Department for Regional Development recognised for use of Irish Language

The Department for Regional Development has been recognised as one of the leading public bodies promoting the Irish language.

The annual ‘Top 50 Business as Gaeilge Awards’ honour companies and public sector bodies which make use of the Irish language.

Speaking about the award, Minister for Regional Development, Conor Murphy said: “I welcome the fact that my Department has been selected to receive this award. It is a reflection of the hard work my Department has been doing in recent years to ensure that members of the Irish speaking community can access services in the language of their choice.

“Since 2007, my Department has made significant progress in developing an Irish language policy to fulfil commitments in the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. I have ensured the use of bilingual headlines in English and Irish on advertisements placed by my Department, and that all new or revised information leaflets and application forms are provided in Irish. My Department has created a multilingual section of the main DRD website, to provide key information on departmental functions in Irish.

“I have arranged for lunchtime training classes in Irish for departmental staff, which have been extremely popular. I regularly meet with representatives from the Irish language community to discuss further measures which can be taken to improve the quality, and equality, of services my Department provides to Irish speakers.”

The awards are organised by the Belfast Media Group in conjunction with the cross-border Irish language body Foras na Gaelige and they are now in their fifth year.

Notes to editors:

1. All media queries to: Department for Regional Development Press Office, Tel 028 9054 0004. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.