4256. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht to provide an update on the development of language standards for the provision of public services through the Irish language; to indicate when the public consultation process on these standards is expected to commence and conclude; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55521/26]

Central to the Government’s efforts in the move towards a bilingual public service is the full and successful implementation of the Official Languages Acts 2003 to 2021, as set out in the Programme for Government. With this work, my Department is focused on embedding the Irish language in the provision of public services, on a systematic basis, thus empowering speakers of the language to use it in their every day dealings with the state and increasing the opportunities people have to use the language.

To date, the publication of the National Plan for Irish Language Public Services 2024-2030 in October 2024 and the subsequent Action Plan for Irish Language Public Services 2026 – 2028 in January 2026, have been significant steps forward in this regard. Both plans are aimed at setting public bodies up for success in terms of increasing their overall provision of Irish language services and staff competent in the language to do so.

The introduction of the system of language standards for different sectors on a phased basis is now the next big policy item to come to fruition under the Act. Since the enactment of the Official Languages (Amendment) Act 2021, and indeed prior to that, work has been underway on the drafting of these language standards. As standards set may not stipulate that fewer services be provided though Irish than previously committed to under a language scheme or other, this work has also involved a comprehensive review of all language schemes currently in place.

Specific consultation processes are set out under Section 19A.(6) of the amended Act regarding the introduction of these standards, as follows:

• the Irish Language Advisory Committee

• Government Ministers as it relates to their area of responsibilities (as appropriate);

• public consultation;

• consultation with relevant public bodies

The final stages of an internal examination process on the draft-language standards is currently underway. Once this process is complete, the consultation process will begin, through the Advisory Committee initially. The public and public bodies will also be kept informed as the consultation process progresses.