• oibriú ar bhonn tras-Rannach ar mhaithe le straitéisí éagsúla an Rialtais a fhorfheidhmiú.

Tá ionann is 170 ball foirne sa Roinn, agus áirítear baill foirne na Cartlainne Náisiúnta orthusan mar gur cuid den Roinn í faoi láthair.

Chomh maith leis sin, tá líon áirithe de ghníomhaireachtaí Stáit, a bhíonn ag tuairisciú chuig an Roinn, a bhfuil freagrachtaí sonracha in earnálacha na n-ealaíon, an spóirt agus na turasóireachta de chúram orthu. Is faoi na gníomhaireachtaí sin féin atá sé a scéimeanna féin a chur i dtoll a chéile de réir an Achta.

1.3.1 Mission and Goals

The Department of Tourism, Culture and Sport was established in June 2002 and its mission over the period 2008-2010 is:

to enrich Irish society by supporting the growth of a competitive and sustainable tourism industry and increasing access to, an participation in, sport, the arts and culture.

Following from this mission statement, the Department's high-level goals are as follows:

Arts, Culture and Film: To enhance access to, and to recognise, the social and economic role of the arts, culture and film sectors in Ireland by promoting and encouraging artistic expression, cultural awareness and participation through an appropriate policy, legislative and resource framework.

Sport: To increase participation and interest in sport, to improve standards of performance and to develop sports facilities at national, regional and local level, thereby contributing to healthier lifestyles and an improved overall quality of life, through a Departmental policy and resource framework in partnership with its Agencies, other Government Departments and the National Governing Bodies of Sport.

Tourism: To support the growth of a competitive and sustainable tourism industry, enhancing its contribution to national economic and social goals, through the development, implementation and influencing of a range of policy actions and programmes by the Department, its Agencies and other Government Departments, in consultation with industry partners.

Corporate Services: To optimise the use of resources in the delivery of the Department's objectives and in meeting the needs of customers and to support staff to develop their full potential in a positive

Synergies: To promote close co-operation between the arts and culture, film, sport and tourism sectors in order to enhance their shared contribution to the social and economic well being of the country and to influence other relevant public policy areas.

Moreover, as part of its ongoing activities, the Department is also involved in:

• the provision of general information to sectoral interests and the public, including guidance, clarification and/or referral on schemes, initiatives, programmes and policies in the areas of the arts, sport and tourism;

• the provision of advice and administrative support to the Minister to assist him in meeting his statutory and parliamentary obligations;

• interaction with the Oireachtas and its Committees on issues arising in connection with the Department's remit;

• communicating the Department’s policies and achievements to other Government Departments and agencies, the media and the general public; and

• working on a cross-Departmental basis in contributing to the implementation of various Government strategies.

The Department has a staff of some 170, including the National Archives, which currently forms part of the Department.

In addition, a number of State agencies, which report to the Department, are charged with specific responsibilities in the arts, sport and tourism sectors. It is a matter for those agencies to produce their own schemes in accordance with the Act. and equitable working environment.

1.3.2 Custaiméirí agus Cliaint

Téann an soláthar seirbhísí agus toradh beartas agus straitéisí dá leanann an Roinn i bhfeidhm i ndeireadh thiar ar lear mór daoine, orthu sin tá turasóirí, iad siúd a bhíonn ag plé leis na healaíona agus leis an gcultúr, cumainn spóirt agus a mbaill agus tionscail agus fostóirí gaolmhara éagsúla. Is iad seo a leanas na príomhpháirtithe leasmhara agus na príomhchustaiméirí atá ag an Roinn:

• An tAire Ealaíon, Spóirt agus Turasóireachta;

• An tAire Stáit;

• An Rialtas agus na hAirí;

• Comhaltaí an Oireachtais;

• An Chomhairle Aireachta Thuaidh-Theas;

• Ranna eile Rialtais;

• Eagraíochtaí de chuid an Aontais Eorpaigh;

• Comhairle na hEorpa;

• Comhlachtaí Ionadaíocha an Ghnó;

• Gníomhaireachtaí Stáit;

• Comhlachtaí Ionadaíocha na Turasóireachta;

• Comhlachtaí Ionadaíocha an Spóirt;

• An Ghníomhaireacht Dhomhanda Frithdhópála;

• Comhlachtaí Áitiúla agus Réigiúnacha;

• Na Forais Chultúir agus a bPátrúin;

• Comhlachtaí Ionadaíocha na nEarnálacha Ealaíon agus Cruthaitheacha;

• Eagraíochta Deonac; agus

• Daoine den Phobal.

Is Roinn déanta beartais, go príomha, í an Roinn sna hearnálacha a bhfuil sí freagrach astu. Dá bhrí is beag idirghníomhaíocht dhíreach a bhíonn aici le daoine den phobal. Ní bhíonn oifigí poiblí á bhfeidhmiú ag an Roinn ná ní chuireann sí seirbhísí – seachas eolas faoina cuid oibre agus faoi bhainistiú scéimeanna/clár áirithe – ar fáil go díreach don phobal.

Beidh feidhm ag na hardchaighdeáin seirbhíse do chustaiméirí atá glactha ag an Roinn i ndáil le soláthar seirbhísí dár gcustaiméirí maidir leis na seirbhísí sin ar thug an Roinn a tiomantas dóibh iad a chur ar fáil trí Ghaeilge faoin Scéim seo.

1.3.3 Réimsí Feidhme na Roinne

Tá na Rannáin seo a leanas i réimsí feidhme na Roinne:

• Ealaíona, Scannáin agus Ceol;

• Forais Chultúir;

• Ealaíona agus Forais Chultúir II;

• Cultúr Éireann;

• Spórt 1;

• Spórt 2;

• Cigireachtaí ar an gClár Caipitil Spóirt & ar Chlár na Linnte Snámha;

• Forbairt Turasóireachta; agus

• Measúnú ar Bheartas Margaíochta Turasóireachta agus a Thionchar.

Is iad seo a leanas aonaid tacaíochta na Roinne:

• An Oifig Phreasa agus Eolais;

• Oifig Phríobháideach agus Oifig Dáilcheantair an Aire;

• Oifig an Ard-Rúnaí;

• An tAonad Acmhainní Daonna;

• Aonad Tacaíochta don Fhorbairt Chorparáideach/An tAonad Oiliúna;

• Seirbhísí Theicneolaíocht na Faisnéise;

• An tAonad Airgeadais; agus

• An tAonad Iniúchta Inmheánaigh.

Tá a thuilleadh eolais ar ghníomhaíochtaí gach réimse feidhme agus gach aonaid den Roinn i Lámhleabhar Alt 15 agus 16 um Shaoráil Faisnéise de chuid na Roinne atá ar fáil i nGaeilge agus i mBéarla ar shuíomh gréasáin na Roinne (www.dast.gov.ie).

1.3.2 Customers and Clients

The delivery of services and the outcome of policies and strategies pursued by the Department ultimately impact upon a wide array of people, including tourists, those involved in arts and culture, sporting associations and their members, and the various related industries and employers. The Department's key stakeholder and customer base comprises:

• Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism;

• Minister of State;

• Government and Ministers;

• Members of the Oireachtas;

• North South Ministerial Council;

• Other Government Departments;

• Organisations of the European Union;

• Council of Europe;

• Business Representative Bodies;

• State Agencies;

• Tourism Representative Bodies;

• Sports Representative Bodies;

• World Anti-Doping Agency;

• Local and Regional Bodies;

• Cultural Institutions and their Patrons;

• Artistic & Creative Representative Bodies;

• Voluntary & Community Organisations; and

• Members of the Public.

The Department is primarily a policy-making Department in the sectors for which it has responsibility. It has, therefore, limited direct interaction with members of the public. The Department does not operate public offices or provide services - other than information about its work and the management of certain schemes/programmes - directly to the public.

The quality customer service standards adopted by the Department in relation to the delivery of services to our customers shall apply to those services that the Department has committed to deliver in the Irish language under this Scheme.

1.3.3 Functional Areas of Department

The functional areas of the Department comprise the following Divisions:

• Arts, Film and Music;

• Cultural Institutions;

• Arts and Cultural Institutions II;

• Culture Ireland;

• Sports 1;

• Sports 2;

• Sports Capital Inspections & Swimming Pool Programme;

• Tourism Development; and

• Tourism Marketing Policy and Impact Assessment.

The Department’s support units are:

• Press and Information Office;

• Minister's Private Office and Constituency Office;

• Secretary General's Office;

• Human Resources Unit;

• Corporate Development Support/Training Unit;

• Information Technology Services;

• Finance Unit; and

• Internal Audit Unit.

Further information on the activities of each functional area and unit of the Department is contained in the Department's Freedom of Information Section 15 and 16 Manual, which is available in both Irish and English on the Department's web site (www.dast.gov.ie).

1.3.4 A mhéid is atá Seirbhísí ar fáil cheana féin trí Ghaeilge

Cuireann an Roinn líon áirithe de sheirbhísí dátheangacha ar fáil faoi láthair – seirbhísí is ea iad seo a bhí á gcur ar fáil sular glacadh leis an gcéad Scéim nó de dheasca an tiomantais a tugadh sa Scéim sin a chomhlíonadh. Mar shampla, tá foilseacháin chorparáideacha na Roinne – a Ráitis Straitéise, Tuarascálacha Bliantúla agus a Cairteacha don Chustaiméir – ar fáil i nGaeilge agus i mBéarla, mar atá na foirmeacha iarratais agus na treoirlínte a ghabhann lena scéimeanna móra maoinithe.

Tá beartas i bhfeidhm ag an Roinn chomh maith maidir lena fógráin phreasa a bheith i nGaeilge agus i mBéarla agus maidir lena cheangal go mbeadh na comharthaí ar admháil ar mhaoiniú a fuarthas faoina cláir deontais chaipitil ealaíon agus spóirt, sa dá theanga. Ina theannta sin, tá stáiseanóireacht na Roinne, na príomhchomharthaí agus na príomhfhógairtí réamhthaifeadta teileafóin i nGaeilge agus i mBéarla chomh maith. Ina theannta sin arís, i gcomhréir le Cairt na Roinne don Chustaiméir, is é beartas na Roinne iarracht a dhéanamh seirbhís a chur ar fáil trí Ghaeilge do dhaoine a bhuaileann isteach chuig an Roinn agus a éilíonn seirbhís dá leithéid.

Tugadh tiomantais fhorleathana i gcéad Scéim na Roinne chun feabhas a chur ar an leibhéal seirbhíse i nGaeilge. Comhlíonadh na tiomantais sin go léir lena n-áirítear suíomh gréasáin comhuaineach Gaeilge a fhorbairt. Comhlíonadh na tiomantais sin d’ainneoin an dúshláin a thug an dílárú don eagraíocht, lenar bhain athrúchán foirne de isteach agus amach le 66 faoin gcéad sna trí bliana seo caite agus laghdú, dá bhrí sin, de bheagnach 15 faoin gcéad sa líon foirne ar leor a n-inniúlacht ar Ghaeilge chun seirbhís a chur ar fáil don phobal i nGaeilge.

Is é cuspóir an Dara Scéim seo leanúint le comhlíonadh na dtiomantas seo agus feabhas a chur ar an leibhéal seirbhíse thar thréimhse na Scéime (2009-2012).

1.3.5 Éileamh ar Sheirbhísí trí Ghaeilge

Bhíothas i mbun monatóireachta go leanúnach le linn na chéad Scéime ar an éileamh ón bpobal ar sheirbhísí a sholáthraíonn an Roinn trí Ghaeilge agus b’éileamh teoranta a bhí ar na seirbhísí go háirithe i réimse na seirbhísí idirphearsanta (féach an Tábla thíos).

Aithnítear, áfach, go bhfuil ról tábhachtach réamhghníomhach ag an Roinn chun suim a mhúscailt trí raon agus caighdeán na seirbhísí a sholáthraíonn sí trí Ghaeilge a mhéadú.

1.3.4 Extent to which Services are Already Available through Irish

The Department currently provides a number of services bilingually, either because they were already provided prior to the adoption of the first Scheme or as a consequence of meeting the commitments made in that Scheme. For example, the Department's corporate publications – its Statements of Strategy, Annual Reports and Customer Charters – are available in Irish and English, as are the application forms and guidelines for its major funding schemes.

The Department also operates a policy of placing its press advertisements in both Irish and English and of requiring bilingual signage acknowledging funding under its capital arts and sports grants programmes. Moreover, the Department's stationery, main signage and main pre-recorded telephone announcements are also in Irish and English. Furthermore, in accordance with the Department's Customer Charter, the Department's policy is to endeavour to provide a service through Irish to personal callers to the Department where such a service is requested.

Extensive commitments were made in the Department's first Scheme to improve the level of service in Irish. All these commitments, including the development of a parallel Irish language website, have been delivered. This was despite the organisational challenge of decentralisation, which involved staff turnover of approximately 66 per cent in the past three years and which resulted in a reduction of some 15 per cent in the number of staff with sufficient competency to provide a service in Irish to the public.

The objective of this Second Scheme is to continue the delivery of these commitments and to enhance the level of service over the period of the Scheme (2009-2012).

1.3.5 Demand for Services through Irish

Public demand for services from the Department through Irish has been continuously monitored over the course of the first Scheme and has proved to be limited, particularly in the area of interpersonal services (see Table below).

It is recognised, nevertheless, that the Department has an important pro-active role to play in stimulating interest by increasing the range and quality of its services through Irish.