Media Release: Minister Calleary welcomes the 2024 Annual Report of An Coimisinéir Teanga
Fáilte curtha ag an Aire Calleary roimh Thuarascáil Bhliantúil 2024 an Choimisinéara Teanga
- Os cionn €14m caite ar fhógraíocht Ghaeilge agus fás suntasach ar an méid comhairle curtha ar chomhlachtaí poiblí
Tá fáilte curtha ag an Aire Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail agus Gaeltachta, Dara Calleary TD, roimh Thuarascáil Bhliantúil an Choimisinéara Teanga, Séamas Ó Coincheanainn, do 2024.
Bunaíodh Oifig an Choimisinéara Teanga mar pháirt lárnach d’Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla 2003 agus, le hos cionn scór bliain, tá freastal déanta ag an Oifig sin ar chosaint chearta teanga an phobail i gcomhréir le spriocanna an Achta.
Tugtar léargas luachmhar gach bliain sna Tuarascálacha seo ar dhul chun cinn comhlachtaí poiblí faoin Acht, mar aon leis na nithe atá ag déanamh imní don phobal ó thaobh a chearta teanga. Is iad príomhphointí Thuarascáil 2024:
· Éileamh méadaithe ar chomhairle teanga Ardú ollmhór tagtha ar líon na gcomhlachtaí poiblí a lorg comhairle na hOifige maidir le dualgais teanga in 2024, le comhairle tugtha ar 593 ócáid éagsúla le linn na bliana – méadú 55% ó 2023.
· Infheistíocht shuntasach i bhfógraíocht Ghaeilge de thoradh Alt 10A: €14.2m caite ar fhógraíocht Ghaeilge in 2024, le €3.8m de sin caite ar na meáin Ghaeilge.
· Monatóireacht déanta ar Alt 4B: Ard-chomhlíontacht i measc Ranna Rialtais agus sampla d’Údáráis Áitiúla agus comhlachtaí poiblí le hAlt 4B(a) – ball foirne sinsearach a cheapadh chun maoirseacht a dhéanamh ar fheidhmíocht agus ar thuairisciú oibleagáidí, le comhlíontacht níos ísle le hAlt 4B(b) – tuairisciú a dhéanamh ina dTuarascáil Bhliantúil faoin Acht (22% neamhchomhlíontach).
· Léargas ar na bearnaí reatha i soláthar seirbhísí poiblí trí Ghaeilge trí na gearáin atá faighte, eadhon:
- ganntanas foirne le hinniúlacht sa Ghaeilge chun seirbhísí faisnéise teileafóin, deisce cabhrach agus comhrá gréasáin a chur ar fáil i nGaeilge;
- easpa seirbhísí idirghníomhacha ar líne;
- easpa bonneagair seirbhísí poiblí sa Ghaeltacht le rochtain ar sheirbhísí poiblí i nGaeilge a éascú;
- foirmeacha oifigiúla; agus
- úsáid chruinn ar ainm, sloinne, seoladh, agus teideal i nGaeilge lena n-áirítear an síneadh fada.
Nótálann an Coimisinéir Teanga an tábhacht a bheidh le cur i bhfeidhm chóras na gcaighdeán teanga agus forálacha eile de chuid an Achta sa mhéid seo mar aon le borradh a chur faoi earcaíocht chun a chinntiú go gcomhlíonfar an sprioc maidir le 20% d’earcaigh san earnáil poiblí a bheith inniúil i nGaeilge faoi 2030.
Ag labhairt inniu, dúirt an tAire Calleary:
“Le hos cionn fiche bliain, tá monatóireacht, comhairle agus dearcadh Oifig an Choimisinéara Teanga ina pháirt lárnach d’fhorbairt agus neartú na Gaeilge sa saol poiblí. Cuirim fáilte roimh Thuarascáil Bhliantúil an Choimisinéara agus an sár-obair atá ar bun go leanúnach ag a Oifig. Léiríonn an Tuarascáil an dul chun cinn suntasach atá déanta go dtí seo, go mór mór ó thaobh fógraíocht agus feiceálacht na Gaeilge ar na meáin, agus méid na gcomhlachtaí poiblí a théann ag lorg comhairle ó Oifig an Choimisinéara Teanga.
“Cé go bhfuil roinnt bearnaí aitheanta ag an gCoimisinéir Teanga sa Tuarascáil ó thaobh soláthar seirbhísí poiblí Gaeilge go fóill, tugann sé misneach dom go mbeidh go leor den obair atá idir lámha ag mo Roinn faoi láthair faoin Acht ag freagairt go díreach d’fhormhór díobh seo. Mar shampla, bheadh cuid de na tionscnaimh fhéideartha atá leagtha amach sa Phlean Náisiúnta um Sheirbhísí Poiblí Gaeilge, ar nós bunú moil chun croí-sheirbhísí poiblí a chur ar fáil trí Ghaeilge – go háirithe sa Ghaeltacht, mar aon le bunú seirbhís chomhroinnte aistriúcháin, réabhlóideach ó thaobh deireadh a chur le bacainní ar sholáthar seirbhísí poiblí dátheangacha.
“Chuige sin, tá tréimhse ghnóthach os ár gcomhair amach idir fhoilsiú an chéad Phlean Gníomhaíochta faoin bPlean Náisiúnta agus phróisis éagsúla chomhairliúcháin faoi na dréacht-chaighdeáin teanga agus na forálacha a bhaineann le hainmneacha, seoltaí agus teidil i nGaeilge agus foirmeacha oifigiúla. Déanfar gach comhlacht poiblí a choinneáil ar an eolas faoin méid seo, agus muid i mbun na hoibre tábhachtaí seo.
“Glacaim buíochas leis an gCoimisinéir Teanga agus le baill dhúthrachtach foirne na hOifige as a gcuid oibre ar fad agus an tiomantas leanúnach atá acu do cheart teanga mhuintir na hÉireann.”
Minister Calleary welcomes the 2024 Annual Report of An Coimisinéir Teanga
- Over €14m spent on Irish language advertising and significant growth in the amount of advice given to public bodies.
The Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary TD, has welcomed the Annual Report of An Coimisinéir Teanga, Séamas Ó Coincheanainn, for 2024.
Oifig an Choimisinéara Teanga was established as a central part of the Official Languages Act 2003 and, for over twenty years, that office has served to protect the language rights of the public in accordance with the objectives of the Act.
Each year, these reports provide a valuable insight into the progress of public bodies under the Act as well as the matters of concern to the public in terms of their language rights. Highlights of the 2024 Report include:
· Increased demand for advice on language obligations There has been a significant increase in the number of public bodies seeking advice from Oifig an Choimisinéara Teanga regarding language obligations in 2024, with advice given on 593 different occasions during the year – a 55% increase from 2023.
· Significant investement in Irish language advertising as a result of Section 10A: €14.2m spent on Irish language advertising in 2024, with €3.8m of that spent on Irish language media.
· Monitoring of Section 4B: High compliance among Government Departments and a sample of local authorities and public bodies with Section 4B(a) – appoint a senior member of staff to oversee performance and reporting obligations – with lower compliance with Section 4B(b) – report in their Annual Report under the Act (22% non-compliant).
· Insight into the current gaps in the provision of public services through Irish through the complaints received, namely:
- a shortage of staff with Irish language proficiency to provide telephone information, helpdesk and web chat services in Irish;
- lack of interactive services online;
- lack of public service infrastructure in the Gaeltacht to facilitate public services through Irish;
- official forms; and
- accurate use of name, surname, address, and title in Irish including the síneadh fada.
An Coimisinéir Teanga notes the importance of implementing the language standards system and other provisions of the Act in this regard, as well as boosting recruitment to ensure that the target of 20% of public sector recruits being competent in Irish by 2030 is met.
Speaking today, Minister Calleary said:
“For over twenty years, the monitoring, advice and perspective of Oifig an Choimisinéara Teanga has been a central part of the development and strengthening of the Irish language in public life. I welcome An Coimisinéir’s Annual Report and the excellent work that Oifig an Choimisinéara Teanga continues to do. The report demonstrates the significant progress that has been made to date, particularly in terms of advertising and the visibility of the Irish language in the media, and the number of public bodies that seek advice from the Oifig an Choimisinéara Teanga.
“While Oifig an Choimisinéara Teanga has identified some gaps in the provision of Irish language public services in the report, I am encouraged that much of the work currently being undertaken by my Department under the Act will look to directly address most of these. For example, some of the potential initiatives set out in the National Plan for Irish Languages Services, such as the establishment of service hubs to provide core public services through Irish – particularly in the Gaeltacht – as well as the establishment of a shared translation service, would be revolutionary in removing barriers to the provision of bilingual public services.
“To this end, we have a busy period ahead of us between the publication of the first Action Plan under the National Plan and the launch of various consultations on the draft language standards and the provisions relating to names, addresses and titles in Irish and official forms. All public bodies will be kept up to date, as we undertake this important work.
“I thank An Coimisinéir Teanga and the dedicated members of his team for all their work and their ongoing commitment to the language rights of the people of Ireland.”