Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 November 2004
228 Mr. O’Shea asked the Minister for Education and Science if any provision has been made in the 2005 Estimates for her Department for the cost of implementing the provisions of the Official Languages Act 2003; the amount of any such provision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30801/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder section 11 of the Official Languages Act 2003, my Department is one of 25 public bodies that has been asked to draft a scheme describing what services it will provide through both English and Irish, through Irish only or through English only. The legislation recognises that it will not be possible for all services to be provided through Irish and that the priority is established by consulting with our diverse customer base. This consultation process is under way and on its completion in early January, my Department will be better able to gauge how much it will cost to implement the legislation. Based on expenditure patterns in 2003 and 2004 for administrative costs only, the estimated expenditure in 2005 is €75,000
229 Mr. O’Shea asked the Minister for Education and Science the amount of money that has been spent in each of the past five years on the Irish language in her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30815/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department actively supports the Irish language and the provision of Irish versions of application forms, information leaflets or books, annual reports and statistical data is almost automatically assumed. Because of this, it is not possible to easily separate out costings that are attributable to the Irish language. While we do not have separate costings for 1999 to 2002, I can inform the deputy that in 2003, just under €25,000 was spent on translation costs. The figure for 2004 currently stands at just under €30,000.
Figures for Irish Language training in the past five years are as follows:
|
Year |
|
|
2000 |
€5,513.20 (IR£4,342.00) |
|
2001 |
€13,985.66 (IR£11,104.60) |
|
2002 |
€4,055.37 |
|
2003 |
€18,938.55 |
|
2004 |
€17,201.30 |
These figures relate to administrative costs only and exclude expenditure on the education system itself.
The Education Act 1998 legislates for the promotion of Irish in the education system. Under section 31, An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta was established to assist and advise on the provision of education through Irish and Irish language teaching. The functions of the body are: to plan and co-ordinate the provision of textbooks and aids to learning and teaching through Irish; to advise the Minister on policies relating to the provision and promotion of education through the medium of Irish in recognised school generally and in schools located in a Gaeltacht area; to provide support services to those schools through the medium of Irish; to conduct research into any matters relating to its functions; and to plan and co-ordinate the provision of textbooks and aids to the learning and teaching of Irish and to conduct research into and to advise the Minister on strategies which have as their objective the enhancement of the effectiveness in the teaching of Irish in recognised schools and centres of education.
As an interim measure, the Aiseanna Teagasc Gaeilge project was set up under the auspices of the Donegal Education Centre to provide materials for the teaching of Irish in Gaeltacht and all-Irish schools.
Funding made available in 2003 was €981,371.69. The projected expenditure in 2004 amounts to €1.65 million.
