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Irish Language

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 October 2021

Tuesday, 5 October 2021

Questions (69)

Dara Calleary

Question:

69. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her plans to increase supports for Irish speakers accessing State services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47920/21]

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Written answers

As the Deputy will be aware, the Official Languages (Amendment) Bill 2019 will be before Dáil Éireann at Report Stage this week. The primary purpose of the Bill is to amend the Official Languages Act 2003 with a view to increasing and improving the provision of public services through the Irish language. Central to these efforts will be a series of provisions which aim to increase the number of Irish speakers recruited to the public service.

The increased and improved provision of public services though the Irish language will ensure that issues regarding the provision of State services through Irish to both Irish speakers and Gaeltacht communities will be addressed, along with challenges and opportunities regarding the recruitment of Irish speakers to public bodies. Among the measures to be introduced by the Bill is the introduction of language standards to replace language schemes.

The publication of the Official Languages Amendment Bill in 2019 was broadly welcomed at the time. However, a number of concerns were expressed on the need for target dates or a timetable for initiatives provided for in the Bill. In order to address these concerns, I will be bringing 32 amendments before the House at Report Stage. Key amendments include the following measures:

- A requirement that 20% of new recruits to the public service be competent in the Irish language by 31st December 2030.

- An obligation on the Minister to specify by Regulation - within 3 months of receipt of the National Plan for the Provision of Irish-Medium Public Services already provided for in the Bill - dates by which all public services will be provided in Irish in each of the 26 statutory Gaeltacht Language Planning Areas and by which all public offices in these Language Planning Areas will operate through the medium of Irish. This provision will complement the provisions contained in the Gaeltacht Act 2012 relating to the development of language plans in Gaeltacht Language Planning Areas, the full implementation of which will depend greatly on the provision of public services in the Irish language to these communities.

- A requirement that each public body carry out at least 20% of its annual advertising in the Irish language and 5% in the Irish language media.

- A requirement that the use of the síneadh fada be accommodated in all ICT systems operated by public bodies.

- A requirement for any commercial operator providing public services under contract to a public body to make provision for the use of the Irish language as part of those services.

- The replacement of the Placenames Commission with a statutory Placenames Committee to advise the Minister with regard to the making of Placenames Orders.

These amendments will further strengthen the Bill and thus the rights of Irish language speakers.

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