Commitments made under the TCD Irish Language Scheme (Plan) 2010-2012

Q: As a Head of Area, is my Area complying with its Irish language legal obligations made under the Language Scheme 2010-2012?

Please check through the list below. For assistance, contact Oifig na Gaeilge (ext 3652).

(This page sets out extra commmitments relating to specific areas only. For general requirements affecting ALL areas, please click here).

Commitments to enhance bilingual services

I.  Websites

• Trinity College commits to having a top-level Irish language webpage on the websites of the Faculties, Schools, Departments and Administrative offices, which will contain basic information on the role, functions and services of the areas in question and, in certain cases, some additional information.
• This requirement will be incorporated into the Design Requirements Form and the Project Initiation/Service Level Agreement for all new web design requests (by end  December 2010).
• The Provost’s Office website will have two top-level web pages available in the Irish language, describing the role, functions and history of the Office, linking to the Provost’s welcome in Irish and to the Irish language versions of the Strategic Plan and Annual Reports. A summary webpage will also be provided for the Chancellor’s website outlining its role, functions and history also (by end December 2010). At least two top level pages on the Trinity Hall website will be made available bilingually (by end December 2010). The Enquiries Office webpage, within the Secretary’s Office website, will be available bilingually (by end December 2010).
• The Equality Office will ensure an Irish Language word document version of the Recruitment Equality Form will be created and available online for downloading (by  end December 2010), although its Irish language page will not be available until the following year.
• The Library website will have a special summary website in Irish accessible from the main Library Home page, containing information on the role and services of key areas within the Library, including Libraries and Collections, Services and Facilities, Help and Training, Old Library and the Book of Kells (by end December 2011).
• By the end of December 2011, the following websites will have implemented the requirement for an Irish language webpage: Vice-Provost/Chief Academic Officer’s Office, Admissions Office, Examinations Office, Student Records, Graduate Studies, Treasurer’s Office, Equality Office, Communications Office, Secretary’s Office, Information Compliance Office, Global Home page, Local Home page, “About Trinity” pages, and the three faculty websites, Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences; Engineering, Mathematics and Science; and Health Sciences. Likewise, the Office of the Junior Dean/Registrar of Chambers and the Accommodation Office, the Office of Director of Buildings, the Dean of Students, the Senior Tutor’s Office, the Disability Service, the College Health Service, Student Counselling Service, the Careers Advisory Service and the Sport and Recreation Service will implement the web Irish language requirement. In addition, all student-directed elements of the Treasurer’s Office website will be available bilingually (by end December 2011).
• An Irish language version of FOI Application Form will be available on the Irish language webpage of the Information Compliance Office (by end December 2011).

By the end of December 2012 all remaining schools, departments and administrative offices will have implemented the requirement for an Irish language webpage.

II. Media and advertising

• An Irish language-prominent version of the College Logo will be used in all Irish-language-related promotional material, and it shall be ensured that a Bilingual College Logo is used for general branding purposes (excluding merchandise). (by end December 2010).
• Where College academic areas are placing a course advertisement in national newspapers, one summary version will be placed in an Irish language publication (by end December 2010).
• 5% of all press releases shall be issued bilingually (by end December 2010), 10% the following year, and 15% by the end of December 2012.  An Irish language press release archive will be independently accessible (by end December 2012).
• A printed Irish language version of the Freedom of Information Application Form will be available directly from the Information Compliance Office (by end December 2010) and on the website (by end December 2011).
• Spokespersons will be identified with the capability of representing the College with Irish language media and a webpage listing such spokespersons will be developed and maintained (by end of December 2011).

  III. Forms, brochures and publications

• College’s staff newsletter “Scéala an Choláiste/Listings” will maintain a bilingual title and feature weekly Irish language content (ongoing).
• An Irish language page, “An Ghaeilge” will appear in the College calendar, containing basic information on the Irish language in the life of College and website/telephone contact information (by end December 2010).
• The letter issued to guidance counsellors and teachers enclosing the College Undergraduate Prospectus will be issued bilingually to all secondary schools on the island of Ireland (by end December 2010).
• At registration all students will be issued with a copy of the College Regulations in English and Irish. The communication of information about services in Irish will be facilitated at the same time (by end December 2010).
• The Library will make a student orientation leaflet/guide available in Irish (by end December 2010).
• The Mature Students’ Application Form will be available in the Irish language in hard copy and PDF formats (by end December 2011). The application form for the Performing and Visual Arts Fund will be available bilingually online and in hard copy (by end December 2011).
• Bilingual elements will be introduced into the Extramural Courses Booklet- running titles used throughout Booklet, College logo/name, booklet title and Introduction to be bilingual (by end December 2011).
• A summary Guide to Student Services in the Irish language for students  will be jointly provided by the Senior Tutor’s Office, Disability Service, College Health Service, Careers Advisory Service, Sport and Recreation and Student Counselling Service, such guide to be coordinated through the Dean of Students (by end December 2011).
• The Examinations Office will ensure that where official academic course titles are in the Irish language, this will be reflected in timetables and examinations information issued by that office (by end December 2011).
• A summary Prospectus (2013) containing basic College information and summary course list will be made available in the Irish language (by end December 2012).

IV. Customer services

• Direct customer services
  There will be one member of staff available to the Fees Office (within the Treasurer’s Office), able to conduct business effectively in both Irish and English (by end December 2011).
• Library Orientation tours in Irish will be made available, by arrangement, during Freshers’ Week (ongoing).
• The Careers Advisory Service will promote careers opportunities in the Irish language among the student body through its association with “Gairmeacha le Gaeilge”, and internally in cooperation with the Irish Language Office and the School of Irish (ongoing).
• Receptionists/switchboard operators are the first points of contact with the public.  It shall be the policy of the University to ensure that standard Quality Customer Service (QCS) practice applies in this area, which is that by the end of December 2011 of the scheme:
  • Reception/switchboard staff give the name of the University in Irish and in English
  • They are at least familiar with the basic greetings in Irish
  • Suitable arrangements are in place so that they can put members of the public in touch, without delay, with the office or officer responsible for offering the service required through Irish, where available
• Staff in the Enquiries Office will be able to greet persons in Irish and refer queries onward, or will take contact details and promise to revert within a reasonable time period with an Irish language speaker. Staff from this office will also make a booklet in Irish available, containing basic College information and contact details (by end December 2011).
• Two staff members in the Secretary’s Office will be in a position to deal with queries made in person or by telephone in the Irish language and to provide Irish language back-up to Enquiries Office (by end December 2011).
• Two staff members in the Provost’s Office will be in a position to respond to queries made in person or by telephone in the Irish language (by end December 2012).
• In the Berkley and Hamilton Libraries, one staff member at the main Lending Desks will be available to conduct business in Irish during the hours of 9am and 3.30pm (by end December 2012). One staff member at the main Library Reception/Information Desk will be able to greet customers in Irish and refer queries onward, during the opening hours 9.30am-5pm (by end December 2012).

Protocol and systems
Internal Protocols will be agreed for the handling of Irish language queries by both the Secretary’s Office and the Equality Office, and on handling Irish language FOI requests by the Information Compliance Office (by end December 2010).

Suitable systems will be put in place to brief Postroom staff, in order to ensure that all incoming and outgoing mail, and all internal mail, where addressed in the Irish language, can be promptly directed to the correct destination and recipient (by end December 2010).

V. Staff Recruitment and Training

Survey
In the first year of operation of this scheme, a survey will be undertaken of staff throughout College, to establish current levels of capacity in relevant departments to provide Irish language services. Where appropriate, training will be provided within the lifetime of this scheme with a view to enhancing the commitments to bilingual services to be made in the period of the scheme immediately following this one.

Courses
The Staff Development Office, in consultation with the Irish language Officer, will provide support and advice in the provision of courses in Irish (by end December 2010 and ongoing). Subject to agreement with local management, and where linked to staff development goals, College will facilitate the attendance of staff at Irish language courses where this training is relevant to front line service provision and their work (by end December 2010 and ongoing).

Recruitment
College will bear in mind the commitments to bilingual service entered into in this scheme in its recruitment policy (by end December 2010 and ongoing).

At the next available staff vacancy in the area of the Vice-Provost/Chief Academic Officer’s Office, competency to deliver a service in Irish for each of the following offices (Vice-Provost/Chief Academic Officer’s Office, Admissions Office, Examinations Office, Student Records, Graduate Studies) will be a requirement of the position (ongoing).

VI. Information Technology

• The automatic email message issued when Library books due to be returned are late will be issued in bilingual format (by end December 2010).
• Commonly developed systems supported by Trinity College Information Systems Services e.g. email, office systems, web publishing tools, will support both Irish and English. Support for sourcing Irish language packs (spell checkers, proofing tools) shall be available on request (by end December 2010).
  Commonly used and public-facing systems in the Public Access Computer Rooms supported by Trinity College Information Systems Services will be made compatible by allowing names and place-names addresses to be recorded, displayed and printed in either official language, depending on the user (by end December 2010).
• The Library’s Millennium (catalogue) will have an Irish language version of the search interface available providing searching (and essential supporting text) of all the Library records in the main online catalogue (by end December 2011).
• The current Student Information System will support the entry, display and printing of data including student information, name, address and biographical information in either Irish or English (by end December 2011).
• The online Research Support System database will support the searching, display and printing of information entered in either Irish or English (by end December 2012).
• In the event of a new online system being developed for student enrolment and registration, the option of registering in the Irish language will be built into the tendering process in addition to the option of having biographical information recorded in the Irish language (ongoing).
• Built into the tendering process of a new student information system, will be the capability of supporting the entry, display and printing of data including student information, name, address and biographical information in either Irish or English (ongoing).
• Where University computer workstations and peripheral devices are being replaced or updated, these will be configured to support the entry, display and printing of information in either Irish or English (ongoing).
• E-strategy: Built into the tendering and development process of a new staff information database, will be the requirement that the system is capable of supporting the entry, display and printing in either Irish or English, of data including staff information, name, address, and biographical details (ongoing).

VII. The living language on campus

• Students
  An Irish Language Residency Scheme is operated on campus for continuing students in College in association with Coiste na Gaeilge and the Irish Language Officer. This may be expected to continue for the duration of the Language Scheme subject to agreement between the Office of Junior Dean/ Registrar of Chambers, the Accommodation Office and the Irish Language Office. The students participating in the Scheme will be selected by a competitive process, and be in receipt of a grant from Coiste na Gaeilge, subject to fulfilling certain conditions (ongoing).
• Similarly, an Irish Language Residency Scheme is operated at Trinity Hall for students in College in association with Coiste na Gaeilge and the Irish Language Officer. This may be expected to continue for the duration of the Language Scheme subject to agreement between the Warden of Trinity Hall, the Accommodation Office and the Irish Language Office. 12 places may be expected to be made available for 1st year students and 6 places for 2nd year students. The 18 students will be selected by a competitive process, and be in receipt of a grant from Coiste na Gaeilge, subject to fulfilling certain conditions (ongoing).
• One house block in Trinity Hall will be reserved primarily for students with an interest in living in a spoken Irish community (by end December 2010).
• Irish classes will be provided at a range of levels, free of charge, to students (by end December 2010).
• A room will be made available specifically for the Irish Language (“Seomra na Gaeilge”) as part of the new Student Centre under development. Seomra na Gaeilge will function as a social space in the medium of Irish available to the student body (TBC)
• Staff
  Irish classes will be provided at a range of levels, free of charge, to staff members and a programme of social and cultural events will be provided for staff members (by end December 2010).

VIII. Trinity College Dublin and Wider Society

Tours in Irish of the Book of Kells exhibition will be facilitated, by arrangement (by end December 2010).

Trinity College Dublin’s School of Law, in association with the Irish Language Officer, will organise a symposium/seminar for the general public on the Irish language in the legal system, legislation and language rights (by end December 2011).

The Irish Language Officer will foster relationships with the external Irish language community and organisations in furtherance of Trinity College’s commitment to engage with the wider society. The Officer will also explore potential areas of cooperation with the Trinity Foundation and the Trinity Business Alumni in pursuit of these goals (ongoing).

The Trinity College Irish Language Scheme 2010-2012 in full may be read here.

Please click here to return to the page concerning other Irish language legal obligations