17 May 2007

UCC launches its Irish Language Scheme, 17 May

UCC President, Dr Michael Murphy, will today (17 May 2007) launch the University's Irish Language scheme for the years 2006-2009.

Under the Official Languages Act 2003, public bodies and publicly funded bodies are obliged to prepare a formal scheme outlining the level of service that will be available to the public through Irish.  The UCC scheme, which has been approved by the Minister for Arts, Culture, Gaeltacht and Rural Affairs, makes provision for services as Gaeilge in areas most commonly accessed by students and the general public.   Particular emphasis is placed on media material in Irish, telephone communication and reception services, bilingual versions of the main website pages, e-mail registration in either Irish or English, course registration , publications and library services.

As part of the scheme, refresher Irish language courses will be provided for staff wishing to bring their ability in Irish to the level needed to deliver the service.

Welcoming the initiative, UCC President, Dr Michael Murphy said the scheme demonstrated UCC's commitment to the Irish language augmenting the existing provisions made by UCC in support of Irish.  He said that UCC had a long and proud history of support for the Irish language.  Academic programmes were constantly being broadened to include the study of Irish in courses as diverse as Law, Commerce & Medicine.  This was in addition to providing high quality courses in the traditional areas of Irish studies.  Dr Murphy also noted the solid support for Irish in the University community and he was very happy to note that UCC continues to develop its range of Irish classes on offer to staff, students (including non-nationals) as well as the general public in the Cork area.

The full text of the scheme is available on the UCC website on http://secretary.ucc.ie/OfficialLanguagesAct/olahome.asp

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Seolann COC a Scéim Teanga

Seolfaidh Uachtarán COC, An Dr Micheál Ó Murchú, Scéim Teanga na hOllscoile 2006-2009 inniu (17 Bealtaine 2007).

Faoi réir Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla 2003, caithfidh comhlachtaí poiblí agus comhlachtaí atá maoinithe ar bhonn poiblí scéim fhoirmiúil a ullmhú a shonraíonn leibhéal na seirbhíse a sholáthrófar trí Ghaeilge.  Tá scéim COC faofa ag an Aire Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta agus cuireann sí na príomhsheirbhísí ar fáil trí mheán na Gaeilge a úsáideann mic léinn agus an pobal i gcoitinne.  Leagtar béim ar leith ar ábhar na meán trí Ghaeilge, ar chumarsáid ghutháin agus ar sheirbhísí fáiltithe, ar leaganacha dátheangacha de príomhleathanaigh an tsuímh idirlín, ar chlárú ríomhphoist as Gaeilge nó Béarla, ar chlárú cúrsaí, ar fhoilseacháin agus ar sheirbhísí na leabharlainne.

Mar chuid den scéim cuirfear cúrsaí athnuachana sa Ghaeilge ar fáil don fhoireann ar mhian leo a gcumas sa Ghaeilge a ardú go dtí an leibhéal is gá chun an tseirbhís a chur ar fáil.

Agus fáilte á cur aige roimh an tionscnamh, dúirt Uachtarán COC, An Dr Micheál Ó Murchú, gur léirigh an scéim go raibh COC tugtha don Ghaeilge agus gur chuir sí leis an méíd atá á dhéanamh ag COC don teanga cheana féin.  Dúirt sé go dtéann tacaíocht láidir shubstaintiúil de chuid COC don Ghaeilge i bhfad siar.  Cuireadh le cúrsaí acadúla éagsúla chun go mbeadh staidéar ar an nGaeilge mar chuid díobh, ina measc Dlí, Tráchtáil agus Leigheas.  I dteannta leis seo, cuirtear cúrsaí den chéad scoth ar fáil i réimsí traidisiúnta de léann na Gaeilge.  Rinne an Dr Ó Murchú trácht ar an mórthacaíocht atá ann don Ghaeilge i measc phobal na hOllscoile agus ba mhór an sásamh dó é go leanann COC leis an bhforbairt ar réimse na ranganna as Gaeilge a chuirtear ar fáil don fhoireann, don lucht teagaisc agus do ghrúpaí gairmiúla eile, do mhic léinn (eachtrannaigh san áireamh) chomh maith le pobal Chorcaí agus máguaird.

Tá téacs iomlán na scéime ar fáil ar shuíomh idirlín COC ag http://secretary.ucc.ie/OfficialLanguagesAct/olahome.asp

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