduct their business through Irish are facilitated as much as possible.
Correspondence
All correspondence (letters, phone calls, requests) received in Irish will continue to be logged to allow for monitoring of demand and will be responded to in Irish. In addition to fulfilling the legal obligation to reply in Irish to correspondence received in Irish, the Department will strive to correspond in Irish with those who are known to prefer correspondence in Irish. Standard messages on the Department's e-mail system, such as disclaimers of responsibility, will be both in Irish and English. Staff will be encouraged to provide automatic out of office messages in Irish and English.
Department Website and Computer Systems
While a limited version of this website is available in Irish, it will be enhanced and developed to have at least 25% of documents made available in Irish and in addition to the provision of static content, the Department will continue to build on the Irish language content on its website.
Speeches
Speeches or statements, given by the Minister in the Oireachtas or elsewhere as well as made by senior officials will continue to be made in the language in which they are delivered.
Official Invitations
The Department will ensure that invitations to official functions hosted by the Minster or Ministers for State are printed bilingually.
Publications
The Department produces a range of publications from various policy areas. The Department undertakes to provide bilingual versions of core publications (major policy statements, strategies etc.) preferably within the same cover (either hard copy or electronic publications). It is not the intention to publish bilingually all technical documents or those having a small circulation. Under Section 10 of the Official Languages Act 2003, the Department publishes the following documents in both Irish and English:
Documents setting out public policy
Annual Report
Audited Accounts
Statement of Strategy
Documents of major public importance
The Department also publishes the following documents in both Irish and English:
Annual Appropriation Accounts
Budget (summary of Budget Measures)
Finance Accounts
Irish Language Scheme
Legislation
Medium Term Economic Strategy
White Paper on Estimates of Receipts and Expenditure
Oral Announcements/Telephone Communications with the Public
In line with the principles of Quality Customer Service, the Department continues to ensure that the switchboard operators and receptionists, who are the first point of contact with the public, give
The name of the Department in Irish and English
Are familiar with basic greetings in Irish
Put members of the public in contact without delay with whatever offices or officer is responsible for offering services required through Irish
Press Releases
Over the period of the Irish Language Scheme 2014-2017 the Department intends to issue 30% of press releases bilingually. Where possible press releases in Irish will issue at the same time as English language ones but where this is not possible, Irish language versions will be provided on the website within 24 hours.
Meetings
It is the policy of the Department that, when warranted, staff proficient in Irish will continue to be provided when meeting Irish language organisations where sufficient notice is given.
Learning and Development
The Department includes Irish language awareness as part of the Induction training course, to ensure that staff understand their bilingual obligations under the Official Languages Act 2003.
Seachtain na Gaeilge
The Department is committed to promoting cultural initiatives which support and encourages the use of the Irish language. In this way, the Department supports activities organised during Seachtain na Gaeilge and will seek advice from Irish language bodies in this respect.
