Special leave for civil servants is a policy matter for my colleague, Jack Chambers TD, Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Services Reform and Digitalisation.
The Department of Social Protection is actively preparing for Ireland's Presidency of the EU next year and has a long tradition of supporting the secondments of 'national experts' to the EU institutions as well as ensuring Departmental representation in Ireland's Permanent Representation in Brussels.
The Department of Social Protection takes its responsibilities under the Official Languages Act seriously. It has a dedicated unit staffed by Gaeilgeoirí, that seeks to promote and support the use of Gaeilge in the Department in accordance with the Department's responsibilities. This unit supports over 290 staff in the Department of Social Protection who are willing and able to conduct business through Irish. Last year an Oireachtas na Roinne was organised to acknowledge and thank these staff for their service.
The Department encourages staff to undertake Gaelchultúr courses, there is a ciorcal comhrá within the Department as well as various events to promote Gaeilge around Seachtain na Gaeilge.
