Official Languages (Amendment) Act 2021

The Official Languages (Amendment) Bill 2019 was enacted on 22 December 2021. A copy of the new Act is available here.

The provisions in the new legislation include:

• An objective that by 2030 20% of new recruits to the public sector and the Civil Service be proficient in Irish.
• Confirmation that a deadline will be set whereby all State services in Gaeltacht regions will be available through Irish.
• A provision to end the language scheme system and replace it with a system of language standards.
• A provision to ensure that communications with a public body on social media are answered in the same language.
• A provision requiring public bodies to ensure that marketing material distributed to a class of the public be in Irish.
• A provision requiring public bodies to ensure that at least 20% of their annual advertising is in Irish.
• A provision to ensure application forms are available in Irish.
• A provision to ensure that the logos of public bodies are in Irish or in Irish and English.

The new provisions will be implemented over a period of time.

We are currently reviewing our website to take into account the amendments to the legislation arising from the new Act. We hope to conclude this review early in the New Year. In the interim, if you have any question in respect of any specific provision of the new Act, we can be contacted at eolas@coimisineir.ie or by phone at 091-504006.

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