Official Languages Act 2003 & DCU’s Language Scheme

Information on the Official Languages Acht 2003

DCU has various responsibilities under the Official Languages Act 2003. The main aim of the Official Languages Act is to increase and improve the quantity and quality of services provided for the public through Irish by public bodies. A Guidebook to the Official Languages Act 2003 can be downloaded here

Language Scheme

The Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht can request that a language scheme be prepared and also confirms the scheme, the commitments have statutory effect and the public body has a duty to implement them.

In March 2006 DCU published its first Scheme for the Implementation of the Official Languages 2003 as per Section 11 of the Official Languages Act 2003.

A copy of DCU Language scheme can be downloaded here

Additional information on Guidelines for GUIDELINES

under Section 12 of the Official Languages Act 2003 can be found here

The Role of the Office of the Coimisinéir Teanga

The Office of the Coimisinéir Teanga (Language Commissioner) is responsible for monitoring the implementation of the provisions of the Act, advising the public about their rights and advising public bodies about their responsibilities.

If you wish to find out more about The Office of the Coimisinéir Teanga you can do so at the following link

The Irish Language Officer i DCU

The Irish Language Officer supports the staff of DCU to implement the Act and the commitments made in the Language Scheme.

The Irish Language Officer is available to come and speak to staff in your own department about compliance with the Act and Language Scheme.

Any questions, queries or complaints about the implementation of the Official Languages Act in DCU and Language Scheme are welcome at oifigeach.gaeilge@dcu.ie.

Regulations under the Act (This could be a sub section from here to the next highlighted space)

[The following information is intended as a general guide, and should not be taken as legal advice. This information is available in the Guidebook to the Official Languages Act 2003]

Communication

The aim of the Official Languages Act is to promote the use of Irish in public affairs and to ensure the use of Irish by public bodies when communicating with the public and/or providing services to the public.

Public bodies communicate with the public in many ways including letters, emails, mail shots, information leaflets, reports, announcements and websites. In the case of each of these, public bodies have specific duties under the Official Languages Act.

Stationery, signage and recorded oral announcements

In accordance with the Regulations under Section 9(1) of the Act,

public bodies have a duty to ensure that their:

• stationery (notepaper, compliment slips, fax cover sheets, file

covers and other folders, labels and envelopes),

• signage and
• recorded oral announcements are provided in Irish or bilingually by specific dates set out under

the Regulations.

Signage

If bilingual text is chosen (instead of text in Irish only) what are the Regulations regarding signs?7

a) The text in Irish shall appear first.

b) The text in Irish shall be as prominent, visible and legible as the

text in English.

c) The letters in the text in Irish shall not be smaller in size than the letters in the text in English.

d) The text in Irish shall communicate the same information as the

text in English.

e) A word in the text in Irish shall not be abbreviated unless the

word in the text in English, of which it is the translation, is also

abbreviated.

f) If there is a Place names Order under Section 32 of the Act in

force, a public body must use the official Irish language version

specified in the Order on signs placed by it at any location. The

Place names Orders are available at www.coimisineir.ie. 

Stationery

If bilingual text is chosen (instead of text in Irish only) what are the Regulations regarding stationery?4

a) The text in Irish shall appear first.

b) The text in Irish shall be as prominent, visible and legible as the

text in English and shall appear on the same side of the page concerned.

c) The letters in the text in Irish shall not be smaller in size than the

letters in the text in English.

d) The text in Irish shall communicate the same information as the

text in English.

e) A word in the text in Irish shall not be abbreviated unless the

word in the text in English, of which it is the translation, is also

abbreviated.

f) If there is a Placenames Order under Section 32 of the Act in

force, a public body must use the official Irish language version

specified in the Order in its stationery headings. The Placenames Orders 5 are available at www.coimisineir.ie.

See the Marketing and Communications Department site for more guidance regarding stationery

Recorded oral announcements

Public bodies have a duty to ensure that recorded oral announcements made by them or on their behalf are in Irish or bilingual by 1 July 2013.

What kinds of announcements?

1. Recorded oral announcements provided on the telephone when the offices of the public body are closed for example: “This office is open from 9 until half past five. The office is closed now but leave a message and we will return your call.”

2. Recorded oral announcements transmitted by a public address system for example recorded announcements such as a security warning in an airport, a train station or in any other public place.

3. Recorded oral announcements created and transmitted by means of a computerised messaging system or a computerised telephone answering system for example: “Press 1 for accounts; press 2 for the switchboard.”

The voicemail on any major contact number in College to be bilingual

Languages can be in any order, but exactly the same information is to be expressed in both languages.

(End of sub section)

Important Publications

Scheme for the implementation of the Official Languages Act 2003 DCU 2006 – PDF

The University Act 1997 – PDF

The Official Languages Act 2003 – PDF

Guidebook to the Official Languages Act 2003 – PDF

GUIDELINES under Section 12 of the Official Languages Act 2003 (2004) – PDF

Language Rights Charter – PDF

20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010 – 2030 – PDF

Useful Government websites