Trinity College launches new language scheme
December 3, 2013
Minister of State for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht Dinny McGinley TD officially launched Trinity College Dublin’s second Irish language scheme on 27 November 2013.
The new language scheme describes the services to be developed and improved to better cater for members of the public and members of staff wishing to do business with TCD through Irish and will build upon the provision established in the First Language Scheme which was in place from 2010-2012.
The language scheme arises from the Official Languages Act 2003 that gives practical effect to the constitutional status of Irish as the first official language of the State. The scheme will be in place for three years or until the Minister of State for the Gaeltacht ratifies a third scheme under Section 15 of the Act.
Launching the new scheme, Minister of State McGinley said “Trinity College has long been renowned for the excellence of its Irish language learning and scholarship and the achievements of the college in protecting, nurturing and sustaining the language must be acknowledged”.
While implementing the second scheme, TCD authorities will focus on improvements to bilingual services in the following areas: Direct Customer Services; Interactive services; Websites; Communications and Media; Forms, publications and printed material; Information Technology; Staff recruitment, induction and Irish language training; Irish Language Residency Schemes and Seomra na Gaeilge. There are also commitments to the development of an Irish Language Policy and the instituting of Irish Language Awards.
TCD Secretary said that “Trinity College is proud to be among the first of the universities to launch a second scheme”, and Irish Language Officer Aonghus Dwane, added that the scheme “is the result of cooperation with a wide range of areas across the College community. This Scheme will ensure the embedding and strengthening of the central place of Irish in College life in the years ahead”.
Trinity College Dublin’s second language scheme can be read here.
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