Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 28 April 2021
290. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Finance the way in which his Department and agencies under his remit facilitate persons wishing to engage with their services through the Irish language; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21902/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra291. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Finance if all forms issued by his Department and agencies under his remit are available in both the Irish and English languages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21920/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 290 and 291 together.
In line with our obligations under section 11 of the Official Languages Act 2003, my Department currently has a Third Irish Language Scheme 2018-2021 in place. Our Fourth Irish Language Scheme 2021-2024 is currently in the final stages of preparation before being confirmed by the Minister of State at the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media as per section 14 of the Official Languages Act 2003. My Department is committed to providing quality services to its customers in Irish and/or bilingually including written correspondence, oral announcements/telephone communication with the public, speeches, public meetings, media communications, official invitations, service to Gaeltacht areas and publications.
My Department has Customer Feedback Forms available to visitors in both Irish and English. These forms are not published online and are not emailed out, however, under the Customer Service charter available on my Department’s website, the customer services email address is available so that matters can be raised directly, if required. My Department’s Subject Access Request form, which is provided in line with Article 15 of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), is also available in both Irish and English on the website.
The following is the position for each of the bodies under the aegis of my Department in relation to facilitating persons wishing to engage with their services through the Irish language:
The Central Bank's Language Scheme 2019-2022 is available on its website and is also available on the Bank’s Irish website. Under the Language Scheme, the Bank has a number of measures in place to facilitate individuals who wish to engage through Irish, including availability of an Irish speaker to carry out banking transactions at the Bank’s Teller Service, a public contacts helpline, consumers being able to exercise any rights under the Credit Reporting Act 2013 through Irish and being able to complete the process to request a credit report, amendment, or explanatory statement and make a notice of suspected impersonation in Irish. All of its forms with a public-facing dimension are available in both Irish and English on the Bank’s website.
The Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman (FSPO) has arrangements in place to ensure that its services are provided through Irish when requested and its complaint form is available in both Irish and English. The FSPO also uses a form for the purposes of facilitating Data Access Requests – this form is in the process of being translated into Irish.
Home Building Finance Ireland (HBFI) has arrangements in place, in conjunction with the National Treasury Management Agency which provides facilities and ICT support to HBFI, in order to facilitate persons wishing to engage with their services through Irish. I am informed that HBFI does not currently have any forms available to the general public in Irish, however, where a member of the public communicates with HBFI in an official language, HBFI will reply in the same language.
As a small organisation of six staff, the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council facilitates persons wishing to engage with their services through Irish on an ad-hoc basis. The Fiscal Council does not have any forms available for public use.
Any appeal or application addressed to the Irish Financial Services Appeals Tribunal in Irish will be processed, heard and judged in that language at an Applicant’s request. Given the complex and technical nature of the subject matter of the disputes heard by the Tribunal, where necessary, they will engage the services of suitably qualified translators/interpreters for the translation of any technical documentation. Its forms are available in both English and Irish, and the Irish language forms will be supplied to any Applicant on request.
While the National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA) does not provide services directly to the public, there are three functions it performs in which the public may have an interest; Dormant Accounts, Eligible Liabilities Guarantee Scheme and State Savings. There are employees available to communicate with callers through Irish if required. An email address is in place to facilitate the submission of queries from the general public in Irish. State Savings are the Government savings products the NTMA offers through An Post and the Prize Bond Company to personal savers. Documentation relating to the products are available in Irish via the State Savings website. With regard to forms available to the public, An Post (acting as an agent for the NTMA in respect of State Savings) has committed to making all standard forms available in digital form on the Internet in Irish. Acting as the State Claims Agency, the NTMA also manages personal injury, property damage and clinical negligence claims brought against certain State authorities. The NTMA can provide any forms requested by any of its Delegated State Authorities in either of the Official Languages.
The Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General has little direct contact with the general public. The Office publishes a number of documents on its website bilingually in line with its Irish Language Scheme. Its website is available bilingually, with a navigational link from each page on the English version to the relevant page in the Irish version. Phone calls are answered bilingually, in Irish first. The choice of language of the customer is established and they are directed to the appropriate official. The Office provides a dedicated e-mail address to facilitate those who wish to communicate with the Office in Irish. The Office does not have any forms available to the public.
The Office of the Revenue Commissioners offers a comprehensive range of services to individuals and businesses that wish to conduct their affairs in Irish. The onus is on the individuals and businesses concerned to advise Revenue that they wish to communicate through Irish. Information regarding Revenue’s Irish Language Scheme can be found on its website. All Revenue publications, forms and leaflets are available in Irish on its website.
While the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI) has limited services delivered to the public, they have arrangements in place, in conjunction with the NTMA which provides its facilities and ICT support, in order to facilitate persons wishing to engage with their services through Irish. The SBCI does not have any forms available in Irish to the general public.
Any correspondence received by the Tax Appeals Commission (TAC) in Irish is responded to in Irish. All publications are published simultaneously in Irish and English on its website which is currently being developed to provide Irish translations of each area. The Commission also has two staff members capable of providing services in Irish. It has three standard forms which are currently being translated into Irish.
The Credit Union Advisory Committee is not a State agency, rather it is a committee set up to advise the Minister for Finance on credit union issues.
The Credit Union Restructuring Board concluded its restructuring work and was operationally wound down in 2017; it is currently awaiting formal dissolution.
The Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal does not have obligations under the Official Languages Act 2003. It operates through The National Rehabilitation Hospital which provides clinical facilities and staffing.
The Irish Bank Resolution Corporation is in liquidation and does not provide services to the public.
The Investor Compensation Company DAC does not provide services to the public generally and is not subject to the Official Languages Act, 2003.
The National Asset Management Agency does not provide services to the general public.
The Credit Review Office is not a public body, and as such does not have obligations under the Official Languages Act 2003. It has one form available to the public and this is not currently available in Irish.
