Vol. 534 No. 4
29 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands if she will consider proposing to Government that a root and branch cost-cultural benefit analysis be carried out in relation to all Government provisions, interventions and spending relating to the Irish language; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10983/01]
Undertaking cost benefit analysis of expenditure programmes within their remit in regard to the Irish language or otherwise is primarily a matter for individual Departments. An overall cost-cultural benefit analysis, as suggested by the Deputy is not proposed as the merits of such an undertaking would be very costly and not particularly apparent.
I thank the Minister of State for her reply. However, it underlines the difficulty in this area. She said this work could be undertaken only by individual Departments. Does the Minister of State agree that much of the problem with Irish language provision is there is not co-ordination and integration between the policies pursued by various Departments and that is having a detrimental effect in the context of benefits arising from the spending of taxpayers' money?
It was difficult to reach the nub of the question in trying to analyse exactly what the Deputy asked. The difficulty is that a number of Departments are involved in dealing with Irish language provision. I hope in the context of the Bille teanga that there will be a more co-ordinated approach regarding Irish language provision. Prior to the preparation of the scheme there was consideration of a cost-cultural benefit analysis relating to the proposed legislation. A number of Departments will factor in the proposed developments in the context of the Bill.
I can advert only to the effectiveness of Irish language policy in my Department. Value for money audits have been and continue to be carried out by the Comptroller and Auditor General on organisations such as Údarás na Gaeltachta. Proposals are being considered by An Foras Teanga in the context of a cross-Border initiative so that the Comptroller and Auditor General and his counterpart in Northern Ireland will jointly carry out value for money audits on that body. Value for money audits and cost-cultural analyses are carried out on the institutions for which I have responsibility. I do not have similar information regarding other Departments.
It would be expensive to do so but perhaps there could be a more planned and strategic approach to Irish language provision in the context of the Bille teanga.
Does the Minister of State agree the fundamental flaw in the State's approach to the Irish language is that there is no stated policy in place? I have proposed previously that a bilingual society should be our objective but that is not a stated policy of Government. Some Department must take the initiative regarding co-ordination. If the Department responsible for the Gaeltacht does not, which Department will do so? The Bille teanga is too narrow a base to evaluate what is happening vis-à-vis the Irish language in both the Gaeltacht and the Galltacht.
I do not agree there is a completely haphazard approach to the development or usage of the language. It was agreed that dátheangathas was the policy. In the context of the Bille Teanga, which I hope will be before the House by the end of 2001, there will be a strong focus on its implementation. The Department will have a leading role in ensuring the proposals for the teanga are implemented. As the Deputy said, the proposals are fine, but their implementation is most important. There must be a structure to ensure that happens. I hope, in the context of the completion of the Bill and in conjunction with the Minister, to establish a system where people are aware of the consequences of not adhering to the legislation. I hope what happened in a haphazard way in the past will not happen under the Bille Teanga.
Against the background of the decline in the use of the language in the Gaeltacht and the Galltacht, a Bill that enables people to conduct their business with State Departments in Irish is of no significance in terms of what I am seeking. I want real focus, integration and co-ordination between all Departments in terms of the furtherance of the Irish language.
The Deputy wants a more co-ordinated approach in the implementation of a number of measures regarding the Irish language, education, etc. It may be possible through the Bille Teanga and the Commission na Gaeilge to consider proposals such as those put forward by the Deputy.
