Céim chun cinn i neadú na Gaeilge i gCórais na hEarnála Poiblí

• Oscailt oifigiúil déanta ag an Aire Calleary ar chéad chruinniú an Ghrúpa Oibre Teicniúil – bunaithe faoin bPlean Náisiúnta um Sheirbhísí Poiblí Gaeilge
• Beidh ról lárnach ag an ngrúpa seo i neadú na Gaeilge i bhforbairtí teicneolaíochta agus digitiú na seirbhíse poiblí sna blianta amach romhainn

Eisiúint Meáin, Dé Céadaoin 15 Deireadh Fómhair 2025

Bhuail an tAire Calleary le hionadaithe den Ghrúpa Oibre Teicniúil atá bunaithe anois faoin bPlean Náisiúnta um Sheirbhísí Poiblí Gaeilge ar maidin. Rinne sé oscailt oifigiúil ar a chéad chruinniú, a tionóladh in Oifigí na Roinne Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail agus Gaeltachta i mBaile Átha Cliath.

Is beart tacúil lárnach a bheidh in obair an ghrúpa seo ó thaobh chur i bhfeidhm rathúil cuid de na gnéithe teicniúla a bheidh ag teacht chun cinn sa bhogadh i dtreo seirbhís phoiblí dhátheangach. I measc obair an ghrúpa beidh a chinntiú go bhfuil córais TFC in ann glacadh le hainmneacha, seoltaí agus teidil i nGaeilge agus go bhfuil an coincheap ‘dátheangach ón tús’ agus an tairiscint ghníomhach neadaithe isteach i bhforbairtí teicneolaíochta. Trí obair an ghrúpa chomh maith beifear ag iarraidh deis a thabhairt d’úsáideoirí a rogha teanga a chlárú agus iad ag éileamh seirbhísí. Tá ionadaíocht leathan ar an ngrúpa, idir Ranna Rialtais agus comhlachtaí poiblí níos leithne, le béim curtha sa bhallraíocht ar chroí-sheirbhísí agus idirghníomhaíocht leis an bpobal. 

Ag labhairt inniu dúirt an tAire Calleary:

“Tá clár oibre uaillmhianach amach roimh an nGrúpa Oibre seo agus, dá bharr sin, tá leagtha amach anois go dtiocfaidh an Grúpa le chéile uair sa mhí don chéad bhliain chun a chinntiú go bhfuil dlús lena chuid oibre. Feictear go mbeidh roinnt deiseanna ann obair an ghrúpa a cheangal isteach chomh maith le forbairtí digitithe eile trasna na hearnála poiblí, go háirithe i gcomhthéacs spriocanna atá leagtha amach i gCreat Digiteach na hÉireann – Leas a Bhaint as Digitiú agus níos mó agus níos mó seirbhísí poiblí á mbogadh ar líne.

“Ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghabháil le comhaltaí an ghrúpa, agus leis na Ranna Stáit agus na comhlachtaí poiblí lena mbaineann, as a dtiomantas don ábhar seo. Feictear go mbeidh na hionadaithe seo mar cheannródaithe ó thaobh na forbairtí teicniúla éagsúla Gaeilge seo a neadú isteach ina n-eagraíochtaí féin chomh maith le dea-chleachtas ar an ábhar a roinnt lena chéile agus leis an tseirbhís phoiblí níos leithne. Táim ag tnúth go mór leis an obair a bheidh le teacht chun cinn sa spás seo a fheiceáil  agus guím gach rath ar an nGrúpa Oibre leis.”

Is trí obair an Choiste Chomhairligh um Sheirbhísí Gaeilge a aithníodh an gá grúpa oibre teicniúil mar seo a bhunú agus is chuig an gCoiste Comhairleach a bheidh an grúpa ag tuairisciú.

CRÍOCH

Teagmháil:

Preasoifig na Roinne Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail agus Gaeltachta

01-773 6843 / 086 4618285

Press.office@drcdg.gov.ie

gov.ie/drcdg | X | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn |Threads | Bluesky | WhatsApp | YouTube

Nótaí d’Eagarthóirí: 

Cúlra

Foilsíodh an chéad Phlean Náisiúnta um Sheirbhísí Poiblí Gaeilge (GA/EN) i stair an Stáit i mí Dheireadh Fómhair 2024. Is plean taighde-bhunaithe atá ann, ullmhaithe ag an gCoiste Comhairleach um Sheirbhísí Gaeilge (GA/EN) a bunaíodh faoi Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla, 2003 (arna leasú) (GA/EN).

Díríonn an Plean Náisiúnta ar chúig mhórthéama straitéiseacha sna réimsí seo a leanas:

1. Tionscnaimh Leathana agus Neartú Struchtúir Reatha;
2. Soláthar Seirbhísí Poiblí trí Ghaeilge;
3. Teicneolaíocht;
4. Oiliúint, Earcaíocht agus Inniúlacht Teanga; agus
5. Bailiúchán Sonraí,

Leis an bplean seo, cuirtear treochlár ar fáil do chomhlachtaí poiblí chun cuspóirí foriomlána Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla a bhaint amach, is é sin líon agus caighdeán na seirbhísí poiblí a chuirtear ar fáil trí Ghaeilge a fheabhsú agus a mhéadú go mór, go háirithe i gceantair Ghaeltachta, agus a chinntiú go bhfuil líon leordóthanach foirne inniúil i nGaeilge ag comhlachtaí poiblí leis na seirbhísí sin a chur ar fáil.

Is céim shuntasach chun cinn é foilsiú an phlean seo i dtreo seirbhís phoiblí iomlán dhátheangach agus táthar le tacú leis trí dhá Phlean Gníomhaíochta. Beidh an chéad cheann díobh seo le tabhairt ag an Rialtas agus le foilsiú go luath.

Bunú Grúpa Oibre Teicniúil

I bhfianaise a thábhachtaí is a bheidh sé gné na Gaeilge a neadú isteach i bhforbairtí teicneolaíochta agus digitiú na Seirbhíse Poiblí sna blianta amach romhainn, tugadh aghaidh shonrach ar an réimse seo faoi Mhór-Théama Straitéiseach 3 den Phlean Náisiúnta.

Leagtar amach faoi Chuspóir 6 den téama sin:

6. Go mbunófar grúpa nó grúpaí oibre teicniúil le féachaint go háirithe ar nithe a bhaineann le Pointí 1–5 thuas, mar aon le cur i bhfeidhm Ailt 9A agus 9B.

Is iad seo a leanas Cuspóirí/Pointí 1-5 :

1. Go mbeifí réamhghníomhach ó thaobh ghné na Gaeilge a neadú isteach ón tús i bhforbairtí atá agus a bheidh ag teacht chun cinn i spás na teicneolaíochta, go háirithe mar a bhaineann le húsáid na hintleachta saorga i gcomhthéacs soláthar seirbhísí poiblí.
2. Go mbreathnófaí ar na suíomhanna gréasáin, na córais nó na seirbhísí idirghníomhacha eile ar cheart a chur ar fáil sa dá theanga oifigiúla, ag tógáil san áireamh tosaíochtaí ar leith sa ghearrthéarma, meántéarma agus fadtéarma.
3. Go scrúdófaí modhanna chun coincheap na tairisceana gníomhaí a neadú i bhforbairtí teicneolaíochta éagsúla a mhéid is féidir.
4. Go mbreathnófaí ar na féidearthachtaí a bhaineann le deis a bheith ag saoránach a rogha teanga (Gaeilge agus/nó Béarla) a chlárú in aon áit amháin do sheirbhísí poiblí i gcoiteann agus go bhféadfaí í seo a úsáid ansin ar fud na hearnála poiblí.
5. Go mbreathnófaí ar uirlisí tacaíochta teicniúla ar leith a aithint agus a chur ar fáil d’fhostaithe na hearnála poiblí, de réir mar is cuí, a thacóidh leo seirbhísí poiblí trí Ghaeilge ar ardchaighdeán a éascú dóibh.

Baineann ailt 9A agus 9B d’Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúlaleis na nithe seo a leanas:

• Alt 9A: ainmneacha, seoltaí agus teidil a thaifeadadh agus a úsáid go cruinn i nGaeilge, lena n-áirítear an síneadh fada a úsáid agus a chinntiú go bhfuil córais TFC cumraithe chun glacadh leis sin;
• Alt 9B: leagan amach foirmeacha oifigiúla dátheangacha nó Gaeilge amháin.

Feidhmeoidh an grúpa thar théarma trí bliana, le hathbhreithnithe bliantúla agus an tsolúbthacht chun dul in oiriúint do riachtanais reachtacha agus riachtanais oibríochtúla atá ag teacht chun cinn.

Ballraíocht an Ghrúpa

Beidh baill an Ghrúpa Oibre Teicniúil seo ina n-oifigigh theicniúla shinsearacha (atá comhionann le Grád Príomhoifigigh Chúnta nó níos airde agus i réimse a bhaineann le TFC), atá ionadaíoch ar na heagraíochtaí seo a leanas:

1. Cathaoirleach: An RFTPG ina ról mar rúnaíocht don Choiste Comhairleach um Sheirbhísí Gaeilge
2. Comhairleoir Speisialtóireachta TFC a bheidh le fostú ar conradh chun saineolas a chur ar fáil de réir mar is gá
3. RCPA/Oifig Phríomh-Oifigeach Faisnéise an Rialtais
4. An Roinn Coimirce Sóisialaí
5. An Roinn Gnóthaí Eachtracha/Oifig na bPasanna
6. An Roinn Iompair/Oifig Mótarchánach
7. Feidhmeannacht na Seirbhíse Sláinte
8. An Garda Síochána
9. An Ghníomhaireacht Bainistíochta Rialtais Áitiúil
10. An Post
11. Na Coimisinéirí Ioncaim
12. An tÚdarás um Shábháilteacht ar Bhóithre/An tSeirbhís Náisiúnta um Cheadúnas Tiomána
13. An tÚdarás Náisiúnta Iompair/Cárta Leap TFI
14. Pobal

An Roinn Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail agus Gaeltachta

Tugtar an Roinn Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail agus Gaeltachta ar an Roinn mhéadaithe anois.

Is é an tAire Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail agus na Gaeltachta, Dara Calleary TD, atá i gceannas ar an Roinn agus tacaíonn an tAire Stáit atá Freagrach as Forbairt Pobail agus Carthanachtaí, Jerry Buttimer TD, leis.

Tá an preasráiteas seo á fháil agat mar go bhfuil tú ar liosta meán na Roinne Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail faoi láthair.

Mura mian leat ríomhphoist den chineál seo a fháil ón Roinn a thuilleadh, is féidir leat díliostáil trí fhreagairt chuig an seoladh ríomhphoist seo leis an bhfocal “díliostáil” sa líne ábhair agus déanfaimid do sheoladh ríomhphoist a bhaint dár mbunachar sonraí.

Forward step in embedding Irish in Public Sector Systems

• Minister Calleary officially opens the first meeting of the Technical Working Group – established under the National Plan for Irish Language Public Services
• This group will play a central role in embedding the Irish language in technological developments and digitisation of the public services in years to come

Media Release: Wednesday, 15^th October, 2025

This morning, Minister Calleary met representatives of the Technical Working Group which has now been established under the National Plan for Irish Language Public Services. He officially opened their first meeting, which was held in the Offices of the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht in Dublin.

This group’s work will be a central support mechanism to the successful implementation of a number of technical aspects in the move towards a bilingual public service. The group’s work will include ensuring that ICT systems are able to accept names, addresses and titles in the Irish language and that the concept of “bilingual by design” and the active offer will be embedded in technological developments. Through the group’s work, it is intended for users to be given the opportunity to register their language choice when requesting services. There is broad representation on the group, from Government Departments to wider public bodies, with the membership emphasising core services and interaction with the public.

Speaking today, Minister Calleary said:

“This Working Group has an ambitious programme of work ahead of them, and accordingly, they are to meet once a month for the first year to ensure there is momentum behind their work. It is clear that there will be a number of opportunities to tie the group’s work in with other digital developments across the public sector, especially in the context of objectives laid out in Harnessing Digital – Ireland’s Digital Framework, with more and more public services being moved online.

“I would like to thank the members of the Group, and the relevant Departments of State and public bodies, for their dedication to this matter. It is clear that these representatives will be pioneers in embedding these various Irish-language technological developments in their own organisations as well as sharing best practice on the matter with each other and with the broader public service. I look forward to seeing the progress of their work in this space and wish them every success.”

The need for such a technical working group was recognised through the work of the Irish Language Services Advisory Committee, to which the group will be reporting.

ENDS

Contact:

Department of Rural and Community Development Press Office

01-773 6843 / 086 4618285

Press.office@drcdg.gov.ie

gov.ie/drcdg | X | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn |Threads | Bluesky | WhatsApp | YouTube

Notes to Editors: 

Background

The first National Plan for Irish Language Public Services (GA/EN) in the history of the State was published in October 2024. It is a research-based plan, prepared by the Irish Language Services Advisory Committee (GA/EN) which was established under the Official Languages Act, 2003 (as amended) (GA/EN).

The National Plan focuses on five major strategic themes in the following areas:

1. Broad Initiatives and Structural Strengthening;
2. Provision of Public Services through Irish;
3. Technology;
4. Training, Recruitment and Language Competence; and
5. Data Collection.

This plan provides a roadmap for public bodies to achieve the overall objectives of the Official Languages Act, namely, to greatly improve and increase the number and quality of public services provided through Irish, especially in Gaeltacht areas, and to ensure that public bodies have an adequate supply of staff competent in Irish to provide those services.

The publication of this plan is a significant forward step towards a truly bilingual public service, and it will be supported with two Action Plans. The first of these is to be submitted to Government and published shortly.

Establishment of a Technical Working Group

In light of how important it will be to embed the Irish language element in technological developments and digitisation of the Public Services in years to come, this area was specifically addressed under Major Strategic Theme 3 of the National Plan.

Objective 6 of that theme sets out:

6. That a technical working group or groups be established to
       examine matters relating to Points 1–5 above in particular, together with the          

       implementation of Section 9A and 9B.

Objectives/Points 1-5 are as follows:

1. That a proactive approach is taken in terms of embedding an Irish language element at the outset in developments that are and will be emerging in the technology sector, especially as it relates to the use of artificial intelligence in the context of the provision of public services
2. That the websites, systems or other interactive services which should be made available in both official languages, taking into account specific priorities in the short, medium and long term, be examined.
3. That methods of embedding the concept of active offer into various technological developments as far as possible be examined.
4. That the possibilities be examined regarding a citizen having the opportunity to register their language choice (Irish and/or English) in one place for common public services and that this could then be used throughout the public sector.
5. That technical support tools that could be made available to public sector employees to facilitate the provision of high quality public services through Irish be identified and examined.

Sections 9A and 9B of the Official Languages Act relate to the following matters:

• Section 9A: the accurate recording and use of names, addresses and titles in Irish, including the use of the síneadh fada (length accent) and ensuring that ICT systems are configured to accept them;
• Section 9B: the layout of bilingual or Irish only official forms.

The group will operate over a term of three years, with annual reviews and the flexibility to adapt to statutory and operational requirements as they arise.

Membership of the Group:

The members of this Technical Working Group will be senior technical officers (AP grade equivalent or higher, and in an ICT-related field), representative of the following organisations:

1. Chair: DRCDG in its role as secretariat for the Irish Language Services Advisory Committee
2. ICT Specialist Advisor contracted to provided subject matter expertise
3. DPER/OGCIO
4. Department of Social Protection
5. Department of Foreign Affairs/Passport Office
6. Department of Transport/Motor Tax Office
7. Health Service Executive
8. An Garda Síochána
9. Local Government Management Agency
10. An Post
11. Revenue
12. Road Safety Authority/NDLS
13. National Transport Authority/TFI Leap Card
14. Pobal

The Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht

The expanded Department is now known as the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht.

The Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary TD leads the Department and is supported by the Minister of State with Responsibility for Community Development and Charities, Jerry Buttimer TD.