Official Languages Act (and related legislation)
From Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media
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From Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media
Published on
Last updated on
The Official Languages Act 2003 was signed into law on 14 July 2003. The primary objective of the Act is to ensure the improved provision of public services through the Irish language.
More information about the Act is available here.
A copy of the Act can be accessed here.
The Official Languages (Amendment) Act 2021 was signed into law on 22 December 2022. This new legislation is a strengthening of the Official Languages Act 2003 and is designed to make a significant contribution to the quality of services in Irish provided to the public by State bodies.
More information about the Act is available here .
A copy of the Act can be accessed here. .
The number of public bodies that were involved under the Official Languages Act has been significantly reduced as a result of the rationalisation and streamlining of State public bodies in recent years. In order to reflect this change, the Official Languages Act 2003 (Public Bodies) Regulations 2019 (S.I. No. 230 of 2020) were made to amend the First Schedule of the Act i.e. the list of public bodies who come under the scope of the Act.
These Regulations came into effect on 25 June 2020.
A copy of the Regulations can be accessed here.
These regulations, which were made under sections 4(2) and 9(1) of the Official Languages Act 2003, provide for the use of the Irish language only, or the Irish and English languages together on recorded oral announcements, stationery, and signage of public bodies.
A copy of the Regulations can be accessed here.
These Regulations brought additional public bodies within the scope of the Official Languages Act 2003 and deleted from the first Schedule to the Act the names of public bodies that had ceased to exist or to operate since it was passed.
A copy of the Regulations can be accessed here.
A list of the Placenames Orders made to date under the Act, along with links to copies of them, can be found on the website of An Coimisinéir Teanga here.