Irish Language Support Officer

Client: An Garda Síochána
Locations: Irish Language Office, Na Forbacha, Co. Galway
Salary: Starting from: €37,919
Application: Application Form

We are recruiting an Irish Language Support Officer to strengthen the provision of bilingual services across An Garda Síochána.

Based in the Irish Language Office in Na Forbacha, Co. Galway, the successful candidate will assist with implementing An Garda Síochána's Irish Language Strategy and support senior management on Irish language matters. They will also promote the use of Irish within the organisation, liaise with internal and external stakeholders, and contribute to resource development and training.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

The person in this position will play a key role in the Irish Language Office and will be required to work flexibly, providing coverage and support for areas typically handled by the Irish Language Office as needed. Responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

• Providing assistance to senior management in relation to Irish language matters.
• Assisting with the implementation of the organisation's Irish language strategy.
• Providing valuable information to members of An Garda Síochána in relation to their obligations under the Official Languages (Amendment) Act 2021.
• Providing back-up assistance and a point of reference to members in need of support.
• Coordinating Irish language information and resources on An Garda Síochána's portal.
• Assisting in dealing with minor complaints or queries from the public and/or An Coimisinéir Teanga.
• Assisting with the co-ordination of inquiries/investigations of complaints and to attempt to find appropriate resolutions.
• Fomenting a positive attitude in Garda personnel toward the language.
• Organising regular events to accelerate and promote activity on Irish language issues.
• Promoting the bilingual services provided by the organisation.
• Maintaining and enhancing the services provided.
• Promoting good publicity for An Garda Síochána and its continuing work in relation to the Irish language.
• Organising language courses in conjunction with private organisations/institutes.
• Developing resources (written and audio) for members to help improve their proficiency.
• Assisting with the implementation of the organisation's Irish language strategy in line with An Garda Síochána Irish Language Scheme.
• Promoting language equality awareness within the police service.
• Create concise reports for presentation to the Irish Language Strategic Working Group or other selected representatives as requested.
• Propose potential solutions to challenges that arise within your section.
• Take full responsibility for tasks as directed by your manager and be a dependable resource for extra responsibilities that aid the Office's operations.

Essential Criteria:

• A fluent Irish speaker
• Advanced proficiency in reading and writing in the Irish language, encompassing the ability to effectively translate English and Irish and vice versa.
• Experience in engaging with a range of internal and external stakeholders effectively, demonstrating strong verbal and written communication in both Irish and English.
• Experience in standard office software (Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, etc.).
• Experience of contributing to a team dynamic and managing own workload autonomously, ensuring all objectives are met in a timely manner.

Desirable Skills and Experience:

• Familiarity with the Official Languages (Amendment) Act 2021 and other relevant policies regarding the use of the Irish language.
• Experience in the development or implementation of language policies, strategies, or plans, particularly within public sector or organisational contexts.
• A relevant qualification in Irish language studies, linguistics, or significant practical experience in Irish language promotion or support roles.

For an application form please email Staffline's An Garda Síochána recruitment team at [email protected]. Each applicant will be supplied an application form, monitoring form and unique candidate ID.

CV's will not be accepted for this position and only fully completed application forms will be accepted.

The deadline for any completed applications is: 07/11/2025 at 3:00 PM. This is a hard deadline and applications received after this deadline will not be accepted.