Cullen Announces New Irish Language Scheme

In accordance with the Official Languages Act 2003, public bodies such as Government Departments are required to prepare statutory schemes detailing the services to be provided through the medium of either or both Irish and English.

The first such Scheme of the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism, for the period 2005-2008, was implemented in full and to the satisfaction of An Coimisinéir Teanga (the Language Commissioner).

The Department's new Scheme continues the delivery of commitments to Irish language service provision made in its first Scheme and seeks to enhance the level of such provision over the period 2009-2012.

These commitments include the maintenance of a bilingual corporate website; the provision in bilingual format of a range of corporate and policy documents, including guidelines, information leaflets and application forms; and the bilingual availability of services on an inter-personal basis in certain circumstances.

The Scheme was prepared following a public consultation exercise as well as extensive internal consultations with staff, and it complies fully with the statutory guidelines for such schemes issued by the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs.

In announcing the new Scheme, Minister Cullen said: "There is an important and ongoing onus on the Department to ensure the delivery of its services to all customers, including those who wish to deal with us through Irish. The Department's new Irish Language Scheme places statutory obligations on the Department in ensuring its services are accessible to Irish speakers. These obligations will be met in full."

Staff will be supported in meeting the Department's commitments to Irish language service provision by means of Irish language training and development and other forms of corporate assistance. Monitoring of progress will occur at senior management level, as well as by oversight from An Coimisinéir Teanga.

Minister Cullen added: "Real progress has already been made by the Department in expanding its range of services in Irish. The new Irish Language Scheme is a further step towards making our services fully bilingual in both official languages."

Copies of the new Scheme are available in bilingual format for download free of charge from the Department's website at www.dast.gov.ie