Official Languages Act 2003

FIRST SCHEDULE

Public Bodies

1. Each of the following shall be a public body for the purposes of this Act:

(1) Department of Agriculture and Food

Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism

Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources

Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs

Department of Defence

Department of Education and Science

Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

Department of Finance

Department of Foreign Affairs

Department of Health and Children

Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform

Department of Public Enterprise

F47[Department of Public Expenditure and Reform]

Department of Social and Family Affairs

Department of the Environment and Local Government

Department of the Taoiseach

Department of Transport

F48[]

Central Statistics Office

Chief State Solicitor's Office

F49[Office of the Commission for Public Service Appointments

Public Appointments Service]

Office of the Attorney General

Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General

Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions

F50[Houses of the Oireachtas Service]

Office of the President

Office of the Revenue Commissioners

(2) Agencies, Boards, State Companies (commercial and non-commercial)

F51[]

F52[]

F51[]

a university or other third level institution

F53[an education and training board]

F54[Adelaide and Meath Hospital Incorporating the National Children’s Hospital]

F54[Adoption Authority of Ireland]

F52[]

F51[]

F52[]

F54[Agriculture appeals office]

F54[an Area Partnership Board]

F51[]

An Bord Bia

F52[]

An Bord Pleanála

F51[]

F51[]

An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gael~ scolaíochta

F51[]

F51[]

An Implementation Body established under the British-Irish Agreement Act 1999

An Post

F54[An Post GeoDirectory Limited]

F54[An tSeirbhís Oideachais Leanúnaigh agus Scileanna (SOLAS)]

An tÚdarás um Ard-Oideachas

F51[]

F51[]

F54[Archbishop Marsh’s Library]

Area Partnership Boards

F51[]

F54[Bantry General Hospital]

F54[Beaumont Hospital]

Bioresearch Ireland

F52[]

F51[]

Bord Iascaigh Mhara

Bord na gCon

F51[]

Bord na Móna

F51[]

Bord Scannán na hÉireann

F51[]

F51[]

F54[Broadcasting Authority of Ireland]

Bus Átha Cliath

Bus Éireann

F54[Cavan General Hospital]

F54[Cappagh National Orthopaedic Hospital]

F52[]

F54[Child and Family Agency (Tusla)]

F54[Citizens Information Board]

F54[Constituency Commission]

F55[Inland Fisheries Ireland]

F56[Central Bank of Ireland]

F54[Charities Regulatory Authority]

Chester Beatty Library

Coillte Teoranta

F51[]

F51[]

F51[]

F52[]

F51[]

F54[Connolly Hospital Dublin]

F54[Coombe Women & Infants University Hospital]

F54[Córas Iompair Éireann Holding Company]

F54[Cork University Hospital and Cork University Maternity Hospital]

F54[Cosc - The National Office for the Prevention of Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence]

Commission for Aviation Regulation

Commission for Communications Regulation

Commission for Energy Regulation

F51[]

F51[]

F51[]

F51[]

F54[Croom Hospital]

F51[]

F54[Data Protection Commission]

F54[Design and Crafts Council of Ireland]

Defence Forces Canteen Board

Dental Council

F51[]

F51[]

F54[Dietitians Registration Board]

Dublin Dental Hospital Board

F51[]

Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies

F51[]

F54[Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly]

Economic and Social Research Institute

F54[Education and Training Boards Ireland]

F54[Educational Research Centre]

F54[EirGrid plc]

Electricity Supply Board

Energy Advisory Board

F54[Ennis Hospital]

Enterprise Ireland

F54[Ervia]

F51[]

Food Safety Authority of Ireland

F54[Foynes Flying Boat and Maritime Museum]

F51[]

F51[]

F54[Gaisce - The President’s Award]

F54[Gas Networks Ireland]

F52[]

General Register Office

F51[]

F51[]

F54[Grangegorman Development Agency]

F54[Harbour Authorities within the meaning of the Harbours Acts 1946 to 2015]

Harbour Companies referred to in section 7 of the Harbours Act 1996

Health and Safety Authority

F54[Health and Social Care Professionals Council]

F54[Health Products Regulatory Authority]

Health Research Board

F52[]

F51[]

Horse Racing Ireland

F54[Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency]

F52[]

F52[]

Housing Finance Agency plc

F54[Hunt Museum]

I.D.A. Ireland

Iarnród Éireann

F54[Insolvency Service of Ireland]

F54[Integrated Development Companies]

F54[Integrated Local Development Companies]

F52[]

Institute of Public Administration

International Development Ireland Limited

F51[]

Irish Aviation Authority

F54[Irish Architectural Archive]

F54[Irish Auditing and Accounting Supervisory Authority]

Irish Blood Transfusion Service

F51[]

F52[]

Irish Financial Services Appeals Tribunal

F57[]

Irish Museum of Modern Art

F51[]

Irish National Stud Company Limited

F52[]

F54[Irish Research Council]

F52[]

F54[Irish Water]

F54[Irish Water Safety]

F54[Kilcreene Orthopaedic Hospital Kilkenny]

F52[]

F51[]

F54[Legal Services Regulatory Authority]

Leopardstown Park Hospital Board

F54[Letterkenny University Hospital]

F52[]

F51[]

F51[]

F51[]

F54[a Local Community Development Committee]

F54[Local Development Companies]

F54[Local Enterprise Offices]

F54[Local Government Management Agency]

F54[Louth County Hospital]

F54[Mallow General Hospital]

Marine Institute

F54[Mater Misericordiae University Hospital]

F54[Mayo General Hospital]

Medical Bureau of Road Safety

F54[Medical Scientists Registration Board]

Mental Health Commission

F54[Mental Health (Criminal Law) Review Board]

F54[Mercy University Hospital]

F54[Midland Regional Hospital, Mullingar]

F54[Midland Regional Hospital, Portlaoise]

F54[Midland Regional Hospital, Tullamore]

F54[Monaghan Hospital]

F51[]

F51[]

F54[Naas General Hospital]

F54[National Advisory Committee on Drugs and Alcohol]

F54[National Asset Management Agency]

National Cancer Registry Board

F51[]

F52[]

National Concert Hall

F51[]

F51[]

National Council for Special Education

National Disability Authority

National Economic and Social Council

F51[]

F51[]

National Gallery of Ireland

National Library of Ireland

F51[]

National Milk Agency

National Museum of Ireland

F54[National Oil Reserves Agency]

F51[]

F54[National Print Museum]

F54[National Paediatric Hospital Development Board]

F52[]

F51[]

F51[]

F51[]

F54[National Shared Services Office]

F54[National Sports Campus Development Authority]

National Standards Authority of Ireland

National Statistics Board

National Technology Park Plassey Ltd.

National Theatre Society Limited (Abbey Theatre)

F54[National Transport Authority]

National Treasury Management Agency

F54[Nenagh Hospital]

F51[]

F54[Northern and Western Regional Assembly]

F54[Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland]

F51[]

F54[Occupational Therapists Registration Board]

Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement

F54[Office of the Inspector of Prisons]

F51[]

Office of the Paymaster General

F54[Office of the Planning Regulator]

F51[]

F51[]

F54[Optical Registration Board]

Ordnance Survey Ireland

F54[Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin]

F54[Our Lady’s Hospital, Navan]

F54[Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda]

Patents Office

F54[Personal Injuries Assessment Board (PIAB)]

Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland

F54[Physiotherapists Registration Board]

F54[Pobal]

F51[]

F54[Portiuncula Hospital]

F54[Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council]

F54[Property Services Appeal Board]

F54[Property Services Regulatory Authority]

F51[]

F54[Quality and Qualifications Ireland]

F51[]

F51[]

F51[]

Radio Telefís Éireann

F54[Radiographers Registration Board]

Raidió na Gaeltachta

F51[]

F51[]

F54[Registrars of Births, Deaths, Marriages and Civil Partnerships]

F51[]

F51[]

F54[Residential Tenancies Board]

F51[]

F51[]

F51[]

F51[]

F54[Road Safety Authority]

F54[Roscommon County Hospital]

F54[Rosslare Europort]

F54[Royal Irish Academy (RIA)]

F54[Royal Irish Academy of Music (RIAM)]

F54[Road Safety Authority]

F54[Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital]

F54[Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority]

F54[Shannon Commercial Enterprises Limited]

F54[Shannon Group, public limited company]

F54[Sligo University Hospital]

F54[Social Care Workers Registration Board]

F54[Social Workers Registration Board]

F54[South Tipperary General Hospital]

F54[South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital]

F54[Southern Regional Assembly]

F54[Speech and Language Therapists Registration Board]

F54[Sport Ireland]

Standards in Public Office Commission

State Laboratory

F54[Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland]

F54[St. Columcille’s Hospital, Loughlinstown]

F54[St. James’s Hospital]

F54[St. John’s Hospital, Limerick]

F54[St. Luke’s General Hospital, Kilkenny]

F54[St. Luke’s Radiation Oncology Network]

F54[St. Michael’s Hospital, Dún Laoghaire]

F54[St. Vincent’s University Hospital]

F54[Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland]

F51[]

Teagasc

F51[]

F51[]

F51[]

F52[]

F54[Temple Street Children’s University Hospital]

F54[TG4]

the Aquaculture Licences Appeals Board

the Army Pensions Board

the Arts Council (An Chomhairle Ealaíon)

F51[]

the Censorship of Publications Appeals Board

the Censorship of Publications Board

F54[the Charity Appeals Tribunal]

F54[the Classification of Films Appeal Board]

F51[]

F51[]

F51[]

F54[the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission]

the Companies Registration Office

F51[]

the Courts Service

F54[the Crawford Gallery]

F54[the Criminal Assets Bureau]

the Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal

the Defence Forces

the Employment Appeals Tribunal

the Environmental Protection Agency

F51[]

the Garda Síochána

F54[the Garda Síochána Inspectorate]

F54[the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission]

F51[]

F51[]

F54[the Health Information and Quality Authority]

the Health Insurance Authority

the Heritage Council

F51[]

F52[]

F54[the International Protection Appeals Tribunal]

the Ireland-United States Commission for Educational Exchange

the Irish Manuscripts Commission

F54[the Irish Film Classification Office]

F54[the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council]

F54[the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission]

F51[]

the Irish Prison Service

F51[]

F51[]

the Labour Court

F51[]

F51[]

the Law Reform Commission

the Legal Aid Board

the Medical Council

the Mining Board

the National Archives

the National Archives Advisory Council

the National Centre for Guidance in Education

the National Competitiveness Council

the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment

F51[]

F54[the National Maternity Hospital, Dublin]

F52[]

F51[]

F51[]

the Office of the Chief Medical Officer for the Civil Service

the Office of the Information Commissioner

F51[]

the Office of the Ombudsman

F54[the Office of the Ombudsman for Children]

F54[the Office of the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces]

F54[the Office of Commissioner for Environmental Information]

F54[the Office of Public Works]

F54[the Office of Regulator of the National Lottery]

F54[the Office of the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman]

F54[the Pensions Authority]

F54[the Pensions Council]

F54[the Prize Bond Company Ltd.]

F54[the Probation Service]

F54[the Property Registration Authority]

the Office of the Registrar of Friendly Societies

F51[]

F51[]

the Referendum Commission

F51[]

F54[the Rotunda Hospital]

the Social Welfare Tribunal

the State Examinations Commission

F54[the Student Grants Appeals Board]

F54[the Tax Appeals Commission]

F54[the Teaching Council]

F54[Transport Infrastructure Ireland]

the Valuation Office

the Valuation Tribunal

Údarás na Gaeltachta

F54[University Hospital Galway and Merlin Park University Hospital]

F54[University Hospital Kerry]

F54[University Hospital Limerick]

F54[University Hospital Waterford]

F54[University Maternity Hospital Limerick]

Veterinary Council

Voluntary Health Insurance Board

Western Development Commission

F54[Wexford General Hospital]

F54[Workplace Relations Commission]

F51[]

(3) a local authority,

(4) F58[]

(5) any body, organisation or group standing prescribed for the time being, with the consent of such other (if any) Minister of the Government as the Minister considers appropriate having regard to the functions of that other Minister of the Government, and being—

(a) a body, organisation or group that receives moneys directly from a Minister of the Government, a Department of State, the Central Fund or a public body specified in subparagraph (2), (3) or (4) of this paragraph in circumstances where the amount or aggregate of the amounts so received constitutes 50 per cent or more of the current expenditure of that body, organisation or group in a financial year,

(b) a body, organisation or group that at the date of the coming into operation of this Schedule is a public body but subsequently comes under private ownership and control,

(c) a body, organisation or group performing functions which previously stood vested in a body, organisation or group under public ownership or control, or

F59[(d) any other body, organisation or group—

(i) on which functions which relate to the general public or a class of the general public stand conferred by any enactment, or

(ii) which is permitted or required by any licence or authority granted or given under any enactment to perform functions under that or any other enactment which relate to the general public or a class of the general public.]

2. A body, organisation or group standing prescribed pursuant to regulations for the purposes of F59[clause (d) of paragraph 1(5)] shall be a public body only as respects functions referred to in that clause.

3. The Minister F59[shall, at least once every 2 years and,] with the consent of such other (if any) Minister of the Government as the Minister considers appropriate having regard to the functions of that other Minister of the Government, by regulations amend F59[subparagraph (1) or (2)] of paragraph 1 by the insertion or deletion of a reference to any public body.

F60[3A. In making regulations in respect of a body, organisation or group in accordance with this Schedule, the Minister shall have regard to the purposes of this Act and, in so doing, shall take the following into account:

(a) the level of communication, whether in writing or by electronic mail, by telephone or in person, between the body, organisation or group concerned and the general public or a class of the general public;

(b) the level of communication, whether in writing or by electronic mail, by telephone or in person, between the body, organisation or group concerned and the general public or a class of the general public living in a Gaeltacht area, Gaeltacht Language Planning Area, Gaeltacht Service Town or Irish Language Network.]

4. A reference in paragraph 1 to any particular Department of State shall be construed as—

(a) including a reference to a body, organisation or group specified in relation to that Department of State in the Schedule to the Ministers and Secretaries Act 1924 (not being another public body specified in that paragraph), and

(b) not including any other body, organisation or group.

Annotations

Amendments:

F47

Inserted (6.07.2011) by Minister and Secretaries (Amendment) Act 2011 (10/2011), s. 92, S.I. No. 401 of 2011, art.2.

F48

Deleted (1.05.2007) by Consumer Protection Act 2007 (19/2007), s. 40 and sch. 3 part 1(b), S.I. No. 178 of 2007.

F49

Substituted and inserted (6.10.2004) by Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act 2004 (33/2004), s. 61 and sch. 2 part 1, commenced on enactment.

F50

Substituted (1.01.2010) by Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Act 2009 (44/2009), s. 14 and sch. part 1 item 6, commenced as per s. 15(3).

F51

Deleted (19.12.2019) by Official Languages Act 2003 (Public Bodies) Regulations 2019 (S.I. No. 230 of 2020), art. 2(b)(i).

F52

Deleted (1.05.2006) by Official Languages Act 2003 (Public Bodies) Regulations 2006 (S.I. No. 150 of 2006), reg. 3 and sch. 2, in effect as per reg. 1(2).

F53

Substituted (1.07.2013) by Education and Training Boards Act 2013 (11/2013), s. 72 and sch. 6 item 44, S.I. No. 211 of 2013, art. 4.

F54

Inserted (19.12.2019) by Official Languages Act 2003 (Public Bodies) Regulations 2019 (S.I. No. 230 of 2020), art. 2(b)(ii).

F55

Substituted (1.07.2010) by Inland Fisheries Act 2010 (10/2010), s. 8 and sch. 2 part 14 item 1, commenced as per s. 5(2) and S.I. No. 262 of 2010, art.2.

F56

Substituted (1.10.2010) by Central Bank Reform Act 2010 (23/2010), s. 15(12) and sch. 2 part 12 item 2, S.I. No. 469 of 2010, art.2.

F57

Deleted (1.10.2010) by Central Bank Reform Act 2010 (23/2010), s. 15(12) and sch. 2 part 12 item 2, S.I. No. 469 of 2010, art.2.

F58

Deleted (13.03.2023) by Official Languages (Amendment) Act 2021 (49/2021), s. 15(a)(i), S.I. No. 90 of 2023.

F59

Substituted (13.03.2023) by Official Languages (Amendment) Act 2021 (49/2001), s. 15(a)(ii), (b), (c)(i), (ii), S.I. No. 90 of 2023.

F60

Inserted (13.03.2023) by Official Languages (Amendment) Act 2021 (49/2001), s. 15(d), S.I. No. 90 of 2023.

Modifications (not altering text):

C28

Functions transferred and references to Ervia construed (1.06.2024) by Gas (Amendment) and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2024 (11/2024), s. 11, S.I. 208 of 2024.

Transfer of functions

11. (1) On the transfer day, all functions that, immediately before the transfer day, were vested in the dissolved body shall stand vested in Gas Networks Ireland.

(2) References in any enactment (other than this Act) or other document to the dissolved body, to the extent that such references relate to functions, assets, rights or liabilities that are vested in, or transferred to, Gas Networks Ireland by this Act shall, on and from the transfer day, be construed as references to Gas Networks Ireland.

(3) The administration and business in connection with the performance of the functions vested in Gas Networks Ireland by virtue of subsection (1) are on the transfer day transferred to Gas Networks Ireland.

(4) References in any enactment (other than this Act) to the dissolved body, to the extent that such references relate to the administration and business transferred by subsection (3) shall, on and from the transfer day, be construed as references to Gas Networks Ireland.

C29

Reference to Bord na gCon construed (1.10.2020) by Greyhound Racing Act 2019 (15/2019), s. 8(2), S.I. No. 399 of 2020.

Change of name of Bord na gCon

8. (1) The name of the board (established by section 6 of the Principal Act) the present name of which is Bord na gCon, shall be Rásaíocht Con Éireann.

(2) References in any enactment, statutory instrument or legal proceedings or any other document to Bord na gCon shall, on and from the commencement of this section, be read as references to Rásaíocht Con Éireann.

C30

Reference to National Sports Campus Development Authority construed (13.05.2015) by Sport Ireland Act 2015 (15/2015), s. 31, commenced on enactment.

References to Council or Authority in enactments

31. References to the Council or to the Authority in any enactment (other than this Act) or any instrument made under such an enactment shall, on and after the establishment day, be construed as references to Sport Ireland.

C31

Reference to National Consumer Agency construed as Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (31.10.2014) by Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2014 (29/2014), s. 39(2), S.I. Nos. 286, 367 of 2014.

Transfer of functions to Commission

39. (1) All functions that, immediately before the establishment day, were vested in the dissolved bodies are transferred to the Commission.

(2) References in any Act of the Oireachtas passed before the establishment day or in any instrument made before that day under an Act of the Oireachtas to—

(a) the National Consumer Agency, or

(b) the Competition Authority, shall, on and after that day, be construed as references to the Commission.

...

C32

Reference to Medical Council construed (3.07.2008) by Medical Practitioners Act 2007 (25/2007), s. 108(3), S.I. No. 231 of 2008.

Construction of references to registered medical practitioner and Medical Council, etc.

108.— ...

(3) Every reference to—

(a) the Medical Council, or

(b) the Medical Registration Council,

contained in any other enactment or any statutory instrument shall be construed as the Council within the meaning of section 2.

Editorial Notes:

E28

Power pursuant to s. 4(1)(a) and paras. 1(5), 3 exercised (1.05.2006) by Official Languages Act 2003 (Public Bodies) Regulations 2006 (S.I. No. 150 of 2006), in effect as per reg. 1(2).

E29

Previous affecting provision: reference to Bord Gáis Éireann construed as Ervia (19.06.2014) by ESB (Electronic Communications Networks) Act 2014 (5/2014), s. 8(2), S.I. No. 366 of 2014; Ervia further construed (1.06.2024) as per C-note above.

E30

Previous affecting provision: reference ; further construed .

E31

Previous affecting provision: definition of An Bord Uchtála amended (1.11.2010) by Adoption Act 2010 (21/2010), s. 165, S.I. No. 511 of 2010, art. 2; substituted (19.12.2019) as per F-note above.

E32

Previous affecting provision: National Consumer Agency inserted (1.05.2007) by Consumer Protection Act 2007 (19/2007), s. 40 and sch. 3 part 1, S.I. No. 178 of 2007, art. 2; deleted (19.12.2019) as per F-note above.