Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 September 2026
340. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Caiteachais Phoiblí, Bonneagair, Athchóiriúcháin Seirbhíse Poiblí agus Digitiúcháin an bhfuil aon phlean ann chun na fostaithe atá dátheangach (Gaeilge agus Béarla) a úsáid nó a spreagadh go réamhghníomhach chun seirbhísí dátheangacha a chur ar fáil don phobal; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [68503/26]
View answerMar is eol don Teachta, faoi alt 58 den Acht um Bainistíocht na Seirbhíse Poiblí (Earcaíocht agus Ceapacháin), 2004, táim freagrach as nithe a bhaineann le hearcaíocht sa Státseirbhís. Is faoin Aire ábhartha atá freagracht as gach earnáil den tSeirbhís Phoiblí.
I gcás na Státseirbhíse, tá obair ar bun i gcónaí chun cumas sa Ghaeilge a fheabhsú agus chun tacú le baint amach na gcuspóirí atá leagtha amach san Acht um Theangacha Oifigiúla agus sa Phlean Náisiúnta do Sheirbhísí Gaeilge sa tSeirbhís Phoiblí.
Tá soláthar seirbhísí dátheangacha i nGaeilge agus i mBéarla ina ghné thábhachtach de thacaíocht a thabhairt do chur chun feidhme an Achta um Theangacha Oifigiúla 2003, arna leasú, agus do thiomantas an Rialtais infhaighteacht agus cáilíocht seirbhísí trí Ghaeilge a mhéadú.
Tá comhlachtaí Státseirbhíse freagrach as a chinntiú go bhfuil an cumas agus an acmhainn riachtanach acu chun a n-oibleagáidí reachtúla maidir le soláthar seirbhísí trí Ghaeilge a chomhlíonadh. Áirítear leis sin baill foirne a bhfuil inniúlacht sa Ghaeilge acu a aithint agus leas éifeachtach a bhaint astu, de réir mar is cuí, chomh maith le tacú le fostaithe a scileanna teanga a fhorbairt agus a úsáid san ionad oibre. Cabhróidh foilsiú na gcaighdeán Gaeilge don tseirbhís phoiblí, atá le teacht go luath, le heagraíochtaí na caighdeáin is gá chun seirbhísí a sholáthar trí Ghaeilge a thuiscint, agus chun foireann nua a earcú agus chun scileanna na foirne reatha a fhorbairt dá réir.
Tá réimse beart ar fáil ar fud na Státseirbhíse chun úsáid na Gaeilge a chur chun cinn, lena n-áirítear oiliúint teanga agus tionscnaimh feasachta, chomh maith le bearta earcaíochta atá dírithe ar chumas Gaeilge a neartú. Spreagtar comhlachtaí Státseirbhíse chun machnamh a dhéanamh ar an mbealach is fearr leis na hacmhainní teanga atá ar fáil a úsáid chun freastal ar riachtanais seachadta seirbhíse agus chun rochtain an phobail ar sheirbhísí dátheangacha a fheabhsú.
To ask whether there are any plans to proactively utilise or encourage employees who are bilingual (Irish and English) to provide bilingual services to the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter.”
As the Deputy may be aware, under section 58 of the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act 2004, I am responsible for matters relating to recruitment in the Civil Service. Responsibility for each sector of the Public Service is a matter for the relevant Minister.
In the case of the Civil Service, work is continuing to enhance Irish language capacity and to support the achievement of the objectives set out in the Official Languages Act and the National Plan for Public Service Irish Language Services.
The provision of bilingual services in Irish and English is an important element of supporting the implementation of the Official Languages Act 2003, as amended, and the Government's commitment to increasing the availability and quality of services through Irish.
Civil service bodies are responsible for ensuring that they have the necessary capability and capacity to meet their statutory obligations regarding the provision of services in Irish. This includes identifying and making effective use of staff who possess Irish language proficiency, where appropriate, and supporting employees to develop and utilise their language skills in the workplace. The forthcoming release of Irish language standards for the public service will assist organisations to understand the standards required for delivery of services through Irish, and to recruit, and to upskills existing staff, accordingly.
A range of measures is available across the civil service to support the increased use of Irish, including language training and awareness initiatives, as well as recruitment measures designed to strengthen Irish language capability. Civil service bodies are encouraged to consider how best to deploy available linguistic resources to meet service delivery needs and to improve access to bilingual services for the public.
