Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 February 2019
93. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Finance the progress made on implementing all aspects of the 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030 that are relevant to his Department and bodies under his remit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8620/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy will be aware that the objective of the 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030 is to increase on an incremental basis the use and knowledge of Irish as a community language through nine areas of action:
1. Education
2. The Gaeltacht
3. Family Transmission of the Language – Early Intervention
4. Administration, Services and Community
5. Media and Technology
6. Dictionaries
7. Legislation and Status
8. Economic Life
9. Cross-cutting Initiatives
The Strategy has cross-Departmental ownership and responsibility for its implementation falls on a number of Government Departments in addition to Irish language and Gaeltacht Bodies and Organisations. The Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht has the overall responsibility of co-ordinating implementation of the Strategy. The Deputy will be aware that an overview of progress since the Strategy was published in relation to each of the nine areas of action is set out in the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht’s ‘Action Plan 2018-2022’ which can be accessed here - https://www.chg.gov.ie/app/uploads/2019/02/action-plan-2018-2022.pdf.
The Deputy may wish to note that my Department’s Third Irish Language Scheme 2018 – 2021, which can be accessed on the Department’s website or via the link - https://www.finance.gov.ie/ga/updates/language-scheme-2018-2021/, includes a number of commitments to increase the number and quality of the Irish language services provided to the public and to promote the use of the Irish language in the Department.
The 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language provides that language schemes will specify the posts within an organisation that require an Irish language competency. The Department’s recruitment policy, which is subject to the framework of agreed national recruitment procedures, has regard to the need to improve Irish language capability on an incremental basis. I can advise the Deputy that it is expected that the recruitment of staff to the Department through the Public Appointments Service, with the appropriate level of competence in the Irish language, will be the primary means of optimising the availability of services through Irish. The Department keeps the requirements of posts under review, but currently there are no posts for which a competency in Irish is essential.
The Strategy also provides that language awareness and language training programmes need to be developed so that a higher proportion of public service staff are functional in Irish and can deliver services in Irish to customers who seek them. I can advise the Deputy that the Department’s Language Scheme also provides that the Department will promote all forms of Irish language further education and it is committed to making available opportunities for staff to attend accredited Irish language training courses. There is also a voluntary panel of Department staff in place who have competence to engage in Irish, as required.
The Deputy may also wish to note that other commitments set out in the Department’s Language Scheme include assigning an Irish Language Officer to oversee implementation of the Language Scheme and the Official Languages Act 2003 in addition to promoting cultural initiatives which support and encourage the use of the Irish language in the Department, increasing the number of press releases in Irish and creating a greater Irish language presence on the Department’s social media platforms.
I can assure the Deputy that my Department is committed to providing quality services in Irish to its customers and ensuring that there are adequate language resources within the Department to provide the required level of Irish language service.
My Department is liaising with the Bodies under its aegis regarding their progress in implementing the relevant actions in the 20 Year Strategy and I will revert to the Deputy with those details in line with Standing Orders.
