Irish Language.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 April 2007

Thursday, 26 April 2007

Ceisteanna (8)

Brian O'Shea

Ceist:

8 Mr. O’Shea asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the cost to his Department of implementing the Official Languages Act 2003; the number of documents that were published in both languages in 2006; the number of documents that were published in only one language; the number of documents that were published in both languages, but where the version in the second language was published more than two weeks after the version in the first language was published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15488/07]

Freagraí ó Béal (4 píosaí cainte)

Mr. Martin

The cost to the end of 2006 of implementing the Official Languages Act 2003 in my Department and its offices was €156,667 for translation and website development.

In 2006 the number of documents published by my Department and its offices was 26. Of those, 14 were published in one language only, English. The number of documents published in both Irish and English was 12, and in two of those cases the Irish version was published more than two weeks after the English one.

My Department is fully committed to the implementation of the Official Languages Act 2003. It is already fulfilling many of the requirements of the 2003 Act, although the Department has not yet been formally notified by the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs to draw up a statutory scheme outlining the Department's plans for compliance.

An Ceann Comhairle

Next is Question No. 9, in the name of Deputy Ó Caoláin.

Mr. Quinn

Is it in order for a question to be answered in the absence of the Deputy who tabled it?

An Ceann Comhairle

Not for priority questions, but these are ordinary questions.