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
F46[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
F47[…]
Central Statistics Office
Chief State Solicitor's Office
F48[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
F49[Houses of the Oireachtas Service]
Office of the President
Office of the Revenue Commissioners
(2) Agencies, Boards, State Companies (commercial and non-commercial)
F50[…]
F51[…]
F50[…]
a university or other third level institution
F52[an education and training board]
F53[Adelaide and Meath Hospital Incorporating the National Children’s Hospital]
F53[Adoption Authority of Ireland]
F51[…]
F50[…]
F51[…]
F53[Agriculture appeals office]
F53[an Area Partnership Board]
F50[…]
An Bord Bia
F51[…]
An Bord Pleanála
F50[…]
F50[…]
An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gael~ scolaíochta
F50[…]
F50[…]
An Implementation Body established under the British-Irish Agreement Act 1999
An Post
F53[An Post GeoDirectory Limited]
F53[An tSeirbhís Oideachais Leanúnaigh agus Scileanna (SOLAS)]
An tÚdarás um Ard-Oideachas
F50[…]
F50[…]
F53[Archbishop Marsh’s Library]
Area Partnership Boards
F50[…]
F53[Bantry General Hospital]
F53[Beaumont Hospital]
Bioresearch Ireland
F51[…]
F50[…]
Bord Iascaigh Mhara
Bord na gCon
F50[…]
Bord na Móna
F50[…]
Bord Scannán na hÉireann
F50[…]
F50[…]
F53[Broadcasting Authority of Ireland]
Bus Átha Cliath
Bus Éireann
F53[Cavan General Hospital]
F53[Cappagh National Orthopaedic Hospital]
F51[…]
F53[Child and Family Agency (Tusla)]
F53[Citizens Information Board]
F53[Constituency Commission]
F54[Inland Fisheries Ireland]
F55[Central Bank of Ireland]
F53[Charities Regulatory Authority]
Chester Beatty Library
Coillte Teoranta
F50[…]
F50[…]
F50[…]
F51[…]
F50[…]
F53[Connolly Hospital Dublin]
F53[Coombe Women & Infants University Hospital]
F53[Córas Iompair Éireann Holding Company]
F53[Cork University Hospital and Cork University Maternity Hospital]
F53[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
F50[…]
F50[…]
F50[…]
F50[…]
F53[Croom Hospital]
F50[…]
F53[Data Protection Commission]
F53[Design and Crafts Council of Ireland]
Defence Forces Canteen Board
Dental Council
F50[…]
F50[…]
F53[Dietitians Registration Board]
Dublin Dental Hospital Board
F50[…]
Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies
F50[…]
F53[Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly]
Economic and Social Research Institute
F53[Education and Training Boards Ireland]
F53[Educational Research Centre]
F53[EirGrid plc]
Electricity Supply Board
Energy Advisory Board
F53[Ennis Hospital]
Enterprise Ireland
F53[Ervia]
F50[…]
Food Safety Authority of Ireland
F53[Foynes Flying Boat and Maritime Museum]
F50[…]
F50[…]
F53[Gaisce - The President’s Award]
F53[Gas Networks Ireland]
F51[…]
General Register Office
F50[…]
F50[…]
F53[Grangegorman Development Agency]
F53[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
F53[Health and Social Care Professionals Council]
F53[Health Products Regulatory Authority]
Health Research Board
F51[…]
F50[…]
Horse Racing Ireland
F53[Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency]
F51[…]
F51[…]
Housing Finance Agency plc
F53[Hunt Museum]
I.D.A. Ireland
Iarnród Éireann
F53[Insolvency Service of Ireland]
F53[Integrated Development Companies]
F53[Integrated Local Development Companies]
F51[…]
Institute of Public Administration
International Development Ireland Limited
F50[…]
Irish Aviation Authority
F53[Irish Architectural Archive]
F53[Irish Auditing and Accounting Supervisory Authority]
Irish Blood Transfusion Service
F50[…]
F51[…]
Irish Financial Services Appeals Tribunal
F56[…]
Irish Museum of Modern Art
F50[…]
Irish National Stud Company Limited
F51[…]
F53[Irish Research Council]
F51[…]
F53[Irish Water]
F53[Irish Water Safety]
F53[Kilcreene Orthopaedic Hospital Kilkenny]
F51[…]
F50[…]
F53[Legal Services Regulatory Authority]
Leopardstown Park Hospital Board
F53[Letterkenny University Hospital]
F51[…]
F50[…]
F50[…]
F50[…]
F53[a Local Community Development Committee]
F53[Local Development Companies]
F53[Local Enterprise Offices]
F53[Local Government Management Agency]
F53[Louth County Hospital]
F53[Mallow General Hospital]
Marine Institute
F53[Mater Misericordiae University Hospital]
F53[Mayo General Hospital]
Medical Bureau of Road Safety
F53[Medical Scientists Registration Board]
Mental Health Commission
F53[Mental Health (Criminal Law) Review Board]
F53[Mercy University Hospital]
F53[Midland Regional Hospital, Mullingar]
F53[Midland Regional Hospital, Portlaoise]
F53[Midland Regional Hospital, Tullamore]
F53[Monaghan Hospital]
F50[…]
F50[…]
F53[Naas General Hospital]
F53[National Advisory Committee on Drugs and Alcohol]
F53[National Asset Management Agency]
National Cancer Registry Board
F50[…]
F51[…]
National Concert Hall
F50[…]
F50[…]
National Council for Special Education
National Disability Authority
National Economic and Social Council
F50[…]
F50[…]
National Gallery of Ireland
National Library of Ireland
F50[…]
National Milk Agency
National Museum of Ireland
F53[National Oil Reserves Agency]
F50[…]
F53[National Print Museum]
F53[National Paediatric Hospital Development Board]
F51[…]
F50[…]
F50[…]
F50[…]
F53[National Shared Services Office]
F53[National Sports Campus Development Authority]
National Standards Authority of Ireland
National Statistics Board
National Technology Park Plassey Ltd.
National Theatre Society Limited (Abbey Theatre)
F53[National Transport Authority]
National Treasury Management Agency
F53[Nenagh Hospital]
F50[…]
F53[Northern and Western Regional Assembly]
F53[Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland]
F50[…]
F53[Occupational Therapists Registration Board]
Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement
F53[Office of the Inspector of Prisons]
F50[…]
Office of the Paymaster General
F53[Office of the Planning Regulator]
F50[…]
F50[…]
F53[Optical Registration Board]
Ordnance Survey Ireland
F53[Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin]
F53[Our Lady’s Hospital, Navan]
F53[Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda]
Patents Office
F53[Personal Injuries Assessment Board (PIAB)]
Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland
F53[Physiotherapists Registration Board]
F53[Pobal]
F50[…]
F53[Portiuncula Hospital]
F53[Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council]
F53[Property Services Appeal Board]
F53[Property Services Regulatory Authority]
F50[…]
F53[Quality and Qualifications Ireland]
F50[…]
F50[…]
F50[…]
Radio Telefís Éireann
F53[Radiographers Registration Board]
Raidió na Gaeltachta
F50[…]
F50[…]
F53[Registrars of Births, Deaths, Marriages and Civil Partnerships]
F50[…]
F50[…]
F53[Residential Tenancies Board]
F50[…]
F50[…]
F50[…]
F50[…]
F53[Road Safety Authority]
F53[Roscommon County Hospital]
F53[Rosslare Europort]
F53[Royal Irish Academy (RIA)]
F53[Royal Irish Academy of Music (RIAM)]
F53[Road Safety Authority]
F53[Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital]
F53[Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority]
F53[Shannon Commercial Enterprises Limited]
F53[Shannon Group, public limited company]
F53[Sligo University Hospital]
F53[Social Care Workers Registration Board]
F53[Social Workers Registration Board]
F53[South Tipperary General Hospital]
F53[South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital]
F53[Southern Regional Assembly]
F53[Speech and Language Therapists Registration Board]
F53[Sport Ireland]
Standards in Public Office Commission
State Laboratory
F53[Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland]
F53[St. Columcille’s Hospital, Loughlinstown]
F53[St. James’s Hospital]
F53[St. John’s Hospital, Limerick]
F53[St. Luke’s General Hospital, Kilkenny]
F53[St. Luke’s Radiation Oncology Network]
F53[St. Michael’s Hospital, Dún Laoghaire]
F53[St. Vincent’s University Hospital]
F53[Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland]
F50[…]
Teagasc
F50[…]
F50[…]
F50[…]
F51[…]
F53[Temple Street Children’s University Hospital]
F53[TG4]
the Aquaculture Licences Appeals Board
the Army Pensions Board
the Arts Council (An Chomhairle Ealaíon)
F50[…]
the Censorship of Publications Appeals Board
the Censorship of Publications Board
F53[the Charity Appeals Tribunal]
F53[the Classification of Films Appeal Board]
F50[…]
F50[…]
F50[…]
F53[the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission]
the Companies Registration Office
F50[…]
the Courts Service
F53[the Crawford Gallery]
F53[the Criminal Assets Bureau]
the Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal
the Defence Forces
the Employment Appeals Tribunal
the Environmental Protection Agency
F50[…]
the Garda Síochána
F53[the Garda Síochána Inspectorate]
F53[the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission]
F50[…]
F50[…]
F53[the Health Information and Quality Authority]
the Health Insurance Authority
the Heritage Council
F50[…]
F51[…]
F53[the International Protection Appeals Tribunal]
the Ireland-United States Commission for Educational Exchange
the Irish Manuscripts Commission
F53[the Irish Film Classification Office]
F53[the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council]
F53[the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission]
F50[…]
the Irish Prison Service
F50[…]
F50[…]
the Labour Court
F50[…]
F50[…]
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
F50[…]
F53[the National Maternity Hospital, Dublin]
F51[…]
F50[…]
F50[…]
the Office of the Chief Medical Officer for the Civil Service
the Office of the Information Commissioner
F50[…]
the Office of the Ombudsman
F53[the Office of the Ombudsman for Children]
F53[the Office of the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces]
F53[the Office of Commissioner for Environmental Information]
F53[the Office of Public Works]
F53[the Office of Regulator of the National Lottery]
F53[the Office of the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman]
F53[the Pensions Authority]
F53[the Pensions Council]
F53[the Prize Bond Company Ltd.]
F53[the Probation Service]
F53[the Property Registration Authority]
the Office of the Registrar of Friendly Societies
F50[…]
F50[…]
the Referendum Commission
F50[…]
F53[the Rotunda Hospital]
the Social Welfare Tribunal
the State Examinations Commission
F53[the Student Grants Appeals Board]
F53[the Tax Appeals Commission]
F53[the Teaching Council]
F53[Transport Infrastructure Ireland]
the Valuation Office
the Valuation Tribunal
Údarás na Gaeltachta
F53[University Hospital Galway and Merlin Park University Hospital]
F53[University Hospital Kerry]
F53[University Hospital Limerick]
F53[University Hospital Waterford]
F53[University Maternity Hospital Limerick]
Veterinary Council
Voluntary Health Insurance Board
Western Development Commission
F53[Wexford General Hospital]
F53[Workplace Relations Commission]
F50[…]
(3) a local authority,
(4) F57[…]
(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
F58[(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 F58[clause (d) of paragraph 1(5)] shall be a public body only as respects functions referred to in that clause.
3. The Minister F58[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 F58[subparagraph (1) or (2)] of paragraph 1 by the insertion or deletion of a reference to any public body.
F59[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:
F46
Inserted (6.07.2011) by Minister and Secretaries (Amendment) Act 2011 (10/2011), s. 92, S.I. No. 401 of 2011, art.2.
F47
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.
F48
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.
F49
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).
F50
Deleted (19.12.2019) by Official Languages Act 2003 (Public Bodies) Regulations 2019 (S.I. No. 230 of 2020), art. 2(b)(i).
F51
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).
F52
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.
F53
Inserted (19.12.2019) by Official Languages Act 2003 (Public Bodies) Regulations 2019 (S.I. No. 230 of 2020), art. 2(b)(ii).
F54
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.
F55
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.
F56
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.
F57
Deleted (13.03.2023) by Official Languages (Amendment) Act 2021 (49/2021), s. 15(a)(i), S.I. No. 90 of 2023.
F58
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.
F59
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):
C16
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.
C17
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.
C18
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.
C19
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.
...
C20
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:
E30
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).
E31
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.
E32
Previous affecting provision: reference ; further construed .
E33
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.
E34
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.