Tuarascáil Bhliantúil Annual Report 2019 www.coimisineir.ie

Tuarascáil Bhliantúil Annual Report 2019

Don Aire Cultúir, To the Minister for Oidhreachta agus Culture, Heritage and Gaeltachta: the Gaeltacht:

De réir alt 30 d’Acht na In accordance with section 30 dTeangacha Oifigiúla, 2003, tá an of the Official Languages Act Tuarascáil seo don bhliain 2019 2003, this Report for 2019 is á cur i láthair ag an gCoimisinéir presented by An Coimisinéir Teanga. Teanga.

Rónán Ó Domhnaill Rónán Ó Domhnaill An Coimisinéir Teanga An Coimisinéir Teanga Feabhra 2020 February 2020 RÁITEAS MISIN “Ag cosaint cearta teanga”

Seirbhís neamhspleách ar ardchaighdeán a chur ar fáil i gcomhlíonadh ár ndualgas reachtúil le cinntiú go ndéanann an státchóras beart de réir a bhriathair maidir le cearta teanga. Cothrom na Féinne a chinntiú do chách trí ghearáin maidir le deacrachtaí teacht ar sheirbhísí poiblí trí Ghaeilge a láimhseáil ar bhealach atá éifeachtach, gairmiúil agus neamhchlaonta. Eolas soiléir, cruinn a chur ar fáil: • don phobal maidir le cearta teanga, agus • do chomhlachtaí poiblí maidir le dualgais teanga.

MISSION STATEMENTSTATEMENT “Protecting Language Rights”

To provide an independent quality service whilst fulfilling our statutory obligations to ensure state compliance in relation to language rights. To ensure fairness for all by dealing in an efficient, professional and impartial manner with complaints regarding difficulties in accessing public services through the medium of Irish. To provide clear and accurate information: • to the public in relation to language rights, and • to public bodies in relation to language obligations. Tuarascáil Bhliantúil | Annual Report 2019 3

CLÁR | CONTENTS

Réamhrá | Foreword 6

Seirbhísí Eolais agus Cumarsáide | Information and Communications Services 13

Cumainn | Associations 16

Imscrúduithe | Investigations 19

Achoimrí ar Imscrúduithe 2019 | Summaries of 2019 Investigations 20

Comhairle Contae Chiarraí | Kerry County Council 20

Comhairle Contae na Mí | Meath County Council 24

Comhairle Contae Loch Garman | Wexford County Council 26

Comhairle Contae Lú | Louth County Council 28

Comhairle Contae Cheatharlach | Carlow County Council 31

Gearáin | Complaints 35

Faireachán | Monitoring 46

Scéimeanna Teanga | Language Schemes 52

Cúrsaí Airgeadais | Financial Matters 55

Nochtadh Cosanta | Protected Disclosure 56

Dualgas na hEarnála Poiblí um Chomhionannas agus Cearta an Duine Public Sector Equality and Human Rights Duty 56

Úsáid Fuinnimh | Energy Usage 57

Foireann | Staff 58 4 Tuarascáil Bhliantúil | Annual Report 2019

ACHOIMRE AR AN mBLIAIN 2019

Comhairle curtha ar chomhlachtaí poiblí ar 122

Tháinig Tháinig 704 18% de na gearáin ó Bhaile Átha Cliath de na Ardú 11% ar gearáin ón fhigiúr na bliana nGaeltacht Foilsíodh an seo caite (638) chéad

Imscrúduithe Tuarascáil Imscrúdú déanta den tugtha chun críche ar Faireacháin chéad uair i mí Iúil

ar fhoráil den Acht um Pleanáil agus Forbairt, 2000 Chomhairle Contae

Faireachán déanta ar chur i bhfeidhm moltaí i gcás 7 n­imscrúdú Ionann is

Bille na

dTeangacha daingnithe Oifigiúla ag an Aire (Leasú) foilsithe i mí na faoi dheireadh Nollag ‘Sceideal’ nua 2019 de chomhlachtaí poiblí atá le teacht faoi scáth an Achta foilsithe Tuarascáil Bhliantúil | Annual Report 2019 5

OVERVIEW OF 2019

Advice given to state bodies on 122 separate occasions 704 18% of complaints came of complaints came from Dublin from the Gaeltacht 11% increase on The first last year (638) Monitoring Report An investigation carried out Investigations for the published in July into first time County Councils on a provision of the Planning concluded and Development Act 2000

Monitoring carried out on the implementation investigations of recommendations made in 7 Almost

Official new language schemes 50% Languages confirmed by of language (Amendment) the Minister schemes had Bill 6 expired published in by year­end Publication of a December 2019 new ‘schedule’ of public bodies that are to come under the Act 6 Tuarascáil Bhliantúil | Annual Report 2019

RÉAMHRÁ FOREWORD

Tháinig ardú suntasach ar líon na ngearán This year saw a substantial increase in chun na hOifige i mbliana. Cé go the number of complaints received by bhféadfaí breathnú air seo mar léiriú ar the Office. Whilst this can be viewed as mhuinín an phobail san Oifig léiríonn sé an expression of confidence in the Office freisin an deacracht leanúnach atá ag from the public it also highlights the saoránaigh teacht ar sheirbhísí poiblí i continued difficulties citizens experience nGaeilge. Faraor, ní raibh ar ár gcumas accessing public services through Irish. thart ar leath na ngearán a fhiosrú de Unfortunately, we were unable to bharr nár tháinig ábhar na ngearán sin, investigate approximately half of the den chuid is mó, faoi chuimsiú Acht na complaints we received, primarily as the matters dTeangacha Oifigiúla ná faoi chuimsiú aon raised weren’t encompassed under the Official achtachán eile a bhain le stádas nó le húsáid Languages Act or any other enactment relating teanga oifigiúla. to the use of an official language.

Is seanscéal é ag an tráth seo, na deacrachtaí a The difficulty people have securing services from bhíonn ag daoine seirbhísí, fiú uaireanta na the State, even the most basic of services on seirbhísí is bunúsaí, a fháil ón Stát i nGaeilge. occasion, through Irish, is an old chestnut at this Tarlaíonn seo go minic de bharr easpa líon stage. This often occurs as a result of an leordhóthanach foirne sa tseirbhís phoiblí le insufficient number of personnel in the public hinniúlacht sa Ghaeilge agus de thoradh service with competence in the Irish language reachtaíocht nach bhfuil cuimsitheach a dóthain and due to legislation that isn’t comprehensive nó, go deimhin, de thoradh easpa reachtaíochta. enough or, indeed, due to a complete lack of Is léir, mar sin, an suntas a bhaineann le foilsiú legislation. This highlights the significance of the Bhille na dTeangacha Oifigiúla (Leasú) ag deireadh publication of the Official Languages na bliana. D’fháiltigh mé roimh fhoilsiú an Bhille (Amendment) Bill at the end of the year. I ag an am, ach léirigh mé imní mar go raibh ag teip welcomed the publication of the Bill at the time ar an mBille dul i ngleic mar ba chóir leis an easpa but referenced some concerns I have with its cinnteachta maidir le soláthar seirbhísí Stáit trí failure to adequately address the lack of certainty Ghaeilge sa Ghaeltacht agus an easpa sprioc­ regarding State services through Irish in the amanna do chúrsaí earcaíochta agus nithe eile. Gaeltacht and the lack of deadlines in the Bill regarding recruitment and other areas. Foilsíodh sceideal nua de chomhlachtaí poiblí atá le teacht faoi scáth Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla This year also saw the publication of a new i mbliana. Bhí an nuashonrú seo ag teastáil go “Schedule” of public bodies who are to come géar, agus os cionn 10 mbliana caite ó tugadh an under the Official Languages Act. Over 10 years sceideal cothrom le dáta. Más mall is mithid agus have elapsed since the schedule was updated táim sásta go dtabharfar na comhlachtaí poiblí a and it was much needed. It is better late than bunaíodh ón mbliain 2006 i leith faoi scáth na never and I welcome that public bodies, reachtaíochta ag an tráth seo. established since 2006, are now being brought under the scope of the legislation. In 2019 chomh maith, d’fhoilsíomar ár gcéad Tuarascáil Faireacháin. Nuair a chinn mé deireadh 2019 also saw the publication of our inaugural a chur leis an ngrinnmhonatóireacht ar chóras Monitoring Report. Having discontinued the in­ fabhtach na Scéimeanna Teanga bhí mé depth monitoring of the discredited language diongbháilte go dtiocfadh córas monatóireachta scheme system I was determined to ensure that nua ina áit a bheadh fiúntach agus a bheadh a new system of monitoring would prove to be éifeachtach. Díríodh i dtuarascáil na bliana 2018 effective and worthwhile. This year’s report ar an líon foirne le hinniúlacht sa Ghaeilge i ranna focused on staff numbers in government rialtais, suíomhanna gréasáin na n­údarás áitiúil departments competent in Irish, local authorities’ agus ar chomharthaíocht ag suíomhanna websites, and signage at heritage sites. At oidhreachta. Faoi láthair tá bailchríoch á cur againn present we are completing our monitoring work ar obair faireacháin na bliana seo agus foilseoimid for the year and will publish our second ár ndara tuarascáil faireacháin i samhradh 2020. monitoring report in summer 2020. Tuarascáil Bhliantúil | Annual Report 2019 7

BILLE NA dTEANGACHA OIFIGIÚLA OFFICIAL LANGUAGES (LEASÚ) (AMENDMENT) BILL

Ba chéim thábhachtach é foilsiú Bhille na The publication of the Official Languages dTeangacha Oifigiúla (Leasú) i mí na Nollag 2019, (Amendment) Bill in December 2019 was an sa phróiseas a cuireadh ar bun le go mbeadh important step in the process of bringing forth a Acht Teanga níos láidre agus níos oiriúnaí dá stronger and more fit­for­purpose Language Act. fheidhm againn. D’fháiltigh mé roimh an deis atá I welcomed the opportunity that has now been cruthaithe anois anailís a dhéanamh ar na created to analyse the proposed amendments to leasuithe atá molta ar an Acht agus a n­ the Act and to assess their suitability for a oiriúnacht don chreat reachtaíocht teanga atá de necessary language rights framework. dhíth a mheas. I have continually emphasized three key reforms Tá béim leagtha agam go rialta ar thrí that I see as being necessary to strengthen the phríomhleasú a fheictear dom a bheith Act. These amendments relate to the provision riachtanach chun bonn níos láidre a chur faoin of State services in the Gaeltacht, changes in Acht. Baineann na leasuithe sin le soláthar State recruitment policies, and the establishment seirbhísí an Stáit sa Ghaeltacht, le hathruithe ar of a system of language standards placing a pholasaithe earcaíochta an Stáit agus le bunú clearer obligation on public bodies to serve the córais caighdeán teanga a leagfaidh dualgas níos public in the country's first official language. soiléire ar chomhlachtaí poiblí maidir le freastal ar an bpobal i gcéadteanga oifigiúil na tíre. Reference is made in the new Bill to these matters and to a number of other important Tá tagairt déanta sa Bhille nua do na nithe sin provisions, but I am of the opinion that the Bill, agus do roinnt forálacha tábhachtacha eile, ach as it currently stands, does not adequately táim den tuairim nach dtugann an Bille, mar atá address some of the most important issues sé faoi láthair, aghaidh ar bhealach críochnúil ar relating to the provision of public services roinnt de na ceisteanna is tábhachtaí a through Irish and protecting the language rights bhaineann le soláthar seirbhísí poiblí trí Ghaeilge of the community. agus le cearta teanga an phobail a chosaint. The Gaeltacht An Ghaeltacht The fragile state of Irish in Gaeltacht areas is Is léir staid leochaileach na Gaeilge sna limistéir evident in the census results and in various Ghaeltachta i dtorthaí an daonáirimh agus i pieces of research over the past number of saothair thaighde éagsúla le roinnt blianta. Tá sé years. It is therefore vital that the provision of ríthábhachtach, mar sin, go gcuirfí bonn reachtúil public services through Irish in the Gaeltacht is faoi sholáthar seirbhísí poiblí trí Ghaeilge sa placed on a statutory footing and that the Ghaeltacht agus go ndaingneofaí sa reachtaíocht language rights of the Gaeltacht community cearta teanga phobal na Gaeltachta. Faraor, ag should be underpinned by the legislation. an tráth seo, níl aon fhoráil dhaingean sa Bhille a Unfortunately, at this stage, the Bill contains no chuirfeadh dualgas ar an Stát a chinntiú go firm provisions placing a duty upon the State to bhfreastalófar ar phobal na Gaeltachta ina ensure that the Gaeltacht community is served in dteanga dhúchais. Chomh fada siar le foilsiú their native language. The requirement to thuarascáil Choimisiún na Gaeltachta sa bhliain provide State services through Irish in the 1926, tagraíodh don riachtanas go gcuirfí Gaeltacht was referenced as far back as 1926 in seirbhísí Stáit ar fáil trí Ghaeilge sa Ghaeltacht. a report by the Gaeltacht Commission. This has Níl an méid sin bainte amach go fóill agus ní not yet been achieved and the proposed théann na leasuithe atá molta sa Bhille seo i amendments to the Bill do not tackle this issue in ngleic leis seo go críochnúil. Bheadh sé faillíoch a complete way. Even at this stage it would be ag an Stát, fiú ag an tráth seo, gan réimse remiss of the State not to provide a range of seirbhísí tábhachtacha a chur ar fáil trí Ghaeilge important services through Irish in the Gaeltacht sa Ghaeltacht mar cheart bunúsach. Gan bunús as a basic right. Without a comprehensive reachtúil, cuimsitheach ní bheidh aon legislative basis there can be no certainty that chinnteacht go dtarlóidh an méid sin. this will occur. 8 Tuarascáil Bhliantúil | Annual Report 2019

Earcaíocht Recruitment

Tacaím leis an moladh go n­ullmhófaí plean I support the recommendation that a national reachtúil náisiúnta do sholáthar seirbhísí poiblí trí statutory plan for the provision of public services Ghaeilge agus aontaím gur chóir do pholasaithe through Irish be prepared and I agree that new agus cleachtais nua earcaíochta a bheith ina recruitment policies and practices should be an ndlúthchuid den phlean sin. Is cúis imní dom, integral part of this plan. However, I am áfach, nach bhfuil dóthain ionadaíochta á concerned that external experts and the public tabhairt do shaineolaithe seachtracha ná don are not adequately represented on the Advisory phobal ar an gCoiste Comhairleach atá le bunú Committee to be established under the amended faoin Acht leasaithe chun an plean reachtúil a Act to prepare the statutory plan. I am also ullmhú. Is cúis imní dom freisin nach bhfuil concerned that there is no stated deadline for sprioc­am luaite le foilsiú an phlean agus nach the publication of the plan and that there is no bhfuil dualgas reachtúil ann aon phlean a statutory obligation to implement any agreed aontaítear a chur i bhfeidhm. plan.

Córas Caighdeán System of Standards

Ar cheann de mhórfhorálacha an Bhille tá an One of the main provisions of the Bill is the moladh go gcuirfí córas caighdeán teanga in áit proposal to replace the language scheme system chóras na scéimeanna teanga. Moladh fiúntach é with a system of language standards. This is a seo, ach is deacair breithiúnas a thabhairt ar an worthwhile proposal, but it is difficult to judge tionchar a d’fhéadfadh a bheith ag an athrú seo the possible impact of this change without sight gan na dréachtchaighdeáin a bheith ar fáil dúinn. of the draft standards. I believe that the timely Creidim go rachadh sé go mór chun sochair do production of these draft standards would phróiseas measúnaithe an Bhille dá gcuirfí na greatly benefit the process of assessing the Bill. dréachtchaighdeáin sin ar fáil gan mhoill. The weaknesses in the existing legislation have Is fada muid ag cásamh na laigí ar an long been highlighted and should be addressed reachtaíocht mar atá agus ba cheart aghaidh a at this juncture. To not do so would be a missed thabhairt orthu seo ag an tráth seo. Deis chaillte opportunity. In the course of this debate it is a bheadh ann gan sin a dhéanamh. Le linn na important that the needs of the language díospóireachta sin, tá sé tábhachtach go community and their rights continue to be bhféachfaí i gcónaí le freastal ar riachtanais addressed, considering the status of Irish as the phobal na teanga agus ar a gcearta, ag cur san national and first official language of the country. áireamh stádas na Gaeilge mar theanga náisiúnta agus mar chéadteanga oifigiúil na tíre. COMPLAINTS

GEARÁIN We received over 700 complaints in 2019 compared to 634 the previous year. As in other Rinneadh os cionn 700 gearán linn in 2019 le years a number of complaints related to hais 634 anuraidh. Fearacht blianta eile, bhain difficulties people have using the síneadh fada in roinnt de na gearáin sin leis na deacrachtaí a their names or addresses with state bodies or bhíonn ag daoine na síntí fada ina n­ainm nó ina ensuring that their names in Irish are being seoladh a úsáid nuair a bhíonn na sonraí sin á properly recorded. There is an attempt to dtaifeadadh ag comhlacht stáit. Tá iarracht address this in the Official Languages déanta dul i ngleic leis seo i mBille na (Amendment) Bill with a provision relating to the dTeangacha Oifigiúla (Leasú) le foráil a bhaineann “Duty of public bodies regarding names, addresses le “Dualgas comhlachtaí poiblí maidir le and titles in the Irish language”. hainmneacha, seoltaí agus teidil i nGaeilge”. The effort to address the problem is, of course, Cuirim fáilte, dar ndóigh, roimh an iarracht dul i to be welcomed but the exclusion of a deadline ngleic leis an bhfadhb ach is easnamh mór ar an for this basic right is a significant absence. bhforáil nach bhfuil sprioc­am luaite le teacht i Unfortunately, there is also no certainty bhfeidhm an chirt bhunúsaigh seo. Níl aon regarding which public bodies the provision chinnteacht, faraor, maidir le cé hiad na Tuarascáil Bhliantúil | Annual Report 2019 9

comhlachtaí poiblí nó na córais ríomhaireachta a could apply to or as to the computer systems mbainfidh an dualgas reachtúil seo leo. Creidim concerned. It would be more appropriate, I go mbeadh sé i bhfad níos oiriúnaí dá socrófaí believe, if a specific date was agreed whereby dáta cinnte faoina gcaithfeadh córais the computer systems of all public bodies would ríomhaireachta gach comhlachta poiblí cloí leis have to comply with this provision and in the an riachtanas seo agus san idirlinn go interim period that the provision would apply to mbainfeadh an dualgas le gach córas all new or updated computer systems. ríomhaireachta nua agus le gach córas ríomhaireachta athchóirithe. INVESTIGATIONS

IMSCRÚDUITHE Interestingly all the investigations completed in 2019 involved local authorities. Of particular Tá sé spéisiúil gur faoi cheisteanna a bhain le interest was the investigation I carried out in the húdaráis áitiúla a bhí na himscrúduithe ar fad a case of Kerry County Council which críochnaíodh in 2019. Ba dhíol spéise ar leith é, demonstrated that a linguistic condition attached áfach, an t­imscrúdú a rinne mé ar Chomhairle by An Bord Pleanála to planning permission for a Contae Chiarraí inar léiríodh nár cuireadh i housing development in the Corca Dhuibhne bhfeidhm coinníoll teanga a cheangail an Bord Gaeltacht in 2004 was never implemented. This Pleanála le cead pleanála a deonaíodh d’fhorbairt investigation was especially significant for our tithíochta i nGaeltacht Chorca Dhuibhne in Office as it was the first time that we conducted 2004. Bhí suntas faoi leith ag baint leis an an investigation relating to a language provision imscrúdú don Oifig seo mar ba é seo an chéad of the Planning and Development Act 2000. uair a thionscnaíomar imscrúdú ar fhoráil teanga den Acht um Pleanáil agus Forbairt, 2000. The Planning and Development Act 2000, requires any County Council which has a San Acht um Pleanáil agus Forbairt, 2000, leagtar Gaeltacht area under its remit to include dualgas ar aon Chomhairle Contae a bhfuil objectives in its County Development Plan for limistéar Gaeltachta faoina cúram cuspóirí faoi the protection of the linguistic and cultural leith a leagan síos ina Plean Forbartha Contae heritage of the Gaeltacht, including the chun oidhreacht teanga agus chultúrtha na promotion of Irish as the community language. It Gaeltachta a chosaint, lena n­áirítear an Ghaeilge is also required to implement the objectives a chur chun cinn mar theanga an phobail. Tá contained in the County Development Plan. An dualgas uirthi, chomh maith, na cuspóirí atá sa Bord Pleanála had decided to attach a condition Phlean Forbartha Contae a chur i bhfeidhm. to the planning permission whereby the owners Chinn an Bord Pleanála sa chás seo coinníoll a or long­term tenants of 75% of the new houses cheangal leis an gcead pleanála go mba ghá were required to demonstrate their fluency in d’úinéirí nó do thionóntaí fadtéarmacha líofacht the Irish language. When I received a complaint sa Ghaeilge a bheith taispeánta acu i gcás 75% that this condition had never been implemented, de na tithe nua. Nuair a rinneadh gearán liom nár I decided that a provision of an enactment cuireadh an coinníoll sin i bhfeidhm riamh, chinn “relating to status or use of an official language” mé go raibh “foráil d’achtachán a bhaineann le was involved and that I could and should stádas nó le húsáid teanga oifigiúla” i gceist agus investigate the matter. go bhféadfainn, agus gur chóir, tabhairt faoi imscrúdú. It was recognised in the Comprehensive Linguistic Study of the Use of Irish in the Gaeltacht in 2007 Sainaithníodh sa Staidéar Cuimsitheach that physical planning is a very central aspect of Teangeolaíochta ar Úsáid na Gaeilge sa Ghaeltacht, language planning and that demographic a foilsíodh in 2007, gur gné an­lárnach den movements such as new people settling in the phleanáil teanga atá sa phleanáil fhisiciúil agus Gaeltacht can influence the use of languages gur féidir le gluaiseachtaí déimeagrafacha ar nós due to the consequent change to the language daoine nua ag bogadh isteach sa Ghaeltacht balance within the community. tionchar a imirt ar chúrsaí teanga de bharr na n­ athruithe a dhéantar ar an gcothromaíocht teanga i measc an phobail. 10 Tuarascáil Bhliantúil | Annual Report 2019

Má tá rath le bheith ar an bpleanáil teanga sa If the language planning process envisaged in the Ghaeltacht a shamhlaítear le hAcht na Gaeltacht Act 2012 is to be successful, it has to Gaeltachta, 2012, níor mhiste féachaint chuige be ensured that other statutory provisions go dtugtar feidhm d’fhorálacha reachtúla eile arb designed to defend the linguistic status of the í cosaint theanga na Gaeltachta is bunús leo. Gaeltacht are implemented.

Tá sonraí an imscrúdaithe ar leathanaigh 20–24. Details of the investigation are on pages 20–24.

Rinne mé ceithre imscrúdú eile ar údaráis áitiúla I carried out four other investigations on various éagsúla toisc, go príomha, nár fhreagair na local authorities, principally because these local húdaráis áitiúla sin go sásúil, nó in aon chor, authorities had not responded satisfactorily, or gearáin a d’fhiosraigh m’Oifig leo. Bhain gearáin not responded at all, to complaints raised by my faoi chomharthaí leo ar fad cé go raibh ábhair Office. Complaints concerning signs were eile i gceist le Comhairle Contae Lú chomh involved in all these investigations, while other maith. Bheifí ag súil, faoin tráth seo, go mbeadh matters were investigated in the case of Louth córais éifeachtacha i bhfeidhm in údaráis áitiúla a County Council also. One would have expected chinnteodh go mbíonn a gcuid comharthaí nua at this stage that local authorities would have dátheangach agus i gcomhréir leis na ceanglais effective systems in place to ensure that new teanga eile agus nach mbeadh comharthaí i signs were bilingual and in accordance with the mBéarla amháin fós á gcur in airde acu. Bheifí ag other language requirements. One would have súil, chomh maith, go mbeadh sé ar chumas na also expected that when my Office raises a n­údarás áitiúil freagra a chur ar fáil do m’Oifig complaint with a local authority, it would be able laistigh d’achar réasúnta ama nuair a to provide a response within a reasonable period. tharraingítear gearán anuas leo. RTÉ RTÉ As referenced earlier we published our first Luadh níos luaithe gur fhoilsíomar ár gcéad monitoring report in May 2019. We also tuarascáil faireacháin riamh i mí na Bealtaine continued our monitoring of the implementation 2019. Leanamar orainn chomh maith le of recommendations resulting from formal faireachán ar mholtaí a bhí déanta in investigations. The most significant of these imscrúduithe reachtúla. Bhain an ceann ba relates to the national broadcaster RTÉ and shuntasaí díobh seo leis an gcraoltóir náisiúnta recommendations stemming from an RTÉ agus moltaí a d’eascair as imscrúdú a tugadh investigation completed in 2018, the first formal chun críche le linn na bliana 2018, an chéad investigation regarding the language imscrúdú foirmiúil maidir leis na dualgais teanga requirements of the Broadcasting Act 2009. The atá san Acht Craolacháin, 2009. Léiríodh san investigation concluded that RTÉ wasn’t imscrúdú nach raibh RTÉ ag craoladh réimse broadcasting a comprehensive range of cuimsitheach clár i nGaeilge ar chainéil teilifíse an programmes in Irish on its television schedule as stáisiúin mar atá éilithe ag an reachtaíocht. required by the legislation.

Ba é príomh­mholadh an imscrúdaithe maidir le The primary recommendation in the investigation RTÉ agus comhlíonadh forálacha teanga de chuid into RTÉ regarding adherence to language an Achta Craolacháin, 2009 “Go n-ullmhódh RTÉ provisions in the Broadcasting Act 2009 was plean feidhmithe…chun réimse cuimsitheach clár “That RTÉ prepare an implementation plan...to teilifíse i nGaeilge agus cláir theilifíse cúrsaí reatha i provide a comprehensive range of television nGaeilge a chur ar fáil.” programmes in Irish and current affairs television programmes in Irish.” Chuir RTÉ an plean feidhmithe sin faoi mo bhráid i mí an Mheithimh 2019. Ina dhiaidh sin chuir an RTÉ presented an implementation plan to me in eagraíocht tuilleadh soiléirithe a bhí lorgtha faoi June 2019. Following that, upon my request, the mo bhráid agus reáchtáladh cruinniú le baill organisation provided some more clarification shinsearacha de chuid RTÉ i dtreo dheireadh na regarding the plan and a meeting took place with bliana. senior figures in RTÉ towards the end of the year. Tuarascáil Bhliantúil | Annual Report 2019 11

Sa chruinniú sin rinne RTÉ cur síos ar an ardú atá In that meeting RTÉ detailed the increase in the beartaithe acu ar líon agus réimse na gclár amount and range of Irish language programmes Gaeilge a chraolfar ar chainéil teilifíse an stáisiúin to be broadcast on the station’s television an bhliain seo chugainn. Tá ardú suntasach á channels next year. RTÉ intends to substantially bheartú ag RTÉ ar líon uaireanta na gclár Gaeilge increase the amount of Irish language ó 123 sa bhliain 2017 go dtí íosmhéid 533 sa programmes from 123 hours in 2017 to 533 bhliain 2020. hours, at a minimum, in 2020.

Baineann an t­ardú is suntasaí le craoladh na The most significant increase relates to the gclár nuachta agus cúrsaí reatha (cothrom le 58% broadcasting of news and current affairs den ardú in 2020) ar an gcainéal RTÉ News Now programmes on RTÉ News Now (representing agus cláir do leanaí agus do dhaoine óga 58% of the increase in 2020) and programmes (cothrom le 28% den ardú in 2020) ar RTÉ JNR. for children and young people on RTÉ JNR Ina theannta sin tá comhfhiontar á chruthú le (representing 28% of the increase in 2020). A TG4 chun breis clár de chuid an chraoltóra sin a joint approach is also being developed with TG4 chur ar fáil ar RTÉ. Beidh Rannóg na gClár to broadcast more of the station’s programmes Gaeilge ar ais i mbun obair lánaimseartha arís on RTÉ. Rannóg na gClár Gaeilge in RTÉ will also agus beartaithe ag RTÉ tuilleadh clár nua a operate on a full­time basis again, with an chraoladh i nGaeilge. increase in newly­produced Irish language programmes due to be broadcast on RTÉ. Is léir dom go bhfuil borradh breise faoi sholáthar uaireanta craolacháin agus clár Gaeilge ar RTÉ. It is clear that there is greater momentum behind Ní féidir a dhearbhú ag an tráth seo, áfach, go the provision of the number of hours and range bhfuil réimse cuimsitheach clár á chur ar fáil mar of programmes in Irish on RTÉ. I can’t confirm at a éilíonn an reachtaíocht. Mar sin féin, aithním go this point, however, that a comprehensive range bhféadfaí sin a bhaint amach sna blianta amach of programmes is being provided for as required romhainn má leantar leis an bhforbairt atá by the legislation. Nevertheless, I recognise that beartaithe ar an réimse clár a chuirtear ar fáil. this could be achieved in the years ahead if the range of programmes provided continues to be Chuige sin, tá iarrtha agam ar RTÉ cuntas a developed. thabhairt sa dara leath de 2020 ar an méid a bheidh curtha i gcrích an tráth sin mar aon le líon With that in mind I have requested RTÉ to agus réimse na gclár atá beartaithe do 2021. provide an update in the second half of 2020 in relation to what has been implemented at that stage and the extent and range of Irish language CUMARSÁID & EILE programming intended for 2021. Bíonn d’onóir agam mar Choimisinéir Teanga bualadh le grúpaí, le heagraíochtaí agus le daoine COMMUNICATIONS & aonair a bhíonn ag obair go dian dícheallach ar OTHER MATTERS mhaithe leis an nGaeilge agus teangacha eile a chur chun cinn, ní hamháin in Éirinn ach freisin i As Coimisinéir Teanga it is always an honour to ndlínsí eile. I mí Eanáir, thug mé fianaise os have the opportunity to meet with groups, comhair an Choiste Cultúir, Breatnaise agus organisations and individuals who work tirelessly Cumarsáide sa Tionól Náisiúnta in Caerdydd. Bhí and diligently to promote and protect the Irish an Coiste i mbun fiosruithe maidir le comhthéacs language and other languages not only in Ireland reachtúil, beartas agus gnéithe níos leithne a but also in other jurisdictions. I gave evidence in bhaineann leis an mBreatnais. Labhair mé chomh January to the Culture, Welsh Language and maith ag comhdháil de chuid Chomhairle na Communications Committee at the National hEorpa in Caerdydd maidir le hoideachas Assembly for Wales in Cardiff. The committee dátheangach agus cosaint do theangacha a was examining the statutory policy and wider bhíonn á labhairt ag mionlaigh. issues relating to the use of the Welsh language. I also spoke at a Council of Europe conference in Cardiff regarding bilingual education and the protection of minority languages. 12 Tuarascáil Bhliantúil | Annual Report 2019

B’onóir mhór a bhí ann dom ionadaíocht a It was also a huge honour to represent this dhéanamh thar ceann na tíre seo, mar country as chair of the International Association chathaoirleach ar Chumann Idirnáisiúnta na of Language Commissioners in Toronto at our gCoimisinéirí Teanga, ag comhdháil agus cruinniú annual conference and AGM in June. bliantúil an chumainn in Toronto i mí an Mheithimh. I gave speeches and presentations relating to language rights at many events throughout I gcaitheamh na bliana, thug mé óráidí agus rinne Ireland. I made presentations to public bodies mé cur i láthair ar théamaí a bhain le cearta regarding obligations under the Act and how teanga ag cuid mhaith ócáidí poiblí. Rinne mé best to serve members of the public who want roinnt láithreoireachtaí do chomhlachtaí poiblí ar to conduct their business through Irish with the na riachtanais a bhaineann le feidhmiú an Achta state sector. agus mar is ceart freastal ar phobal a dteastaíonn uathu a gcuid gnó a dhéanamh leis an státchóras I would like to thank the journalist, Áine Ní trí Ghaeilge. Chiaráin, and the financial expert, Páidí Ó Dálaigh, for their voluntary work as valuable Táim buíoch den iriseoir, Áine Ní Chiaráin, agus members of the Office’s Internal Audit and Risk den saineolaí airgeadais, Páidí Ó Dálaigh, as an Committee. obair a dhéanann siad go deonach mar bhaill luachmhara de Choiste Iniúchóireachta I would also like to avail of this opportunity to Inmheánaí agus Riosca na hOifige. thank the diligent and hard­working staff in the Office of An Coimisinéir Teanga. Ba mhaith liom an deis seo a thapú freisin chun buíochas a ghlacadh leis an bhfoireann oibre anseo in Oifig an Choimisinéara Teanga as a CONCLUSION ndúthracht agus a ndíograis. Finally, I would like to thank the Minister of State for Gaeltacht Affairs, Seán Kyne, TD, for CRÍOCH recommending to the Government that I be re­ appointed as An Coimisinéir Teanga. This was Ar deireadh, ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas a chur accepted by Government and a resolution in iúl don Aire Stáit do Ghnóthaí Gaeltachta, recommending my reappointment was Seán Kyne, TD, a chomhairligh don Rialtas go n­ subsequently passed by Dáil Éireann and Seanad athcheapfaí mé mar Choimisinéir Teanga. Ghlac Éireann in December. An Coimisinéir Teanga is an Rialtas leis an moladh sin agus le linn mhí na appointed by the President of Ireland on the Nollag ritheadh rún ag moladh m’athcheapacháin advice of Government following a resolution i nDáil Éireann agus i Seanad Éireann. I passed by Dáil Éireann and by Seanad Éireann gcomhréir le forálacha an Achta is faoi Uachtarán recommending the appointment, in accordance na hÉireann atá sé duine a cheapadh mar with the provisions of the Act. Choimisinéir Teanga ar chomhairle an Rialtais tar éis do Dháil Éireann agus do Sheanad Éireann rún a rith ag moladh an cheapacháin.

Seoladh an leabhráin ‘Oifigí Ombudsman in Éirinn’ leis an gCeann Comhairle, Seán Ó Fearghaíl, T.D. Launch of booklet ‘Ombudsman Offices in Ireland’ by the Ceann Comhairle, Seán Ó Fearghaíl, T.D. Tuarascáil Bhliantúil | Annual Report 2019 13

SEIRBHÍSÍ EOLAIS AGUS INFORMATION & CUMARSÁIDE COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES Is cuid lárnach dár gcuid oibre é go roinnfí eolas maidir le gníomhaíochtaí na heagraíochta leis an bpobal, le comhlachtaí poiblí, le coistí The sharing of information regarding the Oireachtais, leis na meáin chumarsáide agus le organisation’s activities with the public, public páirtithe leasmhara eile. Fearacht blianta eile, bhí bodies, Oireachtas committees, the media and an Oifig gníomhach sa réimse seo le linn na other stakeholders is an integral part of our work. bliana. As in previous years, the Office was active in this sphere during the past year. COMHAIRLE DO ADVICE TO PUBLIC BODIES CHOMHLACHTAÍ POIBLÍ The Office always welcomes the opportunity to Fáiltíonn an Oifig i gcónaí roimh an deis offer advice to public bodies regarding their comhairle a chur ar chomhlachtaí poiblí maidir obligations under the Act. The recent updating of lena gcuid freagrachtaí faoin Acht agus fágann an the list of public bodies covered by the Act will nuashonrú a rinneadh ar na comhlachtaí poiblí a result in further work in this area next year. thagann faoi scáth an Achta go mbeidh tuilleadh oibre le déanamh sa réimse seo an bhliain seo Officials from public bodies contacted the Office chugainn. of An Coimisinéir Teanga on 122 separate occasions, an increase of 6% on the previous Rinne oifigigh ó chomhlachtaí poiblí teagmháil le year. Most of these enquiries, almost 40%, hOifig an Choimisinéara Teanga ar 122 ócáid related to requests for advice on the language éagsúil, ardú 6% ón mbliain seo caite. Bhain requirements associated with signage, stationery formhór na bhfiosrúchán sin, nach mór 40%, le and recorded oral announcements. A further comhairle i dtaca le dualgais teanga a bhaineann 22% of enquiries related to compliance with le comharthaíocht, stáiseanóireacht agus fógairtí commitments provided in language schemes, taifeadta béil. Is comhairle faoi dhualgais a bhí le with 13% of enquiries relating to publications comhlíonadh de thoradh gealltanais i scéimeanna under section 10 of the Act. teanga a bhain 22% de na fiosrúcháin agus bhain 13% le dualgais i dtaca le foilseacháin a thagann The Office strives to be proactive in its efforts to faoi chuimsiú alt 10 den Acht. ensure that public bodies understand the value of contacting us if they wish to receive any Bíonn an Oifig réamhghníomhach ina cuid clarification on the obligations to be complied iarrachtaí go dtuigfeadh comhlachtaí poiblí gur with under the Act. During the year officials from féidir teagmháil a dhéanamh linn más mian leo this Office attended separate meetings with aon soiléirú a fháil faoi na dualgais atá le different public bodies to discuss the general comhlíonadh faoin Acht. Le linn na bliana obligations under the Act or its application in d’fhreastail baill foirne de chuid na hOifige ar relation to proposed projects or projects chruinnithe aonaracha le comhlachtaí poiblí currently underway. éagsúla chun plé a dhéanamh ar na dualgais ghinearálta faoin Acht nó ábharthacht an Achta i It goes without saying that accurate advice and dtaca le tionscnaimh áirithe a bhí beartaithe nó information assists public bodies to more idir lámha. effectively comply with their obligations under the Official Languages Act. Tá sé intuigthe go gcuidíonn comhairle agus eolas cruinn le comhlachtaí poiblí a gcuid dualgas faoi Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla a chomhlíonadh ar bhealach níos éifeachtaí. 14 Tuarascáil Bhliantúil | Annual Report 2019

ÓCÁIDÍ POIBLÍ PUBLIC EVENTS

ÓRÁIDÍ & LÁITHREOIREACHTAÍ SPEECHES & PRESENTATIONS • An Coiste Cultúir, Breatnaise agus Cumarsáide, • Culture, Welsh Language & Communications Tionól Náisiúnta na Breataine Bige Committee, National Assembly for Wales • Cur i láthair do Bhord Fhoras na Gaeilge • Presentation for the Board of Foras na Gaeilge • Comhdháil Chomhairle na hEorpa, Caerdydd • Council of Europe Conference, Cardiff • Cur i láthair do Choláiste Chilliain, Cluain • Presentation for Coláiste Chilliain, Clondalkin Dolcáin • Awards Presentation for Gaelchultúr • Bronnadh Ghradaim Gaelchultúr • Conference on Human Rights & Language • Comhdháil um Chearta Daonna & Cearta Rights in partnership with the United Nations Teanga i gcomhpháirtíocht leis na Náisiúin and the National University of Ireland, Galway Aontaithe agus Ollscoil na hÉireann, Gaillimh • European Regional Forum, Brussels • Fóram Réigiúnach na hEorpa, an Bhruiséil • Presentation of Information Pamphlet for Irish • Bronnadh phaimfléad eolais Fhóram na Ombudsman Forum, Leinster House nOmbudsman, Teach Laighean • Committee on the Irish Language, the • Coiste na Gaeilge, na Gaeltachta agus na Gaeltacht & the Islands, Leinster House nOileán, Teach Laighean • IALC (International Association of Language • Comhdháil Chumann Idirnáisiúnta na Commissioners) Conference, Toronto gCoimisinéirí Teanga, Toronto • Presentation for the University of Limerick • Cur i láthair d’Ollscoil Luimnigh • Presentation for University College Cork • Cur i láthair do Choláiste na hOllscoile, Corcaigh OTHER EVENTS

ÓCÁIDÍ EILE • Careers Day, Scoil Chuimsitheach Chiaráin, An Cheathrú Rua • Lá Gairme, Scoil Chuimsitheach Chiaráin, An Cheathrú Rua • Seachtain na Gaeilge Launch Event • Seoladh Sheachtain na Gaeilge • Inauguration of Uachtarán an Oireachtais • Insealbhú Uachtarán an Oireachtais • Ard­Fheis of Conradh na Gaeilge • Ard­Fheis Chonradh na Gaeilge • Sult na Sollán, Kildare • Sult na Sollán, Cill Dara • Dáil100 Lecture, Leinster House • Léacht Dáil100, Teach Laighean • Local Authorities, Obligations & the Irish Language, Belfast • Údaráis Áitiúla, Dualgais & an Ghaeilge, Béal Feirste • Irish & Gaeltacht Education Forum on Language Policy, Trinity College • Fóram ar Bheartas Teanga agus Oideachais na Gaeilge & na Gaeltachta, Coláiste na Tríonóide • Comhdháil Oileáin na hÉireann/Irish Islands Federation, Inis Meáin • Comhdháil Oileáin na hÉireann, Inis Meáin • Gradam Sheosaimh Uí Ógartaigh, Gaillimh le • Gradam Sheosaimh Uí Ógartaigh, Gaillimh le Gaeilge Gaeilge • Launch of report by the Committee on the Irish • Seoladh Thuarascáil Chomhchoiste na Gaeilge, Language, the Gaeltacht & the Islands, Leinster na Gaeltachta & na nOileán, Teach Laighean House Tuarascáil Bhliantúil | Annual Report 2019 15

• Seoladh Sealbhú – Lárionad Taighde, Ollscoil • Launch of Sealbhú Central Research Centre, Chathair Bhaile Átha Cliath Dublin City University • Seoladh GTeic, Tithe an Rialtais • Launch of GTeic, Government Buildings • Seoladh GTeic, An Spidéal • Launch of GTeic, An Spidéal • Seoladh Phlean Teanga na Ceathrún Rua • Launch of Language Plan for An Cheathrú Rua • Oireachtas na Samhna, Baile Átha Cliath • Oireachtas na Samhna, Dublin • Comhdháil Bhliantúil Gaeloideachas, Corcaigh • Annual Conference, Gaeloideachas, Cork

Ach oiread le blianta eile, d’fhreastail baill foirne Similar to other years, staff members from this de chuid na hOifige seo ar ócáidí éagsúla le linn Office attended various events during the year na bliana agus thug siad cur i láthair ag ceardlann and made presentations at a language planning pleanála teanga a d’eagraigh Údarás na workshop organised by Údarás na Gaeltachta Gaeltachta agus ag seimineár a d’eagraigh and a seminar held by Cumann na nOifigeach Cumann na nOifigeach Forbartha Gaeilge. Forbartha Gaeilge.

NA MEÁIN CHUMARSÁIDE MEDIA

Bhí cuid mhaith teagmhála agam leis na meáin I had a considerable amount of contact with the chumarsáide le linn 2019. Déanaim gach uile media during 2019. I always make every effort to iarracht i gcónaí freastal ar gach aon iarratas ó na accommodate all media requests relating to meáin nuair a bhaineann an t­iarratas sin le matters concerning Irish language legislation reachtaíocht teanga a thagann faoi mo dhlínse. under my remit. I believe the media plays a vital Creidim go bhfuil ról ríthábhachtach ag na meáin role in informing the public of the work that ag cur an phobail ar an eolas faoin obair a organisations like the Office of An Coimisinéir thagann faoi scáth eagraíochtaí mar Oifig an Teanga undertake and it is also a way of ensuring Choimisinéara Teanga. Is bealach é chomh maith we are accountable to the public. I would like to le cinntiú go bhfuilimid freagrach don phobal. Sa thank the journalists who were in contact with chomhthéacs sin, ba mhaith liom buíochas a the Office during the year in that regard. ghlacadh leis na hiriseoirí a bhí i dteagmháil leis an Oifig i rith na bliana.

Ócáid Trasna na dTonnta Trasna na dTonnta event 16 Tuarascáil Bhliantúil | Annual Report 2019

CUMAINN ASSOCIATIONS

CUMANN IDIRNÁISIÚNTA NA INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF gCOIMISINÉIRÍ TEANGA LANGUAGE COMMISSIONERS

Tá an cumann seo ar an bhfód anois le 6 bliana This organisation was established 6 years ago agus feidhmíonn sé mar ghréasán luachmhar do and it operates as a valuable network for the Choimisinéirí Teanga ar fud na cruinne. Tá 11 Language Commissioners operating in various Choimisinéir Teanga nó Ombudsman ina mbaill parts of the world. Currently the Association has den Chumann faoin tráth seo le ballraíocht ó a membership of 11 Language Commissioners or Éirinn, ó Cheanada, ón mBreatain Bheag, ó Thír Ombudsmen with members from Ireland, na mBascach, ón gCatalóin, ón gCosaiv agus ón Canada, Wales, the Basque Country, Catalonia, mBeilg. Cé go bhfuil éagsúlacht mhór sa Kosovo and Belgium. Although the various timpeallacht ina bhfeidhmíonn na heagraíochtaí organisations operate in very distinct éagsúla, is minic a bhíonn go leor de na dúshláin environments, we face many of the same teanga chéanna ag baint lenár gcuid oibre. linguistic challenges in our area of work.

I gcaitheamh na bliana, bhí cruinnithe rialta During the year we held regular meetings online. againn ar líne. Tá roinnt fochoistí ag feidhmiú faoi A number of subcommittees operate within the scáth an Chumainn agus tugann sé seo deis do Association and this affords our staff an bhaill foirne ábhair atá i bpáirt acu ina gcuid oibre opportunity to discuss matters that are common a phlé mar aon le deiseanna foghlama a chur ar to their work as well as presenting learning fáil. Chomh maith leis sin eagraítear roinnt opportunities. Information sessions are also seisiúin eolais ó am go chéile inar féidir le baill organised from time to time whereby staff from foirne ó na hoifigí éagsúla léargas a fháil ar an the various offices receive an insight into the obair a bhíonn ar siúl i ndlínsí eile. work being performed in other jurisdictions.

Is in Toronto a bhí comhdháil bhliantúil na The organisation’s annual conference was held in heagraíochta ar siúl agus d’fhreastail mé féin Toronto and was attended by myself and two agus beirt bhall foirne ar an gcomhdháil a raibh members of staff. The theme of the conference “Mionlaigh Theanga a Chosaint, Sochaithe Níos was “Protecting Linguistic Minorities, Building Láidre a Chothú” mar théama leis. Is faoi stiúir Stronger Societies”. The conference and the Oifig Ombudsman Ontario a reáchtáladh an annual general meeting was organised by the chomhdháil agus cruinniú cinn bhliana an Office of the Ontarian Ombudsman. The Chumainn. Tugann an chomhdháil deis conference affords practitioners and academics a luachmhar do lucht cleachtais agus lucht acadúil valuable opportunity to come together to discuss teacht le chéile chun ábhair a bhaineann le matters relating to language rights. This year’s cearta teanga a phlé. Ag comhdháil na bliana seo, conference included the launch of the seoladh leabhar de chuid an Chumainn Association’s book “Constitutional Pioneers” “Constitutional Pioneers” ina raibh ailt ó na hoifigí containing articles from the various offices and éagsúla agus ón saol acadúil ar théamaí a from academia on themes relating to our bhaineann le hobair ár n­eagraíochtaí agus le organisations’ work and language rights. cearta teanga. My term as the Association’s Chairman came to Tháinig deireadh le mo thréimhse mar an end at this year’s annual general meeting and Chathaoirleach ar an gCumann ag cruinniú cinn I would like to wish Raymond Théberge, Official bhliana na heagraíochta agus guím gach rath ar Languages Commissioner, Canada every success Raymond Théberge, Coimisinéir na dTeangacha as he takes over the role of Chairman. It is Oifigiúla, Ceanada, atá ceaptha anois mar appropriate that Raymond be appointed Chathaoirleach. Tá sé tráthúil go mbeadh Chairman as we mark the 50th anniversary of Raymond ag glacadh leis an gcathaoirleacht the Official Languages Act in Canada. The cothrom 50 bliain an ama ar tháinig Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla i bhfeidhm i gCeanada den chéad uair. Tá aistriú déanta chomh maith ar an Tuarascáil Bhliantúil | Annual Report 2019 17

ról rúnaíochta a bhí á dhéanamh ag m’Oifig le secretarial role performed by my Office for the bliain anuas. Creidim go bhfuil ról an­ last year has also been transferred. I believe that tábhachtach ag an gCumann agus tá sé i gceist the Association performs a very important role agam a bheith gníomhach i gcónaí san eagraíocht and I intend to remain active in the organisation seo atá ag dul ó neart go neart. as it goes from strength to strength.

Tháinig roinnt athruithe ar na Coimisinéirí Teanga During the year there were some changes to the sna tíortha éagsúla le linn na bliana. Gar do Language Commissioners in the various bhaile ceapadh Aled Roberts mar Choimisinéir countries. Close to home, Aled Roberts was Teanga sa Bhreatain Bheag i mí an Mhárta 2019. appointed as Language Commissioner in Wales Tagann sé i gcomharbacht ar Meri Huws a bhí sa in March 2019. He succeeds Meri Huws who ról sin ó bunaíodh an Oifig sa bhliain 2012. Tá performed that role since the Office was formed mé ag súil go mór leanúint amach anseo leis an in 2012. I look forward to continuing the close gcomhoibriú atá cruthaithe idir ár gcuid oifigí. I relationship between our offices in the future. As mo cháil mar chathaoirleach ar Chumann chairman of the International Association of Idirnáisiúnta na gCoimisinéirí Teanga, thug mé Language Commissioners, I gave evidence before fianaise os comhair Choiste Cultúir, Breatnaise the Culture, Welsh Language and agus Cumarsáide Thionól Náisiúnta na Breataine Communications Committee in the National Bige agus iad i mbun plé ar an mBille Breatnaise. Assembly for Wales as part of its deliberations Le linn na bliana, d’fhógair rialtas na Breataine on the Welsh Language Bill. During the year, the Bige nach raibh i gceist leanúint leis an mBille Welsh Government announced that it did not beartaithe agus go bhfágfaí ról an Choimisinéara intend to continue with the proposed Bill and Teanga mar a bhí. that the role of the Language Commissioner would be unchanged. CUMANN NA nOMBUDSMAN OMBUDSMAN ASSOCIATION Is cumann de na hOifigí Ombudsman ar fad in Éirinn agus sa Bhreatain Mhór atá san This is an association of all the Ombudsman eagraíocht seo. Tá an Oifig seo ina ball Offices in Ireland and Great Britain. This Office is gníomhach den Chumann agus tá mé i mo bhall an active member of the Association and I’ve de Bhord Feidhmiúcháin na heagraíochta ó been a member of the Executive Board of the 2017. Beirt as Éirinn atá ar an mbord, ar a bhfuil organisation since 2017. There are two members ochtar ball ina iomláine. Casann an bord le from Ireland on the board which comprises eight chéile cúig huaire sa bhliain chun gnóthaí members in total. The board meets five times a Chumann na nOmbudsman a riaradh agus a phlé year to administer and discuss the affairs of the le Stiúrthóir an Chumainn. Association with the Association's Director.

FÓRAM OMBUDSMAN NA hÉIREANN IRISH OMBUDSMAN FORUM

Is fochoiste de chuid Chumann na nOmbudsman This Forum is a subcommittee of the é an Fóram agus é comhdhéanta d’oifigí Ombudsman Association with membership from Ombudsman de chuid na tíre seo. Ceapadh mé i Ombudsman offices in this country. I was mo Chathaoirleach ar an bhFóram sa bhliain appointed Chairman of the Forum in 2017. The 2017. Bíonn cruinnithe ag Fóram Ombudsman Irish Ombudsman Forum, of which there are na hÉireann, ina bhfuil seachtar ball, uair sa seven members, meets on a quarterly basis. ráithe. Le linn na bliana seo foilsíodh paimfléad During this year, a bilingual pamphlet was dátheangach ina dtugtar eolas maidir le ról na n­ published providing information on the role of oifigí ombudsman éagsúla atá ag feidhmiú sa tír the various Ombudsman offices that operate in seo. Bronnadh cóip den phaimfléad sin ar an this country. A copy of the pamphlet was gCeann Comhairle ag ócáid a eagraíodh i dTeach presented to the Ceann Comhairle at an event Laighean. Is iad baill eile an Fhóraim an held in Leinster House. The other members of tOmbudsman, an tOmbudsman Seirbhísí the Forum are the Ombudsman, the Financial Airgeadais agus Pinsean, an tOmbudsman do Services and Pensions Ombudsman, the 18 Tuarascáil Bhliantúil | Annual Report 2019

Leanaí, Ombudsman an Phreasa, an Ombudsman for Children, the Press tOmbudsman d’Óglaigh na hÉireann, agus Ombudsman, the Defence Forces Ombudsman, Coimisiún Ombudsman an Gharda Síochána. Is i and the Garda Síochána Ombudsman mBaile Átha Cliath a bhí na cruinnithe sin ar fad Commission. All of the meetings in 2019 were le linn 2019. held in Dublin.

An Coimisinéir Teanga, Cathaoirleach Chumann Idirnáisiúnta na gCoimisinéirí Teanga, ag oscailt chomhdháil 2019 An Coimisinéir Teanga, Chairman of the International Association of Language Commissioners, opening the 2019 conference

Cumann Idirnáisiúnta na gCoimisinéirí Teanga International Association of Language Commissioners Tuarascáil Bhliantúil | Annual Report 2019 19

IMSCRÚDUITHE INVESTIGATIONS

Den chéad uair i stair na hOifige rinneadh For the first time in the Office’s history we imscrúdú ar fhoráil a bhain leis an Acht um investigated a provision of the Planning and Pleanáil agus Forbairt, 2000. Bhí tábhacht faoi Development Act 2000. Particular importance leith ag baint leis an imscrúdú. Bhain sé le was attached to the investigation. It related to cosaint na Gaeilge sa phróiseas pleanála the protection of the Irish language in the tithíochta i gceantar Gaeltachta, tráth a bhfuil housing planning process of a Gaeltacht region béim faoi leith á leagan ar chosaint na teanga sa at a time when much emphasis is being placed Ghaeltacht tríd an bpróiseas pleanála teanga. Is on the protection of the language in the ar Chomhairle Contae Chiarraí a rinneadh an t­ Gaeltacht through the language planning imscrúdú a bhain le cur i bhfeidhm coinníll process. The investigation involved Kerry County teanga a cheangail an Bord Pleanála le cead Council and the implementation of a language pleanála a deonaíodh d’fhorbairt tithíochta sa condition attached by An Bord Pleanála to a Ghaeltacht. Ceanglaíodh an coinníoll sin i planning permission granted for a housing gcomhréir le cuspóirí de chuid an Phlean development in the Gaeltacht. That condition Forbartha Contae a bhaineann le cosaint na was attached in accordance with the objectives Gaeltachta agus a dhaingnítear faoin Acht um of the County Development Plan relating to the Pleanáil agus Forbairt, 2000. protection of the Gaeltacht as set out in the Planning and Development Act 2000. Bhí sé suntasach gur ar údaráis áitiúla a bhí na himscrúduithe ar fad a críochnaíodh in 2019. It is significant that all the investigations carried Tionscnaíodh na cinn eile, seachas an ceann out in 2019 were of local authorities. The other thuasluaite, toisc nár fhreagair na húdaráis áitiúla investigations, except the one mentioned above, go sásúil nó in aon chor gearáin faoi chomharthaí were initiated because the local authorities in a d’fhiosraigh m’Oifig leo. question failed to reply satisfactorily, or to reply at all, to complaints concerning signage that Toisc a iomadúla agus a bhíonn comharthaí á were raised by my Office. gcur in airde ag údaráis áitiúla, ní hannamh gearáin á bhfáil agam ón bpobal faoi As local authorities erect a great many signs, I chomharthaí dá gcuid. Fiosraítear na gearáin sin frequently receive complaints from members of leo ar bhonn neamhfhoirmiúil mar chéad chéim. the public concerning local authority signage. Nuair nach gcuirtear freagra sásúil, nó freagra ar These complaints are investigated on an informal bith in amanna, ar fáil dom, ní bhíonn de rogha basis as a first step. If an unsatisfactory agam ach imscrúdú foirmiúil a thionscnamh. response, or at times no response at all, is provided I have very little option but to initiate a Is deacair éalú ón gconclúid nach dtugtar an formal investigation. tosaíocht chuí d’fhiosruithe gearán agus nach n­ aithnítear an tábhacht a bhaineann le freagraí It is difficult to escape the conclusion that the iomlána a chur ar fáil taobh istigh d’achar appropriate priority is not given to enquiries réasúnta. Fiú i gcás na n­imscrúduithe foirmiúla concerning complaints nor is the importance of féin, b’éigean do m’Oifig scríobh arís chuig providing full replies within a reasonable time­ Comhairle Contae Lú agus Comhairle Contae frame recognised. Even in the case of the formal Cheatharlach chun an dualgas reachtúil investigations, my Office had to remind Louth comhoibriú leis an imscrúdú a chur i gcuimhne and Carlow County Councils of their statutory dóibh, sular chuir siad freagra ar fáil. obligation to cooperate with investigations, before a reply was forthcoming. Rinne mé moltaí i dtuarascálacha na gceithre imscrúdú sin go ndaingneodh an Chomhairle I made recommendations in the reports of these Contae cleachtais oibre chun plé go cuí agus go four investigations that the County Council tráthúil le gearáin faoi sháruithe ar reachtaíocht establish work practices whereby complaints teanga. Mhol mé freisin go mbunófaí córais concerning breaches of language legislation are riaracháin san eagraíocht ionas go gcloífí feasta dealt with in an appropriate and timely fashion. I also recommended that administrative systems are set in place within the organisation to ensure 20 Tuarascáil Bhliantúil | Annual Report 2019

leis na forálacha reachtúla teanga faoi that they adhere to the statutory language chomharthaí atá daingnithe sna Rialacháin faoi provisions with regard to signs as confirmed in Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla agus sna rialacháin the regulations made under the Official agus na hordacháin atá déanta faoin Acht um Languages Act and in the regulations and orders Thrácht ar Bhóithre, 1961. made under the Road Traffic Act 1961.

ACHOIMRE AR IMSCRÚDUITHE SUMMARY OF INVESTIGATIONS

Comhairle Contae Chiarraí Kerry County Council

Léirigh imscrúdú nár chuir Comhairle Contae An investigation demonstrated that Kerry County Chiarraí i bhfeidhm coinníoll teanga a cheangail Council did not implement a language condition an Bord Pleanála le cead pleanála a deonaíodh An Bord Pleanála attached to planning d’fhorbairt tithíochta i mBaile an Fheirtéaraigh i permission granted in respect of a housing nGaeltacht Chorca Dhuibhne. Rinneadh development in Baile an Fheirtéaraigh in the fionnachtain dá bharr gur sháraigh an Corca Dhuibhne Gaeltacht. As a result, findings Chomhairle Contae forálacha teanga de chuid an were made that the County Council breached Achta um Pleanáil agus Forbairt, 2000. language provisions of the Planning and Development Act 2000.

Ba shárú thar a bheith tromchúiseach é seo, is léir. This was obviously a very serious breach.

Is imscrúdú ríthábhachtach atá anseo mar gheall ar an gceangal idir todhchaí na Gaeilge mar This is a very important investigation due to the theanga an phobail sa Ghaeltacht agus an link between the future of the Irish language as a tionchar a d’fhéadfadh a bheith ag fás ar dhaonra community language in the Gaeltacht and the nach cainteoirí Gaeilge iad ar chosaint na teanga. impact that an increase of non­Irish speakers Léirigh an t­imscrúdú nár chuir Comhairle Contae could have on the protection of the language. Chiarraí an fhoráil teanga ábhartha i bhfeidhm – The investigation demonstrated that Kerry foráil teanga a bhí daingnithe le dlí chun úsáid na County Council did not implement the relevant Gaeilge sa Ghaeltacht a chosaint. Ba shárú thar a language provision − a language provision bheith tromchúiseach é seo, is léir. confirmed by law to protect the use of Irish in the Gaeltacht. This was obviously a very serious In 2004, rinneadh achomharc chuig an mBord breach. Pleanála i gcoinne cead pleanála a dheonaigh Comhairle Contae Chiarraí d’fhorbairt 20 teach In 2004, an appeal was made to An Bord cónaithe ar na Cluainte, Baile an Fheirtéaraigh Pleanála against the granting of planning toisc nach raibh aon choinníoll maidir le húsáid permission by Kerry County Council for a na Gaeilge ceangailte leis an gcead sin. Chinn an development of 20 dwelling houses in Na Bord Pleanála in 2005 an fhorbairt a laghdú go Cluainte, Baile an Fheirtéaraigh. The appeal was made because no condition concerning the use of the Irish language was attached to the Planning Permission. An Bord Pleanála decided in 2005 to reduce the development to 16 houses Tuarascáil Bhliantúil | Annual Report 2019 21

dtí 16 theach agus coinníoll a cheangal leis an and to attach a condition to the planning gcead pleanála a deonaíodh “chun oidhreacht permission granted “in order to protect the teanga agus cultúrtha an limistéir Ghaeltachta seo a language and cultural heritage of this Gaeltacht chosaint” i gcomhréir le cuspóir de chuid Phlean area”, in accordance with an objective of Kerry Forbartha Contae Chiarraí, 2003­2009. County Development Plan 2003­2009.

De réir an choinníll a ceanglaíodh leis an gcead The condition attached to the planning pleanála, chaithfeadh an forbróir comhaontú a permission required the developer to enter into dhéanamh le Comhairle Contae Chiarraí faoi alt an agreement with Kerry County Council under 47 den Acht um Pleanáil agus Forbairt, 2000 sula section 47 of the Planning and Development Act dtosófaí ag tógáil na dtithe. Faoin gcomhaontú 2000 before the building work commenced. sin, chinnteofaí go mbeadh 75% nó 12 de na Under this agreement it was to be ensured that tithe á thógfaí “curtha ar fáil dóibh siúd amháin a 75% or 12 of houses to be built were provided bhfuil líofacht sásúil i dteanga na Gaeilge taispeánta to “persons who have demonstrated to the planning don údarás pleanála acu.” Bhainfeadh an coinníoll authority a reasonable fluency in the Irish language.” leis an dá theach déag sin go ceann fiche bliain This condition would pertain to the twelve agus “le teaghlaigh atá in áitíocht na dtithe, pé mar houses for a period of twenty years and “apply to úinéara, léasaithe nó tionóntaithe, taobh amuigh de households who occupy these dwellings whether as ligean saoire ar feadh tréimhsí mí amháin nó níos lú.” owners, lessees or tenants, other than holiday lettings for periods of one month or less.” In 2017, rinne duine den phobal gearán liom inar líomhnaíodh nár chuir Comhairle Contae Chiarraí In 2017, a member of the public made a i bhfeidhm (nó nár fhéach sí chuige gur cuireadh i complaint in which it was alleged that Kerry bhfeidhm) an coinníoll teanga sin. County Council did not implement this language condition or ensure it was implemented. Réimse Feidhme an Choimisinéara Teanga Jurisdiction of An Coimisinéir Teanga

Ba ghá dom mé féin a shásamh go raibh d’údarás I needed to satisfy myself that agam an gearán a fhiosrú. the matter came within my authority to investigate. Ní raibh aon imscrúdú déanta cheana ag m’Oifig ar ghearán den chineál seo. Ba ghá dom mé féin My Office had not previously investigated such a a shásamh go raibh d’údarás agam an gearán a complaint and I needed to satisfy myself that the fhiosrú. Is de thoradh ceanglas a bhí ar an matter came within my authority to investigate. It gComhairle Contae faoin bPlean Forbartha was as a consequence of a requirement on the Contae, 2003­2009 a shocraigh an Bord County Council under the County Development Pleanála gur chóir coinníoll teanga a chur ar an Plan 2003­2009 that An Bord Pleanála decided to bhforbairt seo. Faoin Acht um Pleanáil agus attach a language condition to this development. Forbairt, 2000, caithfidh comhairle contae a The Planning and Development Act required any bhfuil limistéir Ghaeltachta faoina cúram cuspóirí county council with Gaeltacht areas within its faoi leith a leagan síos ina Plean Forbartha area to include specific objectives within its Contae chun oidhreacht teanga agus chultúrtha County Development plan for the protection of na Gaeltachta a chosaint. Faoin Acht céanna, tá the linguistic and cultural heritage of the de dhualgas ar an údarás pleanála an plean Gaeltacht. The same Act requires the planning forbartha a chur i bhfeidhm. authority to implement the development plan.

Tar éis na fiosrúcháin chuí a dhéanamh, ba léir Having investigated this issue, I concluded that dom gurbh ábhar é seo a tháinig faoi mo dhlínse this was a matter that came under my jurisdiction ó tharla gur bhain sé le líomhain go bhféadfadh as it concerned an allegation that a provision of gur sáraíodh foráil d’achtachán a bhain le stádas an enactment that pertained to the status or use nó húsáid teanga oifigiúla, sa chás seo, an tAcht of an official language had possibly been um Pleanáil agus Forbairt, 2000. breached, in this case, the Planning and Development Act 2000. 22 Tuarascáil Bhliantúil | Annual Report 2019

Ábhar an ghearáin á tharraingt anuas le The complaint is raised with Kerry County Comhairle Contae Chiarraí Council

Sheol mé an t­imscrúdú foirmiúil ar an 6 Iúil As the informal complaint process that my Office 2018 nuair nach raibh aon toradh sásúil ar an operates had not led to any successful bpróiseas neamhfhoirmiúil gearáin a fheidhmíonn conclusion in this case, I launched the formal m’Oifig mar chéad chéim. B’ábhar míshásaimh investigation on 6 July 2018. The delay in dom an mhoill a bhain leis na taifid iomlána providing the relevant and complete records was ábhartha a chur faoi mo bhráid cé gur ghá a unsatisfactory, although it should be aithint go raibh gné stairiúil ag baint leis an acknowledged that there was an historical aspect imscrúdú seo a d’fhág go bhféadfadh go raibh sé to the investigation and that the provision of níos dúshlánaí na taifid sin a sholáthar. Bhain an those records was possibly more challenging. chuid ba mhó de na taifid a cuireadh ar fáil dom The bulk of the records provided to me consisted le comhfhreagras le páirtithe éagsúla ach níor of correspondence with various parties but no cuireadh aon taifead ar fáil a thabharfadh cuntas records were provided that would give any ar chinntí nó ar threoracha inmheánacha laistigh account of internal decisions made or directions den Chomhairle Contae. given within the County Council.

Comhaontú faoi Alt 47 den Acht um Pleanáil An Agreement under Section 47 of the agus Forbairt, 2000 Planning and Development Act 2000

Bhí sé ar cheann de chinntí an Bhoird Pleanála One of the decisions made by An Bord Pleanála go ndéanfaí na socruithe a bhain le cur i was that the arrangements for the bhfeidhm an choinníll teanga i gcomhaontú a bhí implementation of the language condition would le déanamh idir an Chomhairle Contae agus an be set out in an agreement made between the forbróir faoi alt 47 den Acht um Pleanáil agus County Council and the developer under section Forbairt sula dtosófaí ar an obair thógála. 47 of the Planning and Development Act before Cuireadh cóip den chomhaontú sin ar fáil dom. the building work commenced. A copy of the Shínigh an dá pháirtí é ar an 16 Bealtaine 2006. agreement was provided to me. It was signed by Thug mé suntas go raibh tús le cur leis an the two parties on 16 May 2006. I noticed that bhforbairt féin roinnt míonna roimhe sin, ar an 6 the development had commenced several Feabhra 2006, de réir fógra tosaithe a bhí tugtha months previously, on 6 February 2006, ag an bhforbróir don Chomhairle Contae i mí according to the commencement notice provided Eanáir na bliana sin. by the developer to the County Council in January of the same year.

…mheas mé go raibh lochtanna bunúsacha ar an …it appeared to me that gcomhaontú a d’fhág nach there were fundamental raibh sé oiriúnach dá fheidhm. faults in this agreement that rendered it not fit for purpose.

In ainneoin go raibh an coinníoll teanga dearbhaithe sa chomhaontú agus go raibh Although the language condition was affirmed in socruithe don tástáil inniúlachta teanga luaite the agreement and reference was made to ann, mheas mé go raibh lochtanna bunúsacha ar arrangements for the assessment of language an gcomhaontú a d’fhág nach raibh sé oiriúnach competency, it appeared to me that there were dá fheidhm. Ní raibh aon socruithe sonraithe sa fundamental faults in this agreement that chomhaontú faoin mbealach a dtabharfaí feidhm rendered it not fit for purpose. No arrangements don cheanglas teanga nuair a bhí sé beartaithe were specified in the agreement concerning the úinéireacht a aistriú nó úsáid a athrú. Ba locht way the language requirement was to be bunúsach é seo a d’fhág nach raibh aon implemented when ownership was being transferred or in the case of a change of use. This was a fundamental fault resulting in no legal or practical arrangements being in place to Tuarascáil Bhliantúil | Annual Report 2019 23

socruithe dlíthiúla ná praiticiúla déanta faoina ensure that the County Council was informed gcuirfí an Chomhairle Contae ar an eolas go when ownership was being transferred and raibh úinéireacht á haistriú ná faoina ndéanfaí whereby language competence would be measúnú ar inniúlacht teanga an tráth sin. assessed at this stage.

Sonraí na gCeannaitheoirí Purchasers’ details

Idir na blianta 2006 agus 2008, scríobh an Between 2006 and 2008, the County Council Chomhairle Contae chuig dlíodóir an fhorbróra wrote to the developer’s solicitor on two faoi dhó ag iarraidh sonraí an ghníomhaire eastáit occasions requesting the details of the estate agus trí huaire ag iarraidh sonraí cheannaitheoirí agent and three times requesting details of the na dtithe. Ní léir gur chuir an dlíodóir an t­eolas purchasers of the houses. It appears that the ar fáil riamh bíodh is gur bhagair an Chomhairle solicitor never furnished this information even Contae imeachtaí dlí. D’éirigh an Chomhairle though the County Council threatened legal Contae as an hiarrachtaí sin in 2008. action. The County Council abandoned these efforts in 2008. In éagmais taifid ábhartha, ní bhfuarthas aon léargas cruinn ar dhearcadh na Comhairle In the absence of any relevant evidence, no Contae i leith chur i bhfeidhm an choinníll sin le accurate insight was available into the attitude of linn na tréimhse sin 2005­2008 ná faoi na the County Council to the implementation of this céimeanna a pleanáladh chun é a chur i condition during the period between 2005 and bhfeidhm. Bunaithe ar an bhfianaise a cuireadh 2008 or into the steps that were planned to ar fáil don imscrúdú, ba léir dom an méid seo a implement it. Based on the evidence that was leanas i dtaca leis na hiarrachtaí a rinneadh: provided to the investigation, the following was clear to me concerning the efforts made: 1. Is cosúil gur tosaíodh an fhorbairt sula ndearnadh comhaontú faoi alt 47 leis an 1. It appears that the development commenced bhforbróir. before an agreement was made with the developer under section 47. 2. Ní raibh forálacha an chomhaontaithe oiriúnach, i mo thuairimse, chun a chuspóir a 2. The provisions of the agreement were not chur i gcrích. appropriate, in my opinion, to achieve its objective. 3. Bhí doiléire, moill agus patuaire ag baint leis na gníomhartha a rinneadh chun an 3. The actions taken to implement the comhaontú sin a chur i bhfeidhm agus ní raibh agreement demonstrated a lack of clarity, aon toradh orthu. procrastination and a lack of commitment and they were ineffective. 4. Éiríodh as na hiarrachtaí sin ar fad in 2008. 4. These efforts were completely abandoned in Ba léir freisin nár cuireadh agallamh Gaeilge ar 2008. aon áititheoir fadtéarmach agus nach ndeachthas i dteagmháil le ceannaitheoir aon cheann de na It was also clear that no long­term occupier was tithe a raibh an ceanglas Gaeilge ag baint leo, ever interviewed to determine their ability in d’fhonn a chinntiú go gcuirfí an ceanglas sin i Irish nor was any purchaser of any of the houses bhfeidhm. that had an Irish­language requirement attached to it ever contacted for the purpose of ensuring Rinneadh fionnachtain gur theip ar Chomhairle that this requirement was fulfilled. Contae Chiarraí cuspóir Sg­2­2 de Phlean Forbartha Contae Chiarraí, 2003­2009 a chur i A finding was made that Kerry County Council gcrích. failed to implement objective Sg­2­2 of the Kerry County Development Plan 2003­2009. Príomh-mholtaí an Imscrúdaithe Main Recommendations of the Investigation Mhol mé go n­ullmhódh agus go mbunódh Comhairle Contae Chiarraí nósanna imeachta I recommended that Kerry County Council chun mo shástachta a bheidh le leanúint in aon prepare and establish, to my satisfaction, procedures to be followed in any case where a 24 Tuarascáil Bhliantúil | Annual Report 2019

chás ina leagtar coinníoll teanga ar chead language requirement is attached to planning pleanála ar fhorbairt tithíochta sa Ghaeltacht permission for a housing development in the chun feidhm éifeachtach a thabhairt don Gaeltacht, in order to ensure that the language choinníoll sin. requirement is implemented effectively.

Mhol mé, chomh maith, go gcuirfeadh Comhairle I also recommended that the County Council Contae Chiarraí an Oifig seo ar an eolas maidir le inform my Office, for the next five years, of any haon chead pleanála a dheonófar i nGaeltacht planning permission granted in the Kerry Chiarraí go ceann cúig bliana i dtaca le hiarratais Gaeltacht for large planning applications or mhóra phleanála nó iarratais i leith forbairt breis applications in respect of three dwellings or agus trí theach cónaithe. D’áireofaí freisin an tslí more. This should include information relating to ar comhlíonadh na cuspóirí ábhartha de chuid the way the relevant objectives in Kerry County Phlean Forbartha Contae Chiarraí a bhaineann Development Plan concerning the use of the leis an nGaeilge nuair a bhí an t­iarratas pleanála Irish language were fulfilled when the application sin á mheas. Sa chás go gceanglófaí coinníoll le was considered. Where a condition concerning cead pleanála a bhaineann le húsáid na Gaeilge, the use of the Irish language was attached to a ba ghá faisnéis a thabhairt don Oifig seo i dtaobh planning permission I also required that na socruithe a chuirfear i bhfeidhm chun information be provided about the arrangements comhlíonadh an choinníll sin a dheimhniú. put in place to confirm that the condition is fulfilled. Imscrúdú seolta: 6 Iúil 2018 Tuarascáil eisithe: 21 Márta 2019 Investigation launched: 6 July 2018 Report issued: 21 March 2019

Comhairle Contae na Mí Meath County Council

Léirigh imscrúdú gur sháraigh Comhairle Contae An investigation found that Meath County na Mí na dualgais reachtúla teanga atá Council breached the statutory language daingnithe sna rialacháin i dtaca le obligations regarding signs in the regulations comharthaíocht faoi fho­alt 9(1) d’Acht na made under section 9(1) of the Official dTeangacha Oifigiúla, 2003 agus dualgais Languages Act 2003 and the statutory language reachtúla teanga maidir le comharthaí tráchta. obligations concerning traffic signs.

Ó thús na bliana 2015 rinneadh 28 gearán le Since the beginning of 2015, 28 complaints were m’Oifig faoi chomharthaí de chuid Chomhairle made to my Office concerning signs erected by Contae na Mí a fiosraíodh leis an gComhairle Meath County Council. These were raised with Contae ar bhonn neamhfhoirmiúil. Bhain moill the County Council on an informal basis. There fhada le freagra a chur ar fáil i gcás cuid were long delays in answering a substantial shuntasach de na gearáin sin ach rinneadh dul chun cinn le linn na bliana 2018. Freagraíodh formhór na ngearán sin agus ceartaíodh nó It was disappointing that the County Council should allow B’ábhar díomá dom gur lig an inquiries into legitimate Chomhairle Contae fiosruithe complaints to drag on for so a bhain le gearáin bhailí dul long. ar aghaidh chomh fada sin. Tuarascáil Bhliantúil | Annual Report 2019 25

athraíodh na comharthaí sin de réir mar ba ghá. number of these complaints but progress was Mar sin féin, i mí Feabhra 2019 bhí seacht gcinn made during 2018. Nonetheless, by February de na gearáin sin nach bhfuarthas freagra 2019, seven complaints remained unresolved, críochnúil orthu go fóill agus roinnt díobh a bhí á some of which had been pursued for a very long bhfiosrú le fada. time.

B’ábhar díomá dom gur lig an Chomhairle Contae It was disappointing that the County Council fiosruithe a bhain le gearáin bhailí dul ar aghaidh should allow inquiries into legitimate complaints chomh fada sin. Bhí na gearánaigh i dteideal to drag on for so long. The complainants were freagra a fháil agus na botúin a bheith ceartaithe. entitled to a reply and to have mistakes corrected. Caitheadh go leor d’acmhainn m’Oifige ag plé leis A considerable amount of my Office’s resources na gearáin seo, gearáin ar cheart é a bheith éasca was expended in pursuing these complaints that go maith iad a réiteach. Leis an moill dho­ could have been easily resolved. In view of the ghlactha a bhí ar an gComhairle déileáil leis an unacceptable delay in dealing with this difficulty I bhfadhb, ní raibh an dara rogha agam ach had no choice but to initiate an investigation in imscrúdú a thionscnamh i gcás na seacht the case of the seven unresolved complaints. ngearán nár réitíodh go fóill. The majority of the signs were in English only Formhór na gcomharthaí sin ba i mBéarla amháin but one bilingual sign was included where there a bhí an téacs orthu ach áiríodh comhartha was an error in the Irish­language text and where dátheangach amháin a raibh earráid sa téacs i the Irish­language text was smaller than the text nGaeilge air agus ar a raibh an téacs i nGaeilge ní in English. ba lú ná an téacs i mBéarla. It was acknowledged, in the reply from Meath Sa fhreagra a chuir Comhairle Contae na Mí ar County Council, that the signs were not in fáil, aithníodh go raibh na comharthaí ar accordance with the relevant language neamhréir leis an reachtaíocht ábhartha teanga. legislation. It was also explained that the Míníodh freisin gur tugadh tosaíocht do réiteach question of the signs had been given priority cheist na gcomharthaí d’fhonn an obair sin a with a view to completing the work as soon as thabhairt chun críche a luaithe agus ab fhéidir. possible.

Cuireadh tuairisc ar fáil don imscrúdú maidir leis A report was provided to the investigation of the an staid reatha a bhain le gach comhartha. Bhí current situation regarding each sign. New signs comharthaí nua deartha nó curtha á ndearadh, were designed or being designed, noncompliant bhí comharthaí neamhghéilliúla á mbaint anuas signs were being removed and, in the case of agus bhí comhartha nua curtha in airde faoin one of these, a new sign had already been tráth sin i gcás ceann amháin díobh. erected.

Ghlac an Chomhairle Contae leithscéal as an The County Council apologised for the moill mhíchuí a bhain le réiteach ábhar na inordinate delay in resolving these complaints ngearán agus dheimhnigh sí a tiomantas leanúint and confirmed its resolve to continue its work to leis an obair chun cáilíocht na comharthaíochta a improve the standard of its signage in the future. fheabhsú sa todhchaí. Main Recommendations of the Investigation Príomh-mholtaí an Imscrúdaithe It was recommended that the County Council Mhol mé don Chomhairle Contae na comharthaí amend or replace the signs which were the a áiríodh san imscrúdú a cheartú nó a athrú, go subject of the investigation, that it ensure in gcloífí feasta leis na forálacha reachtúla teanga future that the statutory language provisions are nuair a bheadh comharthaí á gcur in airde agus adhered to when new signs are erected and that go ndaingneofaí nósanna imeachta le plé go cuí procedures are put in place to deal appropriately agus go tráthúil le gearáin faoi sháruithe ar and in a timely fashion with complaints received reachtaíocht teanga. concerning breaches of language legislation.

Imscrúdú seolta: 8 Feabhra 2019 Investigation launched: 8 February 2019 Tuarascáil eisithe: 28 Bealtaine 2019 Report issued: 28 May 2019 26 Tuarascáil Bhliantúil | Annual Report 2019

Comhairle Contae Wexford County Loch Garman Council

Léirigh imscrúdú gur sháraigh Comhairle Contae An investigation found that Wexford County Loch Garman na dualgais reachtúla teanga atá Council breached the statutory language daingnithe sna rialacháin i dtaca le obligations regarding signs in the regulations comharthaíocht faoi fho­alt 9(1) d’Acht na made under section 9(1) of the Official dTeangacha Oifigiúla, 2003 agus dualgais Languages Act 2003 and statutory language reachtúla teanga maidir le comharthaí tráchta. obligations concerning traffic signs.

Bhí os cionn bliana caite ó Seven of these complaints tarraingíodh anuas seacht were originally raised with gcinn de na gearáin sin leis the County Council more than an gComhairle Contae den a year earlier… chéad uair…

By November 2018, my Office was informally Faoi mhí na Samhna 2018, bhí dhá ghearán déag investigating twelve complaints concerning a bhain le comharthaí á bhfiosrú go signage with Wexford County Council. No reply neamhfhoirmiúil ag m’Oifigse le Comhairle or final reply had been received in respect of Contae Loch Garman. Ní raibh freagra nó freagra these complaints despite continuing efforts to críochnúil faighte orthu go fóill, d’ainneoin resolve them. Seven of these complaints were iarrachtaí leanúnacha réiteach a fháil orthu. Bhí originally raised with the County Council more os cionn bliana caite ó tarraingíodh anuas seacht than a year earlier and two years earlier in the gcinn de na gearáin sin leis an gComhairle case of five of those complaints. I decided, in Contae den chéad uair agus dhá bhliain caite i these circumstances, to commence a formal gcás cúig cinn díobhsan. Rinne mé cinneadh sna investigation. cúinsí sin imscrúdú foirmiúil a sheoladh. I had previously conducted an investigation into Rinne mé imscrúdú cheana ar Chomhairle Wexford County Council in 2015 with regard to Contae Loch Garman in 2015 maidir le signs and I had made a determination in that comharthaí dá cuid agus rinne mé fionnachtain investigation that the County Council had san imscrúdú sin go raibh an Chomhairle Contae breached its statutory language obligations by ag sárú na ndualgas reachtúil teanga trí erecting signs in English only. In that chomharthaí i mBéarla amháin a chur in airde. I investigation report, I recommended that dtuarascáil an imscrúdaithe sin, mhol mé do Wexford County Council ensure that the Chomhairle Contae Loch Garman a chinntiú go statutory language provisions contained in the gcloífí go hiomlán agus go cuí leis na forálacha regulations made under the Official Languages reachtúla teanga atá sna rialacháin a rinneadh Act were, in future, fully and appropriately faoi Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla i gcás adhered to in the case of new signs and that comharthaí nua agus go ndaingneofaí cleachtais working practices should be established to deal oibre chun plé go cuí agus go tráthúil le gearáin with complaints concerning breaches of faoi sháruithe ar reachtaíocht teanga. language legislation in an appropriate and timely fashion. Bhí fianaise á cur faoi mo bhráid i bhfoirm na ngearán go raibh comharthaí fós á gcur in airde Evidence was being presented to me in the form ag Comhairle Contae Loch Garman gan cloí leis of complaints that Wexford County Council was na forálacha reachtúla atá sna rialacháin. I still erecting signs without adhering to the bhfianaise na ngearán a rinneadh le m’Oifig agus provisions of the regulations. In view of the an easpa dul chun cinn a rinneadh nuair a complaints received by my Office and the lack of Tuarascáil Bhliantúil | Annual Report 2019 27

fiosraíodh na gearáin seo leis an gComhairle progress made when the complaints were raised Contae, b’údar imní dom go bhféadfadh sé nár with the County Council, it was a matter of chuir an Chomhairle Contae na moltaí sin i concern to me that it appeared that the County bhfeidhm, i bhfeidhm go héifeachtach, nó gur Council had not implemented these éiríodh as a gcur i bhfeidhm. recommendations, implemented them effectively or had subsequently ceased to implement them. I bhfreagraí na Comhairle Contae, deimhníodh go raibh na comharthaí neamhghéilliúla ceartaithe The County Council confirmed in its replies that nó á gceartú. Ina theannta sin, thug an the noncompliant signs were corrected or in the Chomhairle Contae cur síos don imscrúdú ar an process of being corrected. Furthermore, the gcóras a bhí i bhfeidhm aici chun gearáin ó County Council provided to the investigation a m’Oifig a fhiosrú agus a fhreagairt agus thug sí le description of the system it had in place to fios go raibh athbhreithniú á dhéanamh ar an investigate complaints raised by my Office and it gcóras sin chun na deacrachtaí atá ag baint leis a informed the investigation that a review of the shainaithint agus a réiteach “mar chuid d’iarracht system was being carried out to identify and a chinntiú go rachfar i ngleic le gearáin ar bhealach correct the difficulties involved “as part of an níos struchtúrtha agus níos tráthúla amach anseo.” effort to ensure that complaints are dealt with in a more structured and prompt way in future.”

…aithníodh i bhfreagra na Comhairle Contae nach raibh …it was acknowledged in the na nósanna imeachta sin á County Council’s reply that leanúint… the procedures were not being followed… Maidir le comharthaí nua, aithníodh i bhfreagra na Comhairle Contae nach raibh na nósanna imeachta sin á leanúint (nó á leanúint i gcónaí) With regard to new signs, it was acknowledged mar is cóir in áiteanna nó in earnálacha áirithe in the County Council’s reply that the procedures san eagraíocht agus nár mhór próiseas ní ba were not being followed (or always followed) in chórasaí a chur i bhfeidhm “chun a chinntiú go the appropriate manner in certain areas or mbeidh córas seiceála i gceist le gach sections of the organisation and that a more comharthaíocht nua a fhaightear chun ceanglais systematic process was required “to ensure that a Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla 2003 a system existed to check that all new signage chomhlíonadh, maidir le cibé rannóg a bheidh i acquired fulfils the requirements of the Official gceist.” Cuireadh in iúl don imscrúdú go raibh na Languages Act 2003, no matter which section is nósanna imeachta leasaithe ag an gComhairle involved.” The investigation was informed that the Contae agus go raibh céim bhreise á cur leo. Ba procedure had been amended and that an extra chóir feasta an dréacht d’aon chomhartha nua a step had been added. In future a draft of any chur faoi bhráid an Oifigigh Gaeilge le profú sula new sign is to be submitted to the Irish Language gcuirtear an comhartha nua sin á dhéanamh. Officer for proofing before proceeding with the construction of the new sign. Príomh-mholtaí an Imscrúdaithe Main Recommendations of the Investigation Chomh maith leis na comharthaí a cheartú, mhol mé don Chomhairle Contae go dtabharfaí chun In addition to correcting the signs, I críche an t­athbhreithniú ar an bpróiseas recommended that the County Council complete fiosraithe gearán ar tagraíodh dó ina freagra ar an the review of the complaints investigation imscrúdú agus go gcuirfí i bhfeidhm aon leasuithe process referred to in its reply and implement is gá chun go mbeadh córas éifeachtach i any amendments necessary to have an effective bhfeidhm chun go bhfiosrófar agus go system in place to investigate and reply to bhfreagrófar gearáin go críochnúil agus go sásúil. complaints in an appropriate and timely fashion.

Ina theannta sin, mhol mé nósanna imeachta I also recommended that the County Council leasaithe maidir le hordú comharthaí nua a issue to its staff amended procedures for eisiúint chuig an bhfoireann agus moltaí a chur ordering signs and submit recommendations to 28 Tuarascáil Bhliantúil | Annual Report 2019

faoi mo bhráid maidir leis na céimeanna breise me concerning the steps to be taken to ensure atá beartaithe ag an gComhairle Contae d’fhonn that staff are aware of the procedures and are a dheimhniú go bhfuil na nósanna imeachta sin following them and that the procedures are ar eolas ag an bhfoireann agus á leanúint acu established as normal practice throughout the agus go bhfuil siad daingnithe mar organisation. ghnáthchleachtas ar fud na heagraíochta. Although I had written in Irish to the County Cé gur i nGaeilge a scríobh mé chuig an Council regarding the investigation, the first gComhairle Contae i dtaca leis an imscrúdú, ba i version of the two replies received from the mBéarla a bhí an chéad leagan de dhá fhreagra County Council were in English although Irish­ ón gComhairle Contae, cé gur cuireadh leagan language versions were subsequently provided. Gaeilge ar fáil ina dhiaidh sin. Is den riachtanas é All public bodies need to have arrangements in go mbeadh socruithe i bhfeidhm ag comhlachtaí place to deal effectively with written poiblí chun déileáil go héifeachtach le cumarsáid correspondence in Irish, from me or from i scríbhinn as Gaeilge, pé acu uaimse nó ó aon anybody else. I recommended that this be done. duine eile. Rinne mé moladh dá réir sin. Investigation launched: 23 November 2018 Imscrúdú seolta: 23 Samhain 2018 Report issued: 17 July 2019 Tuarascáil eisithe: 17 Iúil 2019

Comhairle Contae Lú Louth County Council

Léirigh imscrúdú gur sháraigh Comhairle Contae An investigation demonstrated that Louth Lú na dualgais teanga atá sna forálacha reachtúla County Council infringed the language seo a leanas: obligations in the following statutory provisions: • alt 9(2) d’Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla, 2003 • section 9(2) of the Official Languages Act 2003 trí chumarsáid leis an bpost leictreonach i by replying in English to a communication by nGaeilge a fhreagairt i mBéarla, electronic mail written in Irish, • alt 18(1) den Acht toisc nár cuireadh i • section 18(1) of the Act by failing to implement bhfeidhm gealltanais áirithe a daingníodh i certain commitments made in the County Scéim Teanga na Comhairle Contae a Council’s language scheme that concern the bhaineann le soláthar seirbhísí agus eolais i provision of services and information through nGaeilge ar shuíomh gréasáin na Comhairle Irish on the County Council’s website, and Contae, agus • the regulations and orders made under • na rialacháin agus na hordacháin atá déanta subsections 95(2) and 95(16) of the Road faoi fho­ailt 95(2) agus 95(16) den Acht um Traffic Act 1961 in the case of certain traffic Thrácht ar Bhóithre, 1961 i gcás comharthaí signs. tráchta áirithe. Between 2016 and 2018, I received five Idir na blianta 2016 agus 2018, rinneadh cúig complaints concerning the matters addressed in ghearán liom faoi na hábhair a bhain leis an this investigation. My Office raised the imscrúdú seo. D’fhiosraigh m’Oifig na gearáin ar complaints with Louth County Council on an bhonn neamhfhoirmiúil le Comhairle Contae Lú informal basis but the County Council did not ach níor chuir an Chomhairle Contae freagra, nó reply or reply fully. I wrote to the Chief Executive freagra críochnúil, ar fáil. Scríobh mé féin chuig Príomhfheidhmeannach na Comhairle Contae ar Tuarascáil Bhliantúil | Annual Report 2019 29

an 2 Aibreán 2019 maidir leis na gearáin. Níor of the County Council on 2 April 2019 freagraíodh an litir sin. Rinne mé cinneadh dá concerning the complaints. This letter was not bharr sin, ar an 20 Bealtaine 2019, imscrúdú a replied to. I consequently decided on 20 May sheoladh agus lorg mé freagra faoin 11 2019 to launch an investigation and I required a Meitheamh 2019. Níor chuir an Chomhairle reply by 11 June 2019. The County Council did Contae freagra ar fáil dom go dtí an 5 Iúil 2019. not reply until 5 July 2019.

Freagra i mBéarla Reply in English

Sheol gearánach ríomhphost i nGaeilge chuig an The complainant sent an email in Irish to the gComhairle Contae ar an 30 Iúil 2018 agus cé go County Council on 30 July 2018 and although bhfuair sé freagra uathoibríoch ar ais ón he received an automatic acknowledgement gComhairle Contae a bhí dátheangach, fuair sé that was bilingual, he subsequently received dhá fhreagra ina dhiaidh sin a bhí i mBéarla two replies in English only. According to section amháin. De réir alt 9(2) d’Acht na dTeangacha 9(2) of the Official Languages Act, public Oifigiúla, tá dualgas ar chomhlachtaí poiblí bodies are required to reply to written cumarsáid i scríbhinn (lena n­áirítear communication (including emails) in the same ríomhphoist) a fhreagairt sa teanga oifigiúil official language in which the communication chéanna ina bhfuarthas í. was received.

Chuir an Chomhairle Contae in iúl ina freagra ar In its reply, the County Council informed the an imscrúdú gur meabhraíodh do gach rannóg investigation that every section had been nach mór aon chumarsáid a fhaightear trí reminded that any communication received in Ghaeilge a fhreagairt i nGaeilge agus gur iarradh Irish should be replied to in Irish and they had orthu dréachtfhreagraí a chur chuig an Oifigeach been advised to send draft­replies to the Irish Gaeilge chun iad a aistriú. Language Officer for translation.

Suíomh Gréasáin Website

Daingníodh Scéim A Language Scheme Teanga faoi Acht na was confirmed under dTeangacha Oifigiúla in the Official Languages 2007 i gcás Údaráis Act in the case of Áitiúla Lú. Tugadh Louth Local Authorities gealltanais sa Scéim in 2007. Commitments Teanga sin eolas agus were made in this seirbhísí áirithe a chur Language Scheme to ar fáil i nGaeilge agus i provide certain mBéarla ar shuíomh information and gréasáin na Comhairle services on the County Contae lena n­áirítear Council’s website in an t­ábhar statach, Irish, including static foirmeacha, córais content, forms, ríomhíocaíochta agus e­payment systems, idirghníomhaíochta interactive services and agus foilseacháin certain publications áirithe ar nós na dtuarascálacha bliantúla agus na such as the annual report and financial ráiteas airgeadais. statements.

Rinneadh dhá ghearán liom nach raibh na I received two complaints that Louth County gealltanais seo á gcur i bhfeidhm ag Comhairle Council was not adhering to these commitments Contae Lú agus rinne m’Oifig faireachán ar contained in the Language Scheme and my chomhlíonadh na ngealltanas sin de chuid na Office also carried out an audit of compliance Scéime Teanga faoi alt 21(a) d’Acht na with these commitments under section 21(c) of dTeangacha Oifigiúla. Scríobh Bainisteoir the Official Languages Act. This Office’s Géilliúlachta na hOifige seo chuig Compliance Manager wrote to the County Príomhfheidhmeannach na Comhairle Contae ar Council’s Chief Executive on 28 February 2019 30 Tuarascáil Bhliantúil | Annual Report 2019

an 28 Feabhra 2019 chun a chur in iúl di nach to inform her that it appeared to this Office that bhfacthas don Oifig go raibh na gealltanais sin á these commitments were not being satisfactorily gcomhlíonadh go sásúil. complied with.

I bhfreagra na Comhairle Contae ar an imscrúdú, In its reply to the investigation, the County glacadh leis nár comhlíonadh agus nár cuireadh i Council conceded that not every commitment bhfeidhm gach ceann de ghealltanais na Scéime made in the Language Scheme had been Teanga ach mhaígh sí go raibh sí tiomanta dá implemented or complied with but the Council cuid oibleagáidí faoin scéim sin a chomhlíonadh. asserted that it fully committed to fulfilling its obligations under the Scheme. Gearáin faoi Chomharthaí Tráchta Complaints concerning Traffic Signs Rinneadh trí ghearán liom maidir le comharthaí tráchta i gContae Lú a tarraingíodh anuas le I received three complaints concerning traffic Comhairle Contae Lú agus nach bhfuarthas signs that were raised with Louth County Council freagra, nó freagra críochnúil, orthu. Sa fhreagra which hadn’t been replied to or replied to fully. ar an imscrúdú, dheimhnigh an Chomhairle In the reply to the investigation, the County Contae go raibh tuairisc tugtha don rannóg Council confirmed that a report had been sent to ábhartha agus gur cuireadh ceartú fhormhór na the relevant section and that the majority of gcomharthaí sin ar an gclár oibreacha. Níor these signs had been placed on the works tugadh le fios cén uair a cheartófaí na schedule. It was not indicated when these signs comharthaí sin. would be corrected.

Bhain gearán amháin, áfach, le comharthaí One complaint related to traffic signs containing tráchta agus an logainm “Ó Méith” orthu ar the place name “Ó Méith” on the R168 and R132 bhóithre an R168 agus an R132. Thug an roads. The complainant indicated that the place gearánach le fios go raibh an logainm litrithe go name was misspelt (“O Méith” – without a míchruinn (“O Méith” – gan síneadh fada ar an síneadh fada on the “O”). The County Council “O”). Chuir an Chomhairle Contae in iúl ina informed the investigation in its reply of 5 July freagra dar dáta an 5 Iúil go ndearnadh cuardach that a search had been carried out and no sign agus nár aimsíodh aon chomhartha ar a raibh an had been found with the placename “Ó Méith” logainm “Ó Méith” litrithe go míchruinn. Iarradh ar incorrectly spelt. The Council said, however, that an bhfoireann, áfach, a dúradh, leanúint orthu á its staff were requested to continue searching gcuardach agus go gceartófaí aon cheann a bhí and that it would amend incorrect signs if any litrithe go míchruinn dá n­aimseofaí a leithéid. were found.

…ní fhaca sé an logainm …he failed to find any road litrithe go cruinn ar aon sign where the place name chomhartha tráchta… was correctly spelt…

Ar an 11 Lúnasa 2019, thaistil oifigeach de chuid On 11 August 2019, an officer of this Office na hOifige seo bóithre an R168 agus an R132 travelled the R168 and the R132 roads and agus chonaic sé go raibh “O Méith” ar thuairim found “O Méith” on about twelve traffic signs. agus 12 chomhartha tráchta. Go deimhin, ní fhaca Indeed, he failed to find any road sign where the sé an logainm litrithe go cruinn ar aon chomhartha place name was correctly spelt (with the tráchta (seachas dhá chomhartha ealaíonta ar exception of two artistic signs on the eastern imeall thoir agus thiar an tsráidbhaile féin). and western edge of the village itself).

Príomh-mholtaí an Imscrúdaithe Main Recommendations of the Investigation

Mhol mé don Chomhairle Contae pé socruithe I recommended that the County Council put in ba ghá a chur i bhfeidhm chun a chinntiú go place whatever arrangements were necessary to gcloífí leis an dualgas reachtúil atá uirthi aon ensure that it complied with the statutory chumarsáid i scríbhinn, nó leis an bpost Tuarascáil Bhliantúil | Annual Report 2019 31

leictreonach, a fhaightear i nGaeilge a fhreagairt obligation to reply in Irish to any written sa teanga chéanna. communication or electronic mail received in Irish.

Mhol mé go n­ullmhófaí plean gníomhaíochta I recommended that the County Council prepare maidir le heolas agus seirbhísí a chur ar fáil as an action plan to provide information and Gaeilge ar a suíomh gréasáin i gcomhréir leis na services in Irish on its website in accordance with gealltanais atá déanta ina Scéim Teanga agus go the commitments made in the Language Scheme ndéanfaí socruithe san eagraíocht chun a and that arrangements be set in place to ensure chinntiú go gcloítear leis na gealltanais sin feasta that the commitment is adhered to in future nuair a bheidh athruithe á gcur i bhfeidhm ar an when changes are made to the website or new suíomh nó faisnéis nó saoráidí nua á gcur air. information or facilities made available on it.

Mhol mé freisin na comharthaí tráchta a I also recommended that the traffic signs specified sonraíodh san imscrúdú a cheartú nó a athrú in the investigation are corrected and that work agus go ndaingneofaí cleachtais oibre sa practices are established in the County Council Chomhairle Contae chun plé go cuí agus go to ensure that complaints raised by this Office are tráthúil le gearáin ón Oifig seo. dealt with appropriately and in a timely fashion.

Imscrúdú seolta: 20 Bealtaine 2019 Investigation launched: 20 May 2019 Tuarascáil eisithe: 16 Deireadh Fómhair 2019 Report issued: 16 October 2019

Comhairle Contae Carlow County Cheatharlach Council

Léirigh imscrúdú gur sháraigh Comhairle Contae An investigation found that Carlow County Cheatharlach na dualgais reachtúla teanga atá Council breached the statutory language daingnithe sna rialacháin i dtaca le obligations with regard to signs in the regulations comharthaíocht faoi fho­alt 9(1) d’Acht na made under section 9(1) of the Official dTeangacha Oifigiúla, 2003 agus dualgais Languages Act 2003 and the statutory language reachtúla teanga maidir le comharthaí tráchta. obligations concerning traffic signs.

Rinneadh trí ghearán liom in 2017 agus 2018 I received three complaints in 2017 and 2018 maidir leis an easpa Gaeilge ar chomharthaí i concerning the absence of Irish on signs in mbaile Cheatharlach ar chosúil gur chomharthaí Carlow town that appeared to be signs de chuid Chomhairle Contae Cheatharlach iad. belonging to Carlow County Council. These Fiosraíodh na gearáin sin leis an gComhairle complaints were raised through the informal Contae tríd an bpróiseas neamhfhoirmiúil a process my Office operates as a first step. The fheidhmíonn m’Oifig mar chéad chéim. Níor County Council failed to reply to any of these éirigh leis an gComhairle Contae aon fhreagra a complaints notwithstanding four reminders sent chur ar fáil ar na gearáin sin in ainneoin ceithre by my Office after originally raising the cinn de mheabhrúcháin a bheith curtha chuig an complaints. gComhairle Contae ag m’Oifig, i ndiaidh a bhfiosraithe den chéad uair. 32 Tuarascáil Bhliantúil | Annual Report 2019

B’ábhar mór díomá dom mar It was very disappointing that sin nach raibh gearáin ó Carlow County Council was m’Oifigse á bhfreagairt ag still not replying to Comhairle Contae complaints… Cheatharlach… I had previously carried out an investigation of Carlow County Council in 2015 concerning Rinne mé imscrúdú cheana ar Chomhairle Council signs and included in the Contae Cheatharlach in 2015 maidir le recommendations made in the investigation comharthaí dá cuid, agus i measc na moltaí a report I recommended that work practices be rinne mé i dtuarascáil an imscrúdaithe sin, mhol established in the County Council to deal in an mé go ndaingneofaí cleachtas oibre sa appropriate and timely manner with complaints Chomhairle Contae le plé go cuí agus go tráthúil concerning breaches of language legislation. It le gearáin faoi sháruithe ar reachtaíocht teanga. was very disappointing that Carlow County B’ábhar mór díomá dom mar sin nach raibh Council was still not replying to complaints and gearáin ó m’Oifigse á bhfreagairt ag Comhairle that I needed to launch another investigation to Contae Cheatharlach agus gur ghá dom make findings regarding complaints made to me. imscrúdú a sheoladh arís d’fhonn fionnachtana a I launched the investigation on 4 July 2019. dhéanamh ar ábhar na ngearán a bhí déanta liom. Sheol mé an t­imscrúdú ar an 4 Iúil 2019. As no reply was received, my Office wrote to the Chief Executive again on 7 August 2019 to Nuair nach bhfuarthas aon fhreagra ón advise her that there was a statutory gComhairle Contae, b’éigean do m’Oifig scríobh requirement under the Act to reply. The County chuig an bPríomhfheidhmeannach arís ar an 7 Council replied first on 3 September 2019 and Lúnasa 2019 chun comhairle a chur uirthi go provided a more comprehensive reply in the raibh ceanglas reachtúil faoin Acht freagra a chur form of a report dated 18 October 2019. ar fáil. D’fhreagair an Chomhairle Contae i dtús báire ar an 3 Meán Fómhair 2019 agus chuir sí In the reply provided by Carlow County Council, freagra níos iomláine ar fáil i bhfoirm tuarascáil it was accepted that the signs were not in dar dáta an 18 Deireadh Fómhair 2019. accordance with the relevant language legislation. It was confirmed that steps were Sa fhreagra a chuir Comhairle Contae being taken in the relevant sections of the Cheatharlach ar fáil, glacadh leis go raibh na County Council to correct the signs and when comharthaí ar neamhréir leis an reachtaíocht they were corrected, evidence would be ábhartha teanga. Deimhníodh go raibh provided to confirm this. The County Council céimeanna á nglacadh sna rannóga ábhartha den asserted that the management and staff were Chomhairle Contae chun na comharthaí sin a highly committed to fulfilling the statutory cheartú agus nuair a bheidís ceartaithe, go gcuirfí obligations regarding the use of languages on ar fáil fianaise á dheimhniú sin. Mhaígh an signs. Chomhairle Contae go raibh an lucht bainistíochta agus an fhoireann an­dáiríre faoi The investigation was informed that the County chomhlíonadh na ndualgas reachtúil teanga a Council had a system in place to deal with bhaineann le comharthaí. complaints but that several changes had recently been made in the Corporate Services Section Tugadh le fios go raibh córas i bhfeidhm ag an “which resulted in a lack of continuity.” It was gComhairle Contae chun plé le gearáin ach go asserted that this issue had now been addressed. ndearnadh roinnt athruithe foirne le déanaí sa Rannóg Seirbhísí Corparáideacha agus go raibh “easpa leanúnachais mar thoradh air.” Maíodh go rabhthas tar éis aghaidh a thabhairt ar an gceist sin. Tuarascáil Bhliantúil | Annual Report 2019 33

…ghlac an Chomhairle …in view of the long delay in Contae leis, i bhfianaise na replying to the complaints moille fada a bhain le freagra raised, the County Council a chur ar fáil ar na gearáin, accepted that its system for go raibh gá lena córas investigating complaints fiosraithe gearán a leasú… needed to be amended…

Ina theannta sin, ghlac an Chomhairle Contae In addition, in view of the long delay in replying leis, i bhfianaise na moille fada a bhain le freagra to the complaints raised, the County Council a chur ar fáil ar na gearáin, go raibh gá lena córas accepted that its system for investigating fiosraithe gearán a leasú agus a fheabhsú lena n­ complaints needed to be amended and improved áirítear spriocanna ama a gcaithfí cloí leo ón am a to include target time­frames to be adhered to bhfaightear gearán go dtí go ndéantar ábhar an from the time a complaint is received until that ghearáin a réiteach agus freagra a chur ar fáil. matter is dealt with and a reply provided.

Príomh-mholtaí an Imscrúdaithe Main Recommendations of the Investigation

Chomh maith leis na comharthaí a áiríodh san In addition to correcting or replacing the signs imscrúdú a cheartú nó a athrú, mhol mé nósanna included in the investigation, I recommended imeachta leasaithe a eisiúint chuig an bhfoireann that amended procedures regarding the ordering maidir le hordú comharthaí nua agus moltaí a of new signs be issued to staff and that chur faoi mo bhráid maidir leis na céimeanna proposals be submitted to me regarding the breise atá beartaithe ag an gComhairle Contae, extra steps the County Council intends to take to d’fhonn a dheimhniú go bhfuil na nósanna confirm that staff are aware of these procedures imeachta sin ar eolas ag an bhfoireann agus á and are following them and that these leanúint acu agus go bhfuil na nósanna imeachta procedures are established as normal practice sin daingnithe mar ghnáthchleachtas ar fud na throughout the organisation. I also heagraíochta. Mhol mé freisin go gcuirfí i gcrích recommended that the necessary amendments pé leasuithe ba ghá a dhéanamh ar an bpróiseas be made to the complaints investigation process fiosraithe gearán chun go mbeadh córas so that an efficient system is in place to éifeachtach i bhfeidhm faoina bhfiosrófaí agus investigate and to respond comprehensively faoina bhfreagrófaí go críochnúil agus go sásúil within the specified time to any complaint aon ghearán ón Oifig seo, laistigh den sprioc­am received from this Office. a sonraíodh. Investigation launched: 4 July 2019 Imscrúdú seolta: 4 Iúil 2019 Report issued: 4 December 2019 Tuarascáil eisithe: 4 Nollaig 2019 34 Tuarascáil Bhliantúil | Annual Report 2019

CÚLRA AN PHRÓISIS IMSCRÚDAITHE BACKGROUND TO INVESTIGATION PROCESS Is croífheidhm de chuid an Choimisinéara Teanga imscrúdú a thionscnamh má mheastar go A key function of An Coimisinéir Teanga is to bhféadfadh sárú a bheith déanta ar aon fhoráil initiate investigations if it is felt that a provision de chuid an Achta nó d’aon achtachán eile a of the Act or of any other enactment concerning bhaineann le húsáid nó le stádas teanga oifigiúla. the use or status of an official language may Is féidir liom imscrúdú a dhéanamh ar mo have been breached. I can carry out an thionscnamh féin, de bhun gearáin, nó ar iarratas investigation on my own initiative, pursuant to a ón Aire. complaint, or at the request of the Minister.

Próiseas foirmiúil a bhíonn i gceist le himscrúdú An investigation involves a formal process ina gcuirtear an mhainneachtain reachtúil a whereby the possible statutory failure that may d’fhéadfadh a bheith tarlaithe i láthair an have occurred is presented to the public body. chomhlachta phoiblí. Tugtar deis don chomhlacht The public body is given the opportunity to poiblí a chás a chur i mo láthair agus is gá gach present its case to me and is required to provide taifead ábhartha a chur ar fáil dom. Tar éis dom me with all relevant records. After evaluating all an t­eolas ar fad a fháil agus a mheá eisím the information received, I issue an investigation tuarascáil imscrúdaithe chuig na páirtithe report containing findings and recommendations, ábhartha ina mbíonn fionnachtana agus moltaí if appropriate, to all the relevant parties. A party atá déanta agam, más cuí sin. Is féidir le páirtí in to an investigation or any person affected by the imscrúdú, nó aon duine a ndéanann mo findings and recommendations may appeal to chinneadh agus na moltaí difear dóibh, the High Court on a point of law. achomharc a dhéanamh ar phonc dlí chun na hArd­Chúirte. A summary of all the investigations completed during 2019 is available in this Report. However Tá achoimre le fáil sa Tuarascáil seo ar na it should be clearly understood that these himscrúduithe a tugadh chun críche le linn na summaries are merely condensed accounts of bliana 2019. Ní mór a thuiscint, áfach, gur the cases involved and that the authoritative cuntais ghairide atá i gceist leis na hachoimrí accounts are contained in the official reports. agus is sna tuarascálacha oifigiúla atá na tuairiscí The following is a summary of the number of údarásacha. Tá achoimre thíos ar líon na n­ investigations initiated and completed during imscrúduithe a tionscnaíodh agus a tugadh chun 2019: críche le linn 2019: 2018 2019 2018 2019 Brought forward from previous year 3 2 Tugtha ar aghaidh ón mbliain roimhe 3 2 Investigations launched 8 5 Imscrúduithe seolta 8 5 Total in hand 9 7 Iomlán idir lámha 9 7 Brought forward to next year 2 2 Tugtha ar aghaidh go dtí an chéad bhliain eile 2 2 Total completed 9 5 Iomlán críochnaithe 9 5 Tuarascáil Bhliantúil | Annual Report 2019 35

GEARÁIN COMPLAINTS

Le linn na bliana seo fuair m’Oifig 704 gearán. Is My Office received 704 complaints during the ardú 11% é sin ar an líon gearán a fuarthas le year. This constituted an increase of 11% on the linn na bliana 2018 (638). number of complaints received in 2018 (638).

Is ó Chontae Bhaile Átha Cliath is mó a tháinig na The greatest number of complaints were gearáin ach tháinig líon suntasach freisin ó received from County Dublin although a Chontaetha na Gaillimhe, Chill Chainnigh, significant amount was received from Counties Chiarraí agus Dhún na nGall. Dála na bliana Galway, Kilkenny, Kerry and Donegal. As anuraidh, tháinig tuairim agus an cúigiú cuid transpired last year, about a fifth of the díobh ón nGaeltacht. complaints came from the Gaeltacht.

Fearacht blianta roimhe seo, fuarthas As in previous years, my Office resolved the comhréiteach ar chuid mhór de na gearáin a majority of complaints through the informal rinneadh le m’Oifig tríd an gcóras complaints process or through providing advice neamhfhoirmiúil réitithe gearán a fheidhmíonn to the complainants. I appreciate the cooperation m’Oifig nó trí chomhairle a chur ar fáil do received from certain public bodies in dealing ghearánaigh. Is mór agam an comhoibriú a fuair with cases in this manner. In cases such as these m’Oifig ó chomhlachtaí poiblí áirithe le déileáil le the public body makes satisfactory proposals to cásanna ar an mbealach sin. I gcásanna den deal with the complaint. If our efforts do not chineál seo cuireann an comhlacht poiblí moltaí yield a satisfactory outcome, I have the authority sásúla os ár gcomhair chun aghaidh a thabhairt ar to initiate a formal investigation in order to make ábhar an ghearáin. Mura mbíonn aon toradh findings and recommendations. Summaries of sásúil ar na hiarrachtaí seo tá sé de chumhacht cases that were not resolved in this informal agam imscrúdú foirmiúil a thionscnamh chun manner and in respect of which formal teacht ar fhionnachtana agus moltaí. Tá achoimre investigations were completed are provided in ar na cásanna nár réitíodh tríd an gcóras the chapter of this Report entitled neamhfhoirmiúil réitithe gearán agus inar “Investigations”. críochnaíodh imscrúduithe foirmiúla ina leith sa chaibidil den Tuarascáil seo dar teideal The range of complaints is wide and varied and “Imscrúduithe”. the approach required in dealing with them often depends on the attitude of the public body Tá réimse na ngearán fairsing agus ilghnéitheach, concerned. Most public bodies are cooperative. agus bíonn an cur chuige atá de dhíth ag brath A short account is given below of examples of go mór ar dhearcadh an chomhlachta phoiblí lena complaints resolved through the informal mbaineann sé. Bíonn comhoibriú maith le fáil go process in order to provide an insight into the hiondúil ó fhormhór na gcomhlachtaí poiblí. Tá operation of this process and into some cur síos gairid anseo thíos ar shamplaí de interesting cases. ghearáin a réitíodh trí an gcóras neamhfhoirmiúil le linn na bliana le léargas a thabhairt ar an obair Over 90% of the complaints related to five sin agus chun cuntas a thabhairt ar roinnt particular areas: cásanna ar díol spéise iad. • provisions contained in language schemes, Bhain os cionn 90% de na gearáin le cúig réimse • signage and stationery, faoi leith: • replies in English to correspondence in Irish, • forálacha i scéimeanna teanga, • road signs, and • comharthaíocht agus stáiseanóireacht, • difficulty in using names and surnames in Irish • freagraí i mBéarla ar chumarsáid i nGaeilge, • comharthaí bóthair, agus • fadhb le húsáid ainm agus sloinne i nGaeilge 36 Tuarascáil Bhliantúil | Annual Report 2019

Cuimsíonn scéimeanna teanga réimse leathan Language schemes cover a wide variety of gealltanas maidir le seirbhísí a chur ar fáil atá commitments made by over 130 public bodies to tugtha ag os cionn 130 comhlacht poiblí. Ní provide services. It is not surprising that the hionadh, mar sin, go mbaineann an líon is airde highest number of complaints relate to this area. gearán leis an réimse seo. Is féidir le The services complained of can have very real fíoriarmhairtí a bheith i gceist leis na seirbhisí a consequences as demonstrated in some of the ndéantar gearán fúthu mar a léirítear i gcuid de examples described below – services to na cásanna samplacha a bhfuil cuntas orthu Gaeltacht families or the results of a competition anseo thíos – seirbhís a chur ar fáil do for employment to mention two examples. theaghlaigh Ghaeltachta nó toradh iarratais ar chomórtas fostaíochta chun dhá shampla a lua. Climate change is a very topical issue these days. It could be argued that if information concerning Tá an t­athrú aeráide go mór i mbéal an phobail the State’s policies is not provided in Irish, an ar na saolta seo. D’fhéadfaí a áitiú gurb ionann obstacle is put in the way of the full participation gan faisnéis a chur ar fáil i nGaeilge i dtaobh of the Irish language and those who speak it in bheartais an Stáit agus constaic a chur roimh an our society’s public discourse on the major nGaeilge agus lucht a labhartha páirt chuí a questions of the day. ghlacadh i ndioscúrsa poiblí na sochaí faoi mhórcheisteanna na linne. A significant number of complaints relate to signage and stationery which is not surprising, Baineann sciar maith de na gearáin le given their visibility. comharthaíocht agus stáiseanóireacht agus ní haon iontas é sin, ach an oiread, de bharr a The amount and percentage of complaints that fheiceálaí is a bhíonn siad. relate to answers in English to correspondence written in Irish remains significantly high when Tá líon agus céatadán na ngearán i dtaca le one considers that this provision has been in freagraí i mBéarla ar chomhfhreagras i nGaeilge place since 2004 and is one of the most basic fós measartha ard i bhfianaise an fhoráil seo a provisions of the Official Languages Act. Such bheith i bhfeidhm ó 2004 agus í a bheith ar incidents are offensive to the correspondents cheann de na forálacha is bunúsaí in Acht na and the language choice they have made. dTeangacha Oifigiúla. Masla atá sna cásanna sin do na chomhfhreagraithe agus don rogha People encounter difficulties in using the Irish­ theanga atá déanta acu. language versions of their names and addresses for various reasons when dealing with the State. Bíonn deacrachtaí ag daoine a n­ainm agus a In a jurisdiction which recognises two official sloinne i nGaeilge a úsáid i ngnóthaí leis an Stát languages, some mechanism should be found to ar fháthanna éagsúla. I ndlínse ina bhfuil dá support and facilitate people wishing to use the theanga oifigiúla ba chóir go n­aimseofaí Irish­language version of their names. meicníocht a thacódh agus a shimpleodh an tslí rompu siúd ar mian leo an leagan Gaeilge dá n­ A substantial percentage of complaints related ainm a úsáid. also to the provisions of other enactments concerning the status or use of Irish. Of course, Baineann céatadán suntasach de na gearáin, complaints relating to the use of Irish on road chomh maith, le forálacha d’achtacháin eile a signs belong by right to this category, but this is bhaineann le stádas nó le húsáid na Gaeilge. Ar generally provided as an independent figure in ndóigh, baineann na gearáin maidir le húsáid na the statistics below. The obligations on roads Gaeilge ar chomharthaí tráchta leis an réimse seo authorities in respect of road traffic signage are chomh maith, ach léirítear an figiúr sin go set out in the Traffic Signs Manual. hiondúil mar fhigiúr neamhspleách sna staitisticí anseo thíos. Is sa Lámhleabhar do Chomharthaí It should be said that not all the complaints Tráchta a leagtar síos na dualgais atá ar na received by my Office during the years relate to húdaráis bóithre i leith úsáid na Gaeilge ar infringements of statutory obligations under the chomharthaí tráchta. Official Languages Act 2003 or indeed, any other

Is ceart a rá nár bhain na gearáin ar fad chun na hOifige le linn na bliana le sárú ar dhualgais reachtúla faoi Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla, 2003 ná faoi aon achtachán eile, go deimhin. Tuarascáil Bhliantúil | Annual Report 2019 37

Mar a bhí amhlaidh blianta eile, bhain cuid díobh enactment. As transpired in other years, some of le deacrachtaí agus fadhbanna níos ginearálta a these related to difficulties of a more general bhain le gnó a dhéanamh trí Ghaeilge nach nature when conducting business through Irish gcuimsítear in aon dualgas reachtúil. Sna cásanna that are not covered by any statutory provision. sin cuirtear comhairle dá réir ar fáil don In these cases, the complainant is advised ghearánach. Áirítear na cásanna sin sna 403 cás accordingly. These cases are included in the 403 inar tugadh comhairle don phobal le linn na cases in which advice was given to the public bliana. Is ionann iad agus 57% de na ceisteanna during the year. This constitutes 57% of all the ar fad a chuir an pobal faoi bhráid m’Oifige. Ina questions submitted to my Office by the public. fhianaise sin, tá sciar seirbhísí agus faisnéise a This indicates that there is certain demand for a bhfuil éileamh áirithe orthu as Gaeilge, agus nach range of services and information in Irish that is bhfuil foráil déanta dá soláthar go fóill. not provided for.

Gearáin: Deacrachtaí agus Fadhbanna – Staitisticí Complaints: Difficulties and Problems – Statistics

Gearáin le linn 2019 Complaints during 2019 2018 2019 Gearáin Complaints 328 301 Comhairle tugtha Advice given 306 403 Iomlán Total 634 704

Tá anailís ar na cásanna éagsúla sna staitisticí agus sna léaráidí seo a leanas: An analysis of the various cases is provided in the following statistics and illustrations:

Céatadán na ngearán de réir cineáil Percentage of complaints by type

2018 2019 Foráil de scéim teanga (san áireamh: cártaí aitheantais, suíomhanna gréasáin agus foirmeacha) n 35.5% 37.5% Provision of a language scheme (including identity cards, websites and forms) n Easpa Gaeilge ar chomharthaíocht & stáiseanóireacht Lack of Irish on signage and stationery 29.7% 27.4% n Easpa Gaeilge ar chomharthaí bóthair Lack of Irish on road signs 8.5% 8.9% n Freagraí i mBéarla ar chumarsáid i nGaeilge Replies in English to correspondence in Irish 9.0% 6.7% n Fadhb le hainm agus/nó le seoladh i nGaeilge Problem with use of name and/or address in Irish 8.0% 6.7% Achtacháin eile a bhaineann le stádas nó le húsáid na Gaeilge 2.7% 3.3% n Other enactments relating to the use or status of Irish n Foilsiú doiciméad áirithe Publication of certain documents 1.4% 2.8% n Eile (cúiseanna aonair) Other (individual issues) 5.2% 6.7%

Iomlán Total 100% 100% 38 Tuarascáil Bhliantúil | Annual Report 2019

Gearáin: An Ghaeltacht agus lasmuigh den Ghaeltacht Complaints: Gaeltacht and non-Gaeltacht

2018 2019 An Ghaeltacht 20% 18% n Gaeltacht Lasmuigh den Ghaeltacht 80% 82% n Non-Gaeltacht

Iomlán Total 100% 100%

Gearáin de réir contae Complaints by county

2018 2019 Baile Átha Cliath 32.8% 35.3% n Dublin Gaillimh 13.4% 15.3% n Galway Cill Chainnigh 16.5% 8.9% n Kilkenny Ciarraí 4.4% 4.2% n Kerry Dún na nGall 3.1% 4.1% n Donegal Corcaigh 3.1% 3.5% n Cork Liatroim 2.3% 3.2% n Leitrim Cill Mhantáin 2.6% 2.5% n Wicklow Cill Dara 1.4% 2.5% n Kildare An Mhí 4.1% 1.7% n Meath An Clár 1.4% 1.4% n Clare

Lasmuigh den dlínse 1.0% 1.2% Outside the jurisdiction

Eile 13.9% 16.2% Other

Iomlán Total 100% 100% Tuarascáil Bhliantúil | Annual Report 2019 39

Gearáin de réir cineál comhlachta phoiblí Complaints by type of public body

2018 2019 Ranna & oifigí rialtais 18.5% 13.2% n Government departments & offices Údaráis áitiúla 36.0% 34.9% n Local authorities Údaráis sláinte 3.0% 3.9% n Health authorities Údaráis oideachais 3.0% 10.9% n Education authorities Eagraíochtaí eile stáit 39.5% 37.1% n Other state organisations

Iomlán Total 100% 100%

Samplaí de Ghearáin a Examples of Complaints Fiosraíodh in 2019 Examined in 2019

BOIRD OIDEACHAIS AGUS OILIÚNA EDUCATION AND TRAINING BOARDS

Fuair gearánach freagra i mBéarla A complainant received replies in ó dhá cheann déag de Bhoird English from twelve Education Oideachais agus Oiliúna na tíre ar and Training Boards to letters litreacha i nGaeilge uaidh. sent in Irish. My Office D’fhiosraigh m’Oifig an gearán investigated this complaint with seo leis na Boird a bhí i gceist the Boards in question and had agus bhí freagra faighte ó naoi gcinn díobh faoi received replies from nine of them by the end of dheireadh na bliana 2019. Sna freagraí a fuarthas 2019. In the replies received, the Boards uathu, ghlac na Boird leithscéal as ar tharla, apologised for what had happened, they mhínigh siad gur earráid nó botún riaracháin faoi explained that an administrative error or deara nár cloíodh leis an dualgas reachtúil agus oversight was responsible for not adhering to the thug siad le fios go raibh céimeanna á nglacadh statutory obligation and they indicated that steps acu chun an dualgas sin a chur i gcuimhne dá were being taken to remind staff of this bhfoireann. obligation.

Cheapfaí go dtabharfaí freagra i nGaeilge ar litir i One would imagine that a letter written in Irish nGaeilge mar ghnáthchúirtéis, gan beann ar aon would be replied to in Irish as a common dualgas reachtúil, ach tá dualgas reachtúil ann courtesy, regardless of any statutory obligation, cumarsáid i scríbhinn a fhreagairt sa teanga however there is a statutory obligation to reply oifigiúil chéanna ina bhfuarthas í, agus bhí an to a written communication in the same official dualgas sin i bhfeidhm sular bunaíodh na Boird language in which it was received and this Oideachais agus Oiliúna. Is ábhar imní agus obligation was in place before the Education and díomá go dteipfeadh chomh fairsing sin ar earnáil Training Boards were established. That an entire iomlán dualgas bunúsach de chuid an Achta a sector should so widely fail to fulfil such a basic chomhlíonadh. Is dealraitheach nár tugadh aird a obligation under the Act is a matter of concern dóthain ar an dualgas sin i gcleachtais riaracháin and disappointment. It appears that this na n­eagraíochtaí. obligation was not sufficiently addressed in the administrative practices of these organisations. 40 Tuarascáil Bhliantúil | Annual Report 2019

FEIDHMEANNACHT NA SEIRBHÍSE HEALTH SERVICE SLÁINTE EXECUTIVE

Rinne beirt tuismitheoirí ón nGaeltacht gearán Two parents from the Gaeltacht complained to liom nach raibh seirbhís ar fáil as Gaeilge me that a service in the Irish language was not dóibhsean ná dá bpáistí óga ó Fheidhmeannacht available to either themselves or their young na Seirbhíse Sláinte nuair a thug siad a bpáistí children from the Health Service Executive when chuig clinic imdhíonta MMR a reáchtáladh in Ionad they brought their children to an MMR Leighis i gceantar láidir Gaeltachta in iarthar na tíre. vaccination clinic run in a Health Centre in a strong Gaeltacht area in the west of Ireland. Ba chainteoirí dúchais iad na tuismitheoirí agus a bpáistí óga araon ach nuair a tháinig siad go dtí Both the parents and the young children were an clinic, bhí sé á reáchtáil i mBéarla agus ní raibh native Irish speakers but when they arrived at an fhoireann a bhí i mbun an ghnó in ann plé leo the clinic, it was being run through English and i nGaeilge. the staff involved were unable to deal with them through Irish. Daingníodh Scéim Teanga faoin Acht i gcás Fheidhmeannacht na Seirbhíse Sláinte in 2005 i A Language Scheme under the Act was réigiún an Iarthair. Tugadh gealltanas sa scéim go confirmed in 2005 for the Health Service ndéanfaí gach iarracht seirbhísí sláinte a chur ar Executive for the Western region. A commitment fáil sa teanga oifigiúil is ansa leis an othar agus go was made in this scheme to make every effort to mbunófaí córais le cinntiú go mbeadh teaghlaigh provide health services in the official language atá ag tógáil clainne le Gaeilge in ann teacht ar preferred by the patient and that a system would scrúduithe agus tástálacha éagsúla trí Ghaeilge. be established to ensure that families rearing their children through Irish could avail of various I bhfreagra na Feidhmeannachta, glacadh leithscéal examinations and tests in Irish. as ar tharla. Tugadh le fios go raibh dúshláin ag baint le baill foirne a chur ar fáil don Ghaeltacht a In its reply, the HSE apologised for the incident. raibh Gaeilge acu, ach tugadh le fios go raibh treoir It explained that providing staff for the Gaeltacht tugtha do na bainisteoirí cuí a chinntiú go gcuirtear with a competency in Irish presented challenges, baill foirne le Gaeilge ar fáil nuair atá gá leo chun however a direction had been given to the seirbhísí sláinte a chur ar fáil trí Ghaeilge. Ina relevant managers to ensure that staff with Irish theannta sin, cuireadh in iúl go n­ullmhófaí agus go were made available when required to provide bhfeidhmeofaí plean do na seirbhísí bunchúraim i health services through Irish. In addition, the nGaillimh a chinnteodh go bhfaigheadh cainteoirí HSE informed us that a plan would be prepared Gaeilge seirbhísí trí Ghaeilge. and implemented in the primary care services in Galway to ensure that Irish speakers would Léirítear go suntasach san eachtra seo an receive services in Irish. riachtanas bonn reachtúil a chur faoi sholáthar seirbhísí poiblí trí Ghaeilge sa Ghaeltacht – This incident vividly demonstrates the need that riachtanas ar thagair mé dó i réamhrá na I referred to in my introduction to this report, to tuarascála seo. Tá inmharthanacht na Gaeilge put the provision of public services through Irish mar theanga phobail ag brath ar an líon róbheag in the Gaeltacht on a statutory footing. The tuismitheoirí a chuireann an dua agus an dúshlán survival of Irish as a living community language orthu féin a gclann a thógáil le Gaeilge – níor depends on the small number of parents who chóir don Stát féin a bheith ag cur leis na take upon themselves the trouble and challenge constaicí iomadúla atá ina mbealach. of rearing their children as Irish speakers – the State itself should not add to the many difficulties they face. Tuarascáil Bhliantúil | Annual Report 2019 41

AN ROINN CUMARSÁIDE, DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATIONS, GNÍOMHAITHE AR SON NA hAERÁIDE CLIMATE ACTION AND AGUS COMHSHAOIL ENVIRONMENT

Níorbh fhéidir le gearánach teacht ar A complainant was unable to obtain an leagan Gaeilge de Plean Gnímh don Aeráid, Irish­language version of the Climate 2019 a d’fhoilsigh an Roinn Cumarsáide, PLEAN Action Plan 2019 published by the Gníomhaithe ar son na hAeráide agus GNÍMH DON Department of Communications, Climate Comhshaoil. Action and Environment. AERÁID Sa Scéim Teanga a daingníodh i gcás na 2019 In the Language Scheme confirmed for Roinne in 2018, tugadh an gealltanas go Chun dul i ngleic le Cliseadh na hAeráide the Department in 2018, a commitment gcuirfí ar fáil go dátheangach “Ráitis nó was given to publish bilingually “Major athbhreithnithe móra ar bheartais in policy statements or reviews in the earnálacha na cumarsáide, craoltóireachta, communications, broadcasting, postal, poist, fuinnimh, gníomhaithe ar son na energy, climate action, environment and haeráide, comhshaoil agus acmhainní natural resources sectors.” nádúrtha.” It was in this context that my Office raised the Is ar an mbonn seo a tharraing m’Oifig an cheist question with the Department. The Department seo anuas leis an Roinn. Mhínigh an Roinn nár explained that an Irish­language version had not cuireadh leagan Gaeilge den doiciméad ar fáil ar been provided on its website at the same time as a suíomh gréasáin ag an am céanna leis an leagan the English­language version because Béarla toisc go raibh athruithe á ndéanamh ar an amendments were being made to the English leagan Béarla díreach go dtí an pointe ar version right up to the time it was published. It foilsíodh é. Cuireadh ar a súile don Roinn go was pointed out to the Department, however, raibh roinnt míonna ann ó foilsíodh an leagan that several months had passed since the Béarla. Cuireadh leagan Gaeilge den Phlean ar publication of the English­language version. An fáil agus glacadh leis go gcaithfí na ráitis nó na Irish­language version was provided and it was hathbhreithnithe ar tagraíodh dóibh sa accepted that the major statements or reviews ghealltanas sa Scéim Teanga a fhoilsiú i nGaeilge referred to in the commitment made in the agus i mBéarla ag an am céanna. Language Scheme should be published both in Irish and in English at the same time.

AN POST AN POST

Bhí lipéad de chuid an Phoist A label from An Post indicating that greamaithe de chlúdach litreach a the address was “incorrect” was seachadadh chuig gearánach inar attached to the envelope of a letter tugadh le fios go raibh an seoladh “mícheart”. Is delivered to a complainant. The address on the amhlaidh a bhí an seoladh scríofa i nGaeilge ar an envelope was written in Irish and the label gclúdach sin agus tugadh le fios sa lipéad a indicated that the English­language version of greamaíodh de gurbh é an leagan Béarla den the address was the correct version. The seoladh an leagan cruinn. Ghoill sé ar an complainant was aggrieved that it had been ngearánach go rabhthas ag tabhairt le fios nach indicated that the Irish versions of the raibh na leaganacha Gaeilge de na placenames were incorrect and that they should logainmneacha cruinn agus nár chóir iad a úsáid. not be used.

Tá geallta ag an bPost ina Scéim Teanga faoin In its Language Scheme under the Act, An Post Acht gurb é aidhm na heagraíochta go affirmed the organisation’s aim that post bhfaigheadh postas ar a bhfuil seoladh i nGaeilge addressed in Irish should receive that same level an leibhéal céanna seirbhíse agus a gheobhadh of service as post addressed in English. postas ar a bhfuil seoladh Béarla. 42 Tuarascáil Bhliantúil | Annual Report 2019

Nuair a d’fhiosraigh m’Oifig an cheist leis an When my Office investigated the matter with An bPost, mhínigh An Post nár cheart go ngreamófaí Post, An Post explained that the label should not an lipéad den litir ná go dtabharfaí le fios gurb have been attached to the letter nor should it iad na logainmneacha Béarla amháin na have been indicated that only the English leaganacha cruinne. Ní raibh sé seo de réir versions of the placenames were correct. These nósanna oibriúcháin caighdeánacha na actions were not in accord with the operational heagraíochta. Glacadh leithscéal leis an standards of the organisation. It apologised to ngearánach agus meabhraíodh d’fhoireann na the complainant and the staff of the local hoifige áitiúla seachadta agus d’fhoireann na n­ delivery office and the staff of all its delivery oifigí seachadta go léir na nósanna oibriúcháin is offices were reminded of the operational gá a leanúint maidir le litreacha a bhfuil seoladh i procedures to be followed in delivering letters nGaeilge orthu. addressed in Irish.

BORD OIDEACHAIS AGUS OILIÚNA NA GALWAY AND ROSCOMMON GAILLIMHE AGUS ROS COMÁIN EDUCATION AND TRAINING BOARD

Rinne duine gearán liom maidir A member of the public made a leis an leagan Gaeilge d’fhoirm complaint concerning the Irish­ iarratais do phoist language version of an mhúinteoireachta a chuir Bord application form for teaching Oideachais agus Oiliúna na posts provided by the Galway Gaillimhe agus Ros Comáin ar fáil and Roscommon Education and do chomórtas earcaíochta. Training Board in a recruitment competition. Níorbh ionann cuid de na hinniúlachtaí ar iarradh ar iarratasóirí eolas a chur ar fáil fúthu sa leagan The competencies that the applicant was Gaeilge den fhoirm agus iad sin a bhí sa leagan required to demonstrate were not the same in Béarla. Bhí an gearánach den tuairim dá the Irish­language version of the form as in the ndéanfadh iarratasóir leagan Gaeilge den fhoirm English­language version. The complainant was a chomhlánú, nach mbeadh an t­eolas a bhí of the opinion that if an applicant filled in the curtha ar fáil aige/aici ag freagairt in aon chor do Irish version of the form, the information na hinniúlachtaí a sonraíodh sa bhunleagan provided by him/her would not correspond at all Béarla den fhoirm agus gur dóiche go bhfágfadh to the competencies specified in the original sin an t­iarratasóir a chomhlánaigh an leagan English version of the form and would probably Gaeilge den fhoirm faoi mhíbhuntáiste mór. put the applicant who filled in the Irish version at a great disadvantage. Nuair a tharraing m’Oifig an gearán seo anuas leis an mBord, chuir sé leagan leasaithe den When my Office raised this complaint with the fhoirm Ghaeilge ar fáil agus ghabh sé leithscéal Board, it provided an amended version of the as an míchaoithiúlacht a chruthaigh an earráid Irish­language form and apologised for the riaracháin seo. inconvenience this administrative error had caused. Is léiriú é seo ar a thábhachtaí agus atá sé go ndéanfadh comhlachtaí poiblí cúram cuí de This illustrates the importance of taking cháipéisí atá á n­aistriú lena gcur ar fáil don adequate care when public bodies have phobal ionas nach gcruthaítear deacrachtaí gan documents translated to make them available to ghá do dhaoine a bhaineann úsáid astu. the public, so that unnecessary difficulties are avoided for people using them. Tuarascáil Bhliantúil | Annual Report 2019 43

AN ROINN LEANAÍ AGUS DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND GNÓTHAÍ ÓIGE YOUTH AFFAIRS

D’fhoilsigh an Roinn Leanaí agus Gnóthaí Óige The Department of Children and Youth Affairs Dréachtphlean Gníomhaíochta Feighlíochta published a Draft Childminding Action Plan in Leanaí i mí Aibreáin chun críche comhairliúchán April for public consultation. When a person was poiblí. Nuair nárbh fhéidir le duine den phobal unable to obtain an Irish­language version of the teacht ar leagan Gaeilge den Dréachtphlean, Draft Plan, he made a complaint to me. rinne sé gearán liom faoi. Under the Official Languages Act any document Faoi Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla, ní mór aon containing public policy proposals must be doiciméad ina bhfuil tograí nó moltaí ó thaobh published simultaneously in both the Irish and beartas poiblí a fhoilsiú go comhuaineach i English languages. It appeared to us that the nGaeilge agus i mBéarla. Chonacthas dúinn go document did contain public policy proposals raibh tograí beartais phoiblí sa doiciméad seo and the matter was raised with the Department agus tharraingíomar an gearán anuas leis an on this basis. Roinn ar an mbonn sin. The Department conceded that the Draft Plan Ghlac an Roinn leis gur chóir go bhfoilseofaí an should have been published simultaneously in Dréachtphlean féin go comhuaineach sa dá both languages and that this had not happened. theanga agus nár tharla sin. Ina ionad sin, Instead, the Department had published an d’fhoilsigh an Roinn leagan achomair abridged explanatory version in Irish and in mhínitheach i nGaeilge agus i mBéarla agus chuir English and provided the on­line questionnaire sí an ceistneoir ar líne sa dá theanga. Dá in both languages. While the provision of these inmholta an méid sin a chur ar fáil sa dá theanga was laudable it does not fulfil the statutory ní shásaítear an fhoráil reachtúil leis. provision.

I ndiaidh don Oifig seo dul i dteagmháil leis an After my Office contacted the Department, Roinn, d’fhoilsigh sí leagan Gaeilge den however, it published an Irish­language version Dréachtphlean agus cuireadh síneadh leis an of the Draft Plan and the period during which tréimhse ina bhféadfadh an pobal aighneachtaí a the public could make submissions was dhéanamh. extended.

Cuireadh ina luí ar an Roinn, áfach, nach féidir It was emphasised to the Department, however, neamhaird a dhéanamh den dualgas reachtúil that the statutory requirement to publish such a doiciméad den chineál seo a fhoilsiú go document simultaneously in both official comhuaineach i ngach ceann de na teangacha languages cannot be ignored and must be oifigiúla agus gur gá é sin a chinntiú amach anseo. adhered to in future.

COMHAIRLE CONTAE NA GAILLIMHE GALWAY COUNTY COUNCIL

Rinneadh gearán le m’Oifig i dtaca leis na A complaint was received concerning speed comharthaí moillithe luais a chuir Comhairle signs erected by Galway County Council in An Contae na Gaillimhe in airde ar an gCeathrú Rua Cheathrú Rua and An Spidéal in the Galway agus ar an Spidéal i gceantar Gaeltachta na Gaeltacht area. These were variable message Gaillimhe. Ba chomharthaí teachtaireachta signs (VMS) that displayed messages in English inathraithe (VMS) iadsan ar ar taispeánadh only and the complainant was dissatisfied that teachtaireachtaí i mBéarla amháin agus bhí an such signs should be erected in a Gaeltacht area. gearánach míshásta go gcuirfí a leithéid ar fáil i gceantar Gaeltachta. 44 Tuarascáil Bhliantúil | Annual Report 2019

Tá na ceanglais reachtúla maidir le húsáid The statutory requirements regarding the use of teangacha ar chomharthaí tráchta sonraithe sa languages on traffic signs are specified in the “Lámhleabhar do Chomharthaí Tráchta” a “Traffic Signs Manual” published by the fhoilsíonn an Roinn Iompair. Mínítear sa Department of Transport. It is explained in the “Lámhleabhar”, cé nach féidir téacs i nGaeilge a “Manual” that while it may not be possible to bheith san áireamh i gcónaí ar VMS, gur chóir go include an Irish­language text on a VMS, that the mbeadh an téacs i nGaeilge ar aon cheann de na text in Irish should be included on any such signs comharthaí sin a chuirtear in airde sa Ghaeltacht. erected in the Gaeltacht.

Tar éis do m’Oifig an scéal a fhiosrú leis an When my Office raised the matter with the gComhairle Contae chuir sí in iúl go raibh an County Council, it explained that the text in téacs Béarla mar réamhshocrú ar na comharthaí English was a default setting on the new signs nua a cuireadh in airde. Leasaíodh na comharthaí erected. The signs were amended so that no text seo ionas nach mbeadh aon téacs i bhfocail á in words were displayed, only the speed of the thaispeáint orthu ach luas na feithicle amháin agus vehicle, and use was made of green and red feidhm á baint as dath uaine nó dearg chun a chur colours to indicate if the speed limit was being in iúl an rabhthas ag cloí leis an teorainn luais. adhered to.

AN ROINN OIDEACHAIS AGUS DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND SCILEANNA SKILLS

Rinneadh gearán nach raibh fáil ar leagan A complaint was received that no Irish­ Gaeilge den chlár Walk Tall nó Misneach language version of the programme ar chuid é den churaclam oideachais Walk Tall or Misneach, which forms part shóisialta phearsanta agus sláinte do of the curriculum for personal, social bhunscoileanna agus gur chruthaigh sé and health education curriculum for sin deacrachtaí do bhunscoileanna a primary schools, was available and that bhíonn ag teagasc trí Ghaeilge. this had created difficulties for schools teaching through Irish. De réir alt 7(2)(d) den Acht Oideachais, 1998, is feidhm de chuid an Aire According to section 7(2)(d) of the Oideachais agus Scileanna seirbhísí taca Education Act 1998, it is a function of trí Ghaeilge a sholáthar do scoileanna aitheanta a the Minister for Education and Skills to provide chuireann teagasc trí Ghaeilge ar fáil agus d’aon support services through Irish to schools that scoil aitheanta eile a iarrann soláthar den sórt sin. teach through Irish and to any other school Is ar an mbonn sin a rinne m’Oifig teagmháil leis requiring them. It was on this basis that my an Roinn Oideachais agus Scileanna faoin gceist. Office contacted the Department of Education and Skills. Ghlac an Roinn leis go raibh moill ar an leagan Gaeilge de Walk Tall de bharr easpa saineolais ar The Department accepted that there was a delay an nGaeilge sa tSeirbhís um Fhorbairt Ghairmiúil in providing the Irish version of Walk Tall due to a do Mhúinteoirí. Bhí socruithe déanta, áfach, lack of expertise in Irish in the Professional chun aistriúcháin a chur á ndéanamh agus chun Development Service for Teachers. go n­uaslódálfaí na leaganacha Gaeilge de na Arrangements had, however, been made to have leabhair ar shuíomh gréasáin na Seirbhíse a translations made and that the Irish­language luaithe agus a bheidís ar fáil. versions would be uploaded onto the Service’s website as soon as they were available. Tuarascáil Bhliantúil | Annual Report 2019 45

OIFIG NA gCOIMISINÉIRÍ OFFICE OF THE REVENUE IONCAIM COMMISSIONERS

Rinneadh gearán leis an Oifig seo maidir le A complaint was made to this Office concerning doiciméad a d’eisigh oifigigh Chustaim chuig a document issued by Customs officers to a gnólacht sa Ghaeltacht le linn cuairt chun an company situated in the Gaeltacht while visiting cheantair. Ghoill sé ar an ngearánach gur i the area in question. The complainant felt mBéarla amháin a bhí an doiciméad, cé gurbh í aggrieved that this document was in English only an Ghaeilge gnáth­theanga an ghnólachta agus although Irish was the normal language of the an cheantair. company and the area.

Ní fhacthas do m’Oifig gur sáraíodh aon dualgas It did not appear to my Office that any statutory reachtúil teanga tríd an doiciméad a eisiúint, mar language obligation had been infringed by issuing sin féin, cuireadh in iúl d’Oifig na gCoimisinéirí this document, nonetheless the Office of the Ioncaim go bhfuarthas an gearán agus iarradh ar Revenue Commissioners was informed that the an Oifig sin a beartas a shoiléiriú maidir le complaint had been received and requested to heisiúint na ndoiciméad a bhí i gceist. clarify its policy concerning the issuing of the documents in question. Mhínigh Oifig na gCoimisinéirí Ioncaim go raibh áis ar fáil do cháiníocóirí, pé acu daoine aonair nó The Office of the Revenue Commissioners gnólachtaí, lena rogha teanga a chur ar taifead explained that a facility was available to agus go n­eiseofaí feasta doiciméid agus taxpayers, whether individuals or companies, to comhfhreagras i nGaeilge chucu ach an rogha sin register their language preference and that a bheith curtha in iúl acu. D’fhéadfadh an documents and correspondence would be sent gnólacht teagmháil a dhéanamh léi chun a rogha to them in Irish as soon as they register that a chur ar taifead dá mba mhian leis an ngnólacht preference. The company in question was go ndéileálfaí leis i nGaeilge. welcome to register that preference if it wished to be dealt with in Irish. Chuir Oifig na gCoimisinéirí Ioncaim in iúl freisin go n­atheiseofaí an doiciméad chuig an The Office of the Revenue Commisssioners also ngnólacht i nGaeilge agus go ndéanfaí deimhin informed my Office that the document would be de go raibh leaganacha Gaeilge ar fáil de na re­issued to the company in Irish and that it doiciméid Custam agus Mháil is minice a would ensure that Irish­language versions of the úsáidtear chun freastal ar chustaiméirí ar mian most commonly used Customs and Excise leo a ngnó a dhéanamh as Gaeilge. documents were available to provide a service to customers wishing to conduct their business in Irish.

An Coimisinéir Teanga, Cathaoirleach, Fóram Ombudsman na hÉireann, ag seoladh an leabhráin ‘Oifigí Ombudsman in Éirinn’ An Coimisinéir Teanga, Chairman, Irish Ombudsman Forum, at the launch of the booklet ‘Ombudsman Offices in Ireland’ 46 Tuarascáil Bhliantúil | Annual Report 2019

FAIREACHÁN MONITORING

Áirítear ar cheann d’fheidhmeanna an The functions of An Coimisinéir Teanga include Choimisinéara Teanga faireachán a dhéanamh ar monitoring the implementation of the provisions chur i bhfeidhm fhorálacha Acht na dTeangacha of the Official Languages Act 2003. The new Oifigiúla, 2003. Leanadh i mbliana leis an múnla monitoring procedure, commenced in 2018, nua faireacháin ar cuireadh tús leis le linn na placing greater emphasis on audit work based on bliana 2018, inar leagadh tuilleadh béime ar obair different themes, was continued this year. Similar iniúchta a bhí bunaithe ar théamaí éagsúla. to last year, the system incorporated a Fearacht na bliana anuraidh, cuireadh san combination of language schemes, regulations áireamh meascán de scéimeanna teanga, and direct provisions of the Act, rather than rialacháin agus dualgais dhíreacha faoin Acht monitoring based primarily on language seachas faireachán bunaithe go príomha ar schemes. The monitoring work focused only on scéimeanna teanga. Is ar fhorálacha Acht na the provisions of the Official Languages Act, as I dTeangacha Oifigiúla amháin a díríodh san obair don’t have the powers to monitor the faireacháin ó tharla nach bhfuil aon chumhacht implementation of the provisions of any other agam faireachán a dhéanamh ar fhorálacha in enactment relating to the use or status of the aon achtachán eile a bhaineann le húsáid nó le Irish language. stádas teanga oifigiúla. The primary objective of this monitoring work An príomhchuspóir a bhí leis an obair faireacháin was to evaluate the implementation of the seo ná measúnú a dhéanamh ar chur i bhfeidhm language obligations in each area examined. An na ndualgas teanga a bhain le gach réimse a audit plan for the year was prepared, scrúdaíodh. Ullmhaíodh plean iniúchta don incorporating a wide range of statutory bhliain inar cuimsíodh réimse leathan dualgas obligations concerning various aspects of the reachtúil a bhaineann le gnéithe éagsúla den Act, including (i) direct provisions (written Acht, idir (i) dhualgais dhíreacha (cumarsáid communications and publications), (ii) obligations scríofa agus foilseacháin), (ii) dhualgais faoi na arising from the Regulations in respect of Rialacháin i dtaca le stáiseanóireacht, signage, stationery and recorded oral comharthaíocht agus fógairtí taifeadta béil, agus announcements, and (iii) obligations under the (iii) dualgais faoi na scéimeanna teanga atá language schemes which have been confirmed daingnithe ag an Aire. Is ar na réimsí oibre seo a by the Minister. Most of the year’s audit work leanas a díríodh an chuid is mó d’obair focused on the following areas: faireacháin na bliana: • Monitoring the implementation of • Faireachán ar chur i bhfeidhm mholtaí recommendations made in investigations imscrúduithe • Monitoring the implementation of language • Faireachán ar chur i bhfeidhm gealltanas scheme commitments in relation to the scéime teanga i dtaca leis an nGaeltacht Gaeltacht • Iniúchadh ar úsáid na dteangacha oifigiúla ar • An audit of the use of the official languages on chomharthaíocht ag suíomhanna oidhreachta signage at heritage sites of the Office of Public de chuid Oifig na nOibreacha Poiblí Works • Iniúchadh ar úsáid na Gaeilge i gcórais • An audit of the use of Irish in the computer ríomhaireachta na gCoimisinéirí Ioncaim systems of the Revenue Commissioners • Faireachán ar shuíomhanna gréasáin agus ar • Monitoring of the websites and interactive chórais idirghníomhacha de chuid na n­údarás services of local authorities áitiúil • Monitoring of the implementation of the direct • Faireachán ar chur i bhfeidhm dhualgais provisions of the Official Languages Act 2003 dhíreacha Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla, 2003 and the provisions of the language schemes in agus forálacha scéime teanga i gcás na mBord the case of the Education and Training Boards Oideachais agus Oiliúna Tuarascáil Bhliantúil | Annual Report 2019 47

• Iniúchadh ar úsáid na dteangacha oifigiúla ar • An audit of the use of the official languages on chomharthaíocht in ollscoileanna a thagann signs at universities which come under the faoi scáth Ollscoil na hÉireann auspices of the National University of Ireland

Mar a bhí amhlaidh anuraidh, tá sé i gceist agam As happened last year, I intend publishing a tuarascáil faireacháin a fhoilsiú ina dtabharfar monitoring report to provide a detailed insight léargas níos iomláine ar an obair iniúchta a into the completed monitoring work and the cuireadh i gcrích agus ar phríomhthorthaí na n­ main results obtained. iniúchtaí sin. Monitoring the implementation of Faireachán ar chur i bhfeidhm moltaí recommendations in investigations imscrúduithe Under the Official Languages Act, it is the Faoi Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla, tá sé de responsibility of An Coimisinéir Teanga to submit chúram ar an gCoimisinéir Teanga tuarascáil a a report to both Houses of the Oireachtas if he chur faoi bhráid gach Tí den Oireachtas má or she is of the opinion that the fheictear dó nó di nach bhfuil comhlacht poiblí recommendations of an investigation are not ag cur moltaí a rinne sé nó sí i dtuarascáil being implemented by a public body, after a imscrúdaithe i ngníomh, i ndiaidh do thréimhse reasonable period of time has elapsed. This is the réasúnach ama a bheith caite. Is í seo an chéim final step available to me under the Act when a dheireanach atá ar fáil dom faoin Acht nuair nach public body does not comply with the gcloíonn comhlacht poiblí leis na moltaí a recommendations made in an investigation dhéantar i dtuarascáil imscrúdaithe. Le linn na report. During 2019 my Office examined the bliana 2019 scrúdaigh m’Oifig an bealach ar way the recommendations made in seven cuireadh moltaí i seacht dtuarascáil imscrúdaithe investigation reports were implemented. These i bhfeidhm. Seo iad na himscrúduithe ar tugadh are the investigations reported on in last year’s cuntas orthu sa Tuarascáil Bhliantúil anuraidh. Tá Annual Report. A short account of the results of cuntas gearr tugtha anois ar thorthaí na the audits is provided in this report and a more bhfiosrúchán sin sa tuarascáil seo agus cuirfear detailed account will be provided in the tuilleadh sonraí ar fáil sa tuarascáil faireacháin a monitoring report to be published later this year. fhoilseofar níos déanaí i mbliana.

1. Raidió Teilifís Éireann 1. Raidió Teilifís Éireann

Léirigh imscrúdú gur sháraigh An investigation found that RTÉ forálacha teanga den RTÉ breached language Acht Craolacháin, 2009. provisions of the Leagtar dualgas san Acht ar Broadcasting Act 2009. The RTÉ réimse cuimsitheach clár Act requires RTÉ to provide a a chur ar fáil i nGaeilge agus i mBéarla i comprehensive range of programmes in the Irish gclársceidil a chuid seirbhísí craolacháin chomh and English languages in the programme maith le cláir nuachta agus cúrsaí reatha a chur ar schedule of its broadcasting services and also to fáil sa dá theanga oifigiúla. B’fhionnachtain de provide news and current affairs programmes in chuid an imscrúdaithe nach raibh RTÉ ag both official languages. The investigation found comhlíonadh an dualgais a bhí air chomh fada that RTÉ was not fulfilling its obligation insofar as agus a bhain sé leis na seirbhísí craolacháin it related to its television broadcasting services. teilifíse. Ba é an príomh­mholadh a rinne mé san The main recommendation made in the imscrúdú go gcuirfeadh RTÉ plean feidhmithe investigation required RTÉ to provide me with an faoi mo bhráid a d’fhreagródh do chomhlíonadh implementation plan setting out how the na ndualgas reachtúil teanga a thagann i gceist. relevant language requirements would be complied with. Le linn na bliana chuir RTÉ plean feidhmithe faoi mo bhráid ar lorg mé tuilleadh soiléirithe ina During the year RTÉ provided me with an thaobh agus a pléadh ag cruinniú le hoifigigh implementation plan on which I requested further clarification and was discussed at a 48 Tuarascáil Bhliantúil | Annual Report 2019

shinsearacha de chuid RTÉ. Léiríodh sa phlean meeting with senior officials from RTÉ. The feidhmithe go raibh méadú mór beartaithe ag implementation plan indicated that RTÉ planned RTÉ ar líon na n­uaireanta craolacháin i nGaeilge a significant increase in the number of Irish­ i réimsí na gclár nuachta agus na gclár do pháistí language broadcasting hours, primarily in the go príomha don bhliain 2020. Ina iomláine tá area of news programmes and children’s beartaithe ag an stáisiún ceithre oiread cláir programmes for 2020. In total the station plans Ghaeilge theilifíse a chraoladh sa bhliain 2020 is to broadcast four times as many television a craoladh in 2017, an bhliain thagartha a programmes in Irish in 2020 as it did in 2017, úsáideadh le linn an imscrúdaithe. Tá sé the baseline year referenced during the beartaithe freisin tuilleadh clár a chraoltar ar TG4 investigation. It is also planned to broadcast a chraoladh ar RTÉ mar aon le Rannóg na gClár more of TG4’s programmes on RTÉ along with Gaeilge a bheith ar ais i mbun obair the Irish Language Programmes Section lánaimseartha. returning to a full­time schedule.

In ainneoin go bhfuil méadú suntasach Despite the substantial increase planned in the beartaithe ar líon na n­uaireanta an chloig de number of hours of Irish medium language chláir Ghaeilge a chraolfar ar chainéil teilifíse an programmes to be broadcast on the station’s stáisiúin, bhí mé den tuairim nach bhféadfaí a television channels, I was of the view that it was dhearbhú ag an tráth seo go mbeadh réimse not possible to confirm, at this stage, that a cuimsitheach clár ar fáil i nGaeilge. D’fhéadfaí sin comprehensive range of programmes would be a bhaint amach san am atá le teacht, áfach, ach available in the Irish language. That could, leanúint leis an dul chun cinn. Tá an méid seo however, be achieved in the future if progress is curtha in iúl do RTÉ agus é beartaithe agam maintained. RTÉ has been informed of this and I athbhreithniú a dhéanamh ar an dul chun cinn intend reviewing progress by mid­2020. faoi lár na bliana 2020.

2. An Roinn Talmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara 2. Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine In imscrúdú a rinne mé ar an In an Roinn investigation I Talmhaíochta, Bia conducted on the agus Mara chinn mé go raibh sárú déanta ar Department of mhíreanna dá scéim teanga tar éis don Roinn Agriculture, Food and the Marine I found that poist d’oibrithe ginearálta a fhógairt do chalafoirt provisions of its language scheme were breached Ghaeltachta gan aon riachtanas Gaeilge a bheith after it advertised posts for general workers at luaite leis na poist sin. Tar éis dúinn faireachán a Gaeltacht ports, without specifying a dhéanamh ar chomhlíonadh mholtaí an requirement for proficiency in the Irish language imscrúdaithe tá mé sásta go bhfuil socruithe for those posts. After monitoring the déanta ag an Roinn a laghdódh an baol go implementation of the recommendations of the dtarlódh a leithéid arís. Ghlac an Roinn leis go investigation I am satisfied that the Department raibh dualgas uirthi riachtanas teanga a chur le has arrangements in place to reduce the risk of poist den chineál seo agus sa bhreis air sin go this recurring. The Department accepted that ndéanfar tástáil ar inniúlacht Gaeilge iarrthóirí ar there was an obligation to attach a language phoist sa Ghaeltacht feasta. condition to such posts and will in future test applicants’ competency in the Irish language for positions located in the Gaeltacht. Tuarascáil Bhliantúil | Annual Report 2019 49

3. Comhlacht Chalafort Bhaile Átha Cliath 3. Dublin Port Company

Bhain an t­imscrúdú This investigation seo le comhartha involved a significant suntasach i mBéarla sign, in English only, amháin a bhí curtha in erected by Dublin Port airde ag Comhlacht Company on the East Chalafort Bhaile Átha Wall Road at the Cliath ar Bhóthar an entrance to the port. I Phoirt Thoir ar an tslí found that the isteach chuig an structure erected by gcalafort. Rinne mé the Port Company was fionnachtain go mba a sign for the purposes chomhartha chun of the regulations and críocha na rialachán é therefore provision of an struchtúr a bhí the sign in Irish was curtha in airde ag an also required. gComhlacht Calafoirt agus dá réir go raibh dlite an comhartha a bheith As part of the monitoring we have carried out on curtha ar fáil i nGaeilge chomh maith. compliance with the investigation’s recommendations, we were provided with Mar chuid den fhaireachán atá déanta againn ar evidence that the Port Company is taking the chomhlíonadh mholtaí an imscrúdaithe cuireadh necessary steps to erect a sign in Irish at the fianaise ar fáil dúinn go bhfuil céimeanna á port. It submitted a pre­planning submission nglacadh ag an gComhlacht Calafoirt chun regarding the sign to the Planning Section of comhartha i nGaeilge a chur in airde ag an Dublin City Council on 30 May 2019. gcalafort. Chuir sé aighneacht réamhphleanála faoi bhráid Rannóg Pleanála Chomhairle Cathrach Bhaile Átha Cliath i leith an chomhartha sin ar an 30 Bealtaine 2019.

4. An Roinn Tithíochta, Pleanála agus Rialtais 4. Department of Housing, Planning and Local Áitiúil Government

Bhain an t­imscrúdú seo le This investigation related to a foilseachán de chuid na Roinne publication of the Department Tithíochta, Pleanála agus of Housing, Planning and Local Rialtais Áitiúil, An Creat Government, the National Náisiúnta Pleanála, agus suíomh ²JSF



  "O 5JPOTDBEBM Planning Framework, and an gréasáin gaolmhar a bhí déanta $Q &UHDW 1£LVL¼¼QWD  associated website that was in i mBéarla amháin. Leag mé 3OHDQ£OD English only. I required the dualgas ar an Roinn Department to give my Office réamhfhógra ceithre seachtaine four weeks’ advance a thabhairt do m’Oifig roimh an notification of the proposed dáta beartaithe foilsithe i gcás date of publication of any aon doiciméad lena mbaineann document that is subject to the an gealltanas ábhartha scéime. relevant commitment in the Mairfidh an riachtanas sin go language scheme. This ceann trí bliana ón dáta ar requirement will remain in eisíodh an tuarascáil place for a period of three imscrúdaithe. Táim sásta go years from the date the bhfuil an Roinn ag cloí leis na investigation report was issued. moltaí a rinne mé. I am satisfied that the

gov.ie/2040. Department is complying with my recommendations. 50 Tuarascáil Bhliantúil | Annual Report 2019

5. Iarnród Éireann 5. Iarnród Éireann

Léirigh imscrúdú a rinne mé ar Iarnród Éireann An investigation of Iarnród Éireann found that nach raibh córais oiriúnacha ná córais the organisation did not have appropriate or dhóthanacha i bhfeidhm ag an eagraíocht chun a adequate systems in place to ensure adherence chinntiú go gcloítear leis na dualgais reachtúla to the statutory duties under the Official faoi Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla, 2003 agus Languages Act 2003 and the Transport Act 1950 faoin Acht Iompair, 1950 maidir le húsáid na concerning the use of official languages on signs. dteangacha oifigiúla ar chomharthaí. I measc na The issues I examined included the use of the gcásanna a scrúdaigh mé bhí úsáid na síntí fada síneadh fada on reservation signs. ar chomharthaí áirithinte. We are continuing to monitor compliance of the Tá faireachán leanúnach á dhéanamh ar recommendations of this investigation and are in chomhlíonadh mholtaí an imscrúdaithe seo agus regular communication with the organisation. muid i mbun cumarsáid rialta leis an eagraíocht. While some of the recommendations made in In ainneoin go bhfuil roinnt de mholtaí an the investigation have been satisfactorily imscrúdaithe curtha i gcrích go sásúil is cúis implemented, I am very disappointed that the mhór díomá dom nach bhfuil síntí fada á léiriú go síneadh fada is not yet accurately displayed on cruinn ar chomharthaí áirithinte go fóill. Is ábhar reservation signs. This matter is still being é seo a bhfuiltear i mbun plé le hIarnród Éireann discussed with Iarnród Éireann. go fóill ina leith.

6. Comhairle Contae Chorcaí 6. Cork County Council

Rinne mé fionnachtain in imscrúdú ar In an investigation on Cork County Council I Chomhairle Contae Chorcaí nár comhlíonadh found that a commitment provided in its an gealltanas a bhí tugtha ina scéim teanga go language scheme that the static content of its mbeadh ábhar statach an tsuímh gréasáin ar website would be available in Irish had been fáil i nGaeilge. Bhí an Chomhairle tar éis úsáid breached. The Council used a machine a bhaint as córas meaisínaistriúcháin chun an translation system to provide the Irish content t­ábhar a chur ar fáil i nGaeilge ar an suíomh on its newly developed website. gréasáin nua a bhí forbartha aici. As part of the audit on the implementation of Mar chuid den iniúchadh ar chur i bhfeidhm the recommendations of the investigation the mholtaí an imscrúdaithe tá fianaise curtha ar fáil Council has provided me with evidence of the ag an gComhairle dom maidir leis na céimeanna steps taken to make the static material available atá glactha aici chun an t­ábhar statach a chur ar in Irish. The Council is no longer relying on a fáil go cruinn i nGaeilge. Níl an Chomhairle ag machine translation system and we are confident brath ar chóras meaisínaistriúcháin a thuilleadh that the relevant commitment of the language agus tá dóchas againn go mbeidh sí géilliúil go scheme will be fully complied with in the near hiomlán do ghealltanas ábhartha na scéime future. teanga sula i bhfad. Tuarascáil Bhliantúil | Annual Report 2019 51

7. Amharclann na Mainistreach 7. The Abbey Theatre

Rinneadh gearán le m’Oifig i mí Feabhra 2017 go A complaint was made to my Office in February raibh réimse comharthaí in Amharclann na 2017 that a range of signs in the Abbey Theatre Mainistreach nach raibh ag cloí le riachtanais na were not compliant with the requirements of the rialachán ábhartha atá déanta faoin Acht. Nuair relevant regulations made under the Act. When nár éirigh leis na hiarrachtaí neamhfhoirmiúla an the informal attempts to resolve the matter were cheist a shocrú, chinn mé dul i muinín imscrúdú not successful, I decided to undertake a formal foirmiúil. Bhí sé mar fhionnachtain ag an investigation. The investigation found that the imscrúdú sin go raibh Amharclann na Abbey Theatre was in breach of the statutory Mainistreach ag sárú an dualgais reachtúil teanga language obligation which had been confirmed in atá daingnithe sna rialacháin. the regulations.

Le linn an iniúchta ar During the audit on the chur i bhfeidhm mholtaí implementation of the an imscrúdaithe recommendations cuireadh fianaise ar fáil made in the dúinn go bhfuil na investigation we were réimsí comharthaí ab provided with evidence ábhar don imscrúdú that the range of non­ ceartaithe anois cé is compliant signs which moite den were the subject of the phríomhchomhartha investigation have now lasmuigh den been corrected with amharclann. Tá sé the exception of the tugtha le fios ag an main sign outside the amharclann dúinn go Abbey Theatre. The bhfuil dearadh déanta Abbey Theatre has ar leagan Gaeilge den informed us that it has chomhartha seo agus sampla de sin curtha faoi designed an Irish­language version of this sign mo bhráid. Más mall is mithid agus beidh an and a sample has been provided to me. Better príomhchomhartha seo, atá le crochadh lasmuigh late than never, this main sign, to be erected den amharclann, in airde roimh thús an outside the theatre before the beginning of tsamhraidh agus é i nGaeilge agus i mBéarla. summer, will be in Irish and in English.

Seoladh Ghradam Sheosaimh Uí Ógartaigh Launch of Gradam Sheosaimh Uí Ógartaigh 52 Tuarascáil Bhliantúil | Annual Report 2019

SCÉIMEANNA TEANGA LANGUAGE SCHEMES

SCÉIMEANNA DAINGNITHE SCHEMES CONFIRMED

Dhaingnigh an tAire Cultúir, Oidhreachta agus The Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltachta sé chéadscéim teanga, sé dhara scéim Gaeltacht confirmed six new language schemes, teanga, ocht dtríú scéim teanga agus ceithre six second language schemes, eight third cheathrú scéim teanga le linn na bliana 2019. language schemes and four fourth language Faoi dheireadh na bliana bhí 138 scéim teanga schemes during 2019. By the end of the year, daingnithe agus i bhfeidhm. Tá liosta de na 138 language schemes were confirmed and comhlachtaí poiblí a bhfuil scéim teanga dá gcuid implemented. A list of public bodies with daingnithe ag an Aire le fáil ar shuíomh gréasáin confirmed language schemes by the Minister is na hOifige – www.coimisineir.ie available on this Office’s website – www.coimisineir.ie. SCÉIMEANNA IN ÉAG SCHEMES EXPIRED Bhí 68 scéim teanga, as 138 san iomlán, imithe in éag faoi dheireadh na bliana 2019. In éagmais Of the 138 language schemes, 68 had expired by scéim teanga nua a bheith aontaithe ag na year­end 2019. This meant that, in the absence comhlachtaí poiblí, ní raibh aon dualgas orthu na of a new language scheme, no additional seirbhísí a chuirtear ar fáil don phobal trí commitments in relation to improved services in Ghaeilge a threisiú. Irish were required of those public bodies.

DRÉACHTSCÉIMEANNA DRAFT SCHEMES

Ag deireadh na bliana 2019, bhí 125 By the end of 2019, 125 draft language schemes dréachtscéim teanga fós le daingniú ag an Aire remained to be confirmed by the Minister for Cultúir, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta. Culture, Heritage, and the Gaeltacht. • 42 céad­dréachtscéim, 49 dara dréachtscéim, • 42 first draft schemes, 49 second draft 21 tríú dréachtscéim, 12 cheathrú schemes, 21 third draft schemes, 12 fourth dréachtscéim agus 1 chúigiú dréachtscéim. draft schemes, and 1 fifth draft scheme.

Tá os cionn deich mbliana caite ó iarradh ar 15 More than ten years have elapsed since 15 of de na comhlachtaí poiblí sin scéim a ullmhú agus these public bodies were asked to prepare a os cionn cúig bliana i gcás 32 comhlacht poiblí scheme and more than five years in the case of eile. 32 of these public bodies. Tuarascáil Bhliantúil | Annual Report 2019 53

Bliain inar daingníodh an chéad Scéim Teanga Year in which first Language Scheme was confirmed

Bliain Year Scéimeanna Schemes 2004 1 2005 22 2006 18 2007 29 2008 15 2009 15 2010 5 2011 0 2012 3 2013 4 2014 6 2015 9 2016 8 2017 11 2018 5 2019 6 157 Scéimeanna dímholta Schemes superseded 2 Scéimeanna as feidhm Lapsed schemes 17 Iomlán Total 138

Scéimeanna Daingnithe ag an Aire Schemes Confirmed by the Minister

30

25

20

15

10

5

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

n Céadscéim Daingnithe First Scheme Confirmed n Tríú Scéim Daingnithe Third Scheme Confirmed

n Dara Scéim Daingnithe Second Scheme Confirmed n Ceathrú Scéim Daingnithe Fourth Scheme Confirmed 54 Tuarascáil Bhliantúil | Annual Report 2019

Scéimeanna imithe in éag Schemes expired

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

2008 2009 20102011 201220132014 2015201620172018 2019

n Scéimeanna imithe in éag Schemes expired n Meántréimhse scéim in éag (mí) Average period scheme expired (month)

Líon na scéimeanna in éag de réir a dtréimhse in éag The number of schemes expired and the period since they expired

n Os cionn 7 mbliana Greater than 7 years 13 Idir 4-7 mbliana Between 4-7 years 28 n

20 n Idir 1-3 bliana Between 1-3 years 7 n Níos lú ná bliain Less than a year

Tá eolas breise maidir leis na scéimeanna teanga Additional information regarding confirmed daingnithe agus le hiarratais ar language schemes and requests to prepare dhréachtscéimeanna a ullmhú le fáil ar shuíomh language schemes is available on the Office of gréasáin Oifig an Choimisinéara Teanga ag An Coimisinéir Teanga website at www.coimisineir.ie www.coimisineir.ie Tuarascáil Bhliantúil | Annual Report 2019 55

CÚRSAÍ AIRGEADAIS FINANCIAL MATTERS

Cuireadh buiséad €810,000 ar fáil don Oifig don A budget of €810,000 was provided for my bhliain 2019 agus tarraingíodh anuas €808,347 Office for 2019 and €808,347 of that money den airgead sin. was drawn down.

Tá ráitis airgeadais na hOifige don bhliain 2019 The financial statements of the Office for 2019 ullmhaithe don Ard­Reachtaire Cuntas agus Ciste have been prepared for audit by the Comptroller lena n­iniúchadh de réir fho­alt 8(2) den Dara and Auditor General in accordance with Sceideal d’Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla, 2003. subsection 8(2) of the Second Schedule of the Official Languages Act 2003. A luaithe agus is féidir tar éis an iniúchta, déanfaidh an Coimisinéir Teanga cóip de na As soon as possible after the audit, a copy of cuntais sin, nó de cibé sleachta as na cuntais sin those accounts or of such extracts from those a shonróidh an tAire Cultúir, Oidhreachta agus accounts as the Minister for Culture, Heritage Gaeltachta, mar aon le tuarascáil an Ard­ and the Gaeltacht may specify shall be presented Reachtaire Cuntas agus Ciste maidir leis na to the Minister together with the report of the cuntais, a chur i láthair an Aire. Comptroller and Auditor General on the accounts. Beidh cóipeanna de na doiciméid sin á leagan faoi bhráid Thithe an Oireachtais ag an Aire. Copies of those documents shall be laid before Foilseofar freisin iad ar shuíomh gréasáin na the Houses of the Oireachtas by the Minister. hOifige seo. They will also be published on this Office’s website. ÍOCAÍOCHTAÍ PRASA PROMPT PAYMENTS I gcomhréir le cinntí Rialtais a rinneadh ar an 2 agus an 8 Márta 2011 agus ar an 28 Márta In accordance with Government decisions made 2017, leagadh dualgas ar eagraíochtaí stáit córais on the 2nd and 8th of March 2011 and on the chuí a fheidhmiú ionas go n­íocfaí sonraisc bhailí 28th of March 2017, public bodies are required laistigh de 15 lá ón dáta a fhaightear iad. Tá to have appropriate systems in place to ensure dualgas ar eagraíochtaí stáit chomh maith tuairisc that valid invoices are paid within 15 days from ráithiúil maidir leis an ábhar seo a fhoilsiú ar a the date they are received. Public bodies are also suíomh gréasáin. required to publish a quarterly report on this matter on their website.

TUAIRISC AR ÍOCAÍOCHTAÍ PRASA PROMPT PAYMENTS REPORT Tréimhse Clúdaithe: 1 Eanáir – 31 Nollaig 2019 Period Covered: 1 January – 31 December 2019

Céatadán (%) de líon iomlán Sonraí Uimhir Luach (€) na n-íocaíochtaí a rinneadh Details Number Value (€) Percentage (%) of total number of payments made Líon na n-íocaíochtaí a rinneadh laistigh de 15 lá 219 109,024 100% Number of payments made within 15 days Líon na n-íocaíochtaí a rinneadh laistigh de thréimhse idir 16 lá agus 30 lá Number of payments made within a period of 16 days to 30 days Líon na n-íocaíochtaí a rinneadh sa bhreis ar 30 lá Number of payments made in excess of 30 days Líon iomlán na n-íocaíochtaí sa tréimhse 219 109,024 100% Total number of payments made in the period 56 Tuarascáil Bhliantúil | Annual Report 2019

NOCHTADH COSANTA PROTECTED DISCLOSURE

Tá an t­eolas seo a leanas á thabhairt i gcomhréir The following information is provided in le halt 22(1) den Acht um Nochtadh Cosanta, accordance with section 22(1) of the Protected 2014. Disclosures Act 2014.

Ní dhearnadh aon nochtadh cosanta le hOifig an No protected disclosures were made to the Choimisinéara Teanga le linn na bliana 2019. Office of An Coimisinéir Teanga during 2019.

DUALGAS NA hEARNÁLA POIBLÍ PUBLIC SECTOR EQUALITY AND UM CHOMHIONANNAS AGUS HUMAN RIGHTS DUTY CEARTA AN DUINE The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Leagtar dualgas ar chomhlachtaí poiblí faoin Acht Act 2014 places a duty on public bodies to have fá Choimisiún na hÉireann um Chearta an Duine due regard to human rights and equality issues. agus Comhionannas, 2014 aird chuí a thabhairt This Office is adopting a proactive approach to ar shaincheisteanna a bhaineann le cearta an implementing this obligation. duine agus le comhionannas. Tá an Oifig seo ag During 2019, we ensured that staff undertook glacadh cur chuige réamhghníomhach leis an access training online, to increase awareness dualgas sin a chur i bhfeidhm. within the organisation. It is proposed to provide Le linn na bliana 2019, chinntíomar go ndearna training for any new employees on an ongoing foireann uile na hOifige cúrsa oiliúna ar líne i basis. dtaca le rochtain, chun feasacht na heagraíochta a ardú. Tá sé beartaithe oiliúint a chur ar fhostaithe nua ar bhonn leanúnach.

An Coimisinéir Teanga, Rónán Ó Domhnaill, agus Coimisinéir an Gharda Síochána, Drew Harris An Coimisinéir Teanga, Rónán Ó Domhnaill, and the Commissioner of An Garda Síochána, Drew Harris Tuarascáil Bhliantúil | Annual Report 2019 57

ÚSÁID FUINNIMH ENERGY USAGE

Tá an t­eolas seo a leanas á thabhairt i gcomhréir The following information is provided in le forálacha I.R. 542 de 2009. accordance with the provisions of S.I. 542 of 2009. Forbhreathnú ar úsáid fuinnimh sa bhliain 2019 Overview of energy usage in 2019

Baineann iomlán an fhuinnimh le leictreachas a The use of electricity in the office building in An úsáideann Oifig an Choimisinéara Teanga i Spidéal, Co. Galway constitutes the total energy bhfoirgneamh na hOifige sa Spidéal, Co. na consumption of the Office of An Coimisinéir Gaillimhe. Cuimsíonn sé sin an fuinneamh a Teanga. This includes the heating and aeration of úsáidtear i gcomhair théamh agus aerú an the building, water heating, lighting and the use fhoirgnimh, téamh uisce, soilse agus trealamh of office equipment. oifige. There was a decrease in the amount of energy Tháinig laghdú ar úsáid fuinnimh Oifig an consumed by the Office of An Coimisinéir Choimisinéara Teanga sa bhliain 2019. D’úsáid Teanga in 2019. The Office used 60.17 MWh of an Oifig 60.17 MWh leictreachais, ísliú 7.9% ar electricity, a decrease of 7.9% on 2018 úsáid na bliana 2018. consumption.

Gníomhartha a rinneadh in 2019 Actions taken in 2019

Leanadh de na beartais a bunaíodh cheana: The established energy­saving practices were féachtar chuige go múchtar fearais oifige nuair continued: ensuring that all equipment is turned nach mbíonn gá leo agus deimhnítear ag off when not in use and examining the office at deireadh an lae oibre go bhfuil gach fearas the end of every working day to ensure that múchta don oíche agus nuair nach mbítear san lights and equipment are switched off overnight oifig. Cuirtear úsáid fuinnimh san áireamh mar and when the building is not occupied. Energy chritéar nuair a bhíonn trealamh leictreonach á consumption is used as a criterion in choosing roghnú don oifig nó tairiscintí ar threalamh á electronic equipment and in evaluating tenders meas. for equipment.

Gníomhartha atá beartaithe do 2020 Actions planned for 2020

Leanfar de na beartais sábhála fuinnimh atá The Office will continue the energy­saving tionscanta cheana féin agus déanfar policies already initiated and it is intended to monatóireacht rialta ar úsáid leictreachais i monitor electricity consumption on a regular gcaitheamh na bliana 2020. basis during 2020. 58 Tuarascáil Bhliantúil | Annual Report 2019

FOIREANN STAFF

An Coimisinéir Teanga Rónán Ó Domhnaill

Stiúrthóir Director Colm Ó Coisdealbha

Bainisteoir Cumarsáide Communications Manager Órla de Búrca

Bainisteoir Imscrúduithe Investigations Manager Éamonn Ó Bróithe

Bainisteoir Géilliúlachta Compliance Manager Eileen Seoighe

Bainisteoir Gnóthaí Corparáideacha Corporate Affairs Manager Nóirín Sheoige

Oifigeach Feidhmiúcháin Executive Officer Gráinne Ní Shúilleabháin

Oifigeach Feidhmiúcháin Executive Officer Deirdre Nic Dhonncha

Oifigeach Cléireachais Clerical Officer Ciara Dolphin

Ar an 12 Márta 2014, cheap Uachtarán na hÉireann, Micheál D. Ó hUigínn, Rónán Ó Domhnaill mar Choimisinéir Teanga. On 12 March 2014, the President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, appointed Rónán Ó Domhnaill as Coimisinéir Teanga.

Is é an leagan Gaeilge buntéacs na Tuarascála seo. The Irish language version is the original text of this Report. Tuarascáil Bhliantúil | Annual Report 2019 59

NÓTAÍ | NOTES 60 Tuarascáil Bhliantúil | Annual Report 2019

NÓTAÍ | NOTES

An Coimisinéir Teanga An Spidéal, Gaillimh, Éire. H91 VK23 091 504 006 [email protected] www.coimisineir.ie @ceartateanga