Some time ago, Danny2007 (I think) asked if I had figures for this. There is a bit of a Donnybrook going on on iGaeilge, and Seán Ó Daimhín gave the figures. Seán is the Irish Language Officer for Donegal Co. Co., responsible for implementing their scheme under the Act.

http://igaeilge.wordpress.com/2009/11/03/diospoireacht-ar-adhmhaidin-mise-v-an-a ire/#comment-3304

seo thíos na figiúirí fá choinne fo-oifig amháin san Ionad ar an Chlochán Liath.

Líon na dTeagmhálacha a rinneadh leis an Chomhairle (guthán / oifig)

Bliain	Líon Iomlán	Líon i nGaeilge	%i nGaeilge
2003	26891	1518	5.65 %
2004	45299	1627	3.59 %
2005	46496	3626	7.80 %
2006	41006	3519	8.58 %
2007	40496	3697	9.13 %

Go raibh maith 'ad. 'Twas I, yes.

Are these figures only for the office in An Clochán Liath/Dungloe? If so, I wonder if Seán Ó Daimhín has figures for the entire County.

It's a definite improvement over five years, but is it not worrying that less than 10% of contact with the Co. Council located within the Gaeltacht is in Irish? And is it referring to written contact, verbal? Both?

From what I can gather from the discussion in iGaeilge, the majority of the blog readers disagree with Concubhar Ó Liatháin on the issue of money spent on translations.

Sounds like he had a debate with Ó Cuív recently.

It refers to phone calls and calls into the office.

An Clochán Liath itself, while technically in the Gaeltacht is on the very edge, and as far as I know Category C according to the Commission report. But it is the designated office for business in Irish - other offices have less or no staff capable of doing business in Irish.

Clearly, the figures could be better, and Seán has said he is not entirely happy. But in the context of an embargo on hiring people, and the difficulty of getting fluent staff, I think the doubling of the number of contacts is a good result.

People who speak fluent Irish, especially in the Gaeltacht, want to get the job done. If they feel that there counterpart is not equally fluent, they will speak English rather than risk a mistake happening in what they want done. (And they are right). Unless service in Irish is as good as service in English, it will not be used.

Personally, I would like to see centralised, well staffed call centers to deal with all public business in Irish. Perhaps one for each region to deal with dialect issues.