Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 28 April 2021
716. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the way in which his Department and agencies, under his remit, facilitate persons wishing to engage with services through the Irish language; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21897/21]
View answer717. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if all forms issued by his Department and agencies under his remit are available in both Irish and English; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21915/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 716 and 717 together.
Section 9 of the Official Languages Act 2003 prescribes the categories of information which must be published by public bodies, in each of the official languages simultaneously. My Department is compliant with these requirements.
Section 11 of the said Act requires each public body to publish a Scheme which references its commitments to provide information to the public in the official languages simultaneously and state how persons wishing to engage with the public body through Irish are facilitated to do so. The scheme of my Department also refers to these matters.
Under the scheme my Department is committed to making information leaflets, application forms and brochures provided by the Department, available bilingually and within the one cover (except where it is not practicable to produce in one cover because of the size or nature of the document).
Correspondence is responded to in the language in which it is written in accordance with section 9(2) of the Act.
Reception/switchboard staff give the name of the Department in Irish, and are familiar with basic greetings in Irish. Suitable arrangements are in place so that they can put members of the public in touch, without delay, with the office or officer responsible for offering the service required through Irish, where available.
I have referred the questions asked by the Deputy to the bodies under the remit of my Department for direct response to her. I am informed that Oberstown Children Detention School, a body which is under the remit of my Department, is a body which is not subject to the provisions of the Official Languages Act 2003.
