Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 October 2004
280 Mr. O’Shea asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if community development partnerships are required to produce their annual reports in bi-lingual format; if he will provide additional funding towards the production of the Irish language version; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26683/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, section 10(b) of the Official Languages Act 2003 provides for the simultaneous publication in both official languages of a limited number of key governance documents such as annual reports and accounts. The area partnership companies are public bodies for the purposes of the Act. An annual report is one of the key documents by which public bodies account back to the general public, to their specific customers and to the Oireachtas in relation to how they have, in the previous year, discharged their public functions.
The question of provision of funding for specific administrative costs for individual public bodies — whether these relate to the Official Languages Act or any other service delivery or policy obligation arising — falls to be assessed against formal business cases or proposals submitted as part of the normal annual Estimates and budget cycle. Given its position as the first constitutional language, my objective is to ensure that delivery through the Irish language of public services by public bodies — including provision of information about services and activities — is seen as normal and appropriate to meet minimum standards of customer service. With regard to area development partnerships, the position is that each partnership receives an overall sum of funding to meet its operational costs and, within that overall amount, is responsible for managing its various spending requirements and priorities.
I am encouraged by the extent to which a number of public bodies have incorporated, even in advance of the Official Languages Act being implemented, Irish language publications and website material into the mainstream of their service provision.
