Irish language guidance and resources for HSE staff

The Official Languages Act (OLA) aims to improve the quality and quantity of services provided to the public in Irish.

HSE staff must support our Irish-speaking patients and service users, and comply with OLA legal obligations. This page provides staff with guidance on how to meet these legal requirements and deliver inclusive services.

This page covers:

written communications (for example, emails, signs, forms)
public-facing services (for example, patient interactions, helplines)
advertising and social media
publications and branding
handling complaints
translated resources and support

Need help?

Contact the Irish Language Development Team:

Email: ato@hse.ie

Official Languages Act guidance for HSE staff - English version (PDF, 790 KB, 11 pages)

Official Languages Act guidance for HSE staff - Irish version (PDF, 760 KB, 11 pages)

About the Official Languages Act (OLA)

The OLA ensures that public bodies such as the HSE provide services in Irish. It applies to public-facing services (such as patient care, signage, correspondence). It does not apply to internal staff communications.

Key requirements include:

signs must be in Irish and English, with Irish text displayed equally prominently above or to the left of the English text
general mailing, mailshots, and leaflet drops must be in Irish only, or in Irish and English
online interactive services must be in Irish only, or in Irish and English
use qualified translators (online tools like Google Translate do not meet OLA standards)
correspondence from the public, including social media comments or replies, must be responded to in the language in which it was received (Irish or English)
public bodies in Gaeltacht Language Planning Areas (LPAs) must provide services in Irish that are comparable to those in English
20% of public service appointees to be competent in Irish by 2030

Written communications

Public-facing written communications must comply with OLA standards.

Signs

Signs in HSE offices, facilities, and car parks must be:

in Irish or Irish and English, with Irish text first
readable
written in full, no abbreviations (unless English is)

Signs must follow HSE Visual Identity Guidelines - HSE.ie.

Order compliant signage using the HSE Estates Department's online portal.

HSE Signs in Irish and English (PDF, 400 KB, 11 pages)

Replies to correspondence

Reply in Irish to any Irish-language correspondence (such as emails, letters, and social media queries).

Automated replies, such as out-of-office, must be in Irish and English, with Irish first.

Sample replies are provided in Useful Irish Words and Phrases (PDF, 730 KB, 17 pages).

For support with translations, email ato@hse.ie

Official forms

Official forms must be in Irish or in Irish and English, with Irish text having equal font, visibility, and meaning as English.

Official forms include:

patient intakes
complaints
EHIC
DPS
birth, death, and marriage registrations and certificates

Request support from ato@hse.ie

Stationery

Letterheads, envelopes, compliment slips, and email signatures must be in Irish or in Irish and English. Irish text must be first, equal in size, and not abbreviated (unless English is).

Contact ato@hse.ie for signature translations.

Names, titles, and addresses

Names and titles

Use a person’s Irish name and address as provided. Names should include fada.

Titles must reflect Irish conventions (such as 'Uasal' for Mr or Mrs or Ms). ICT systems must support fada.

Examples:

Mr Seán Ó Ceallaigh - Seán Ó Ceallaigh Uasal
Mrs Máire Uí Cheallaigh - Máire Uí Cheallaigh Uasal
Ms/Miss Sorcha Ní Cheallaigh- Sorcha Ní Cheallaigh Uasal

How to insert fada on Windows:

lower case: AltGr + vowel (for example, á, é, í, ó, ú)
upper case: AltGr + Shift + vowel (for example, Á, É, Í, Ó, Ú)

How to insert fada on Mac:

hold down the Option key and press e to create the fada accent (´)
release the keys, then press the vowel you want to add the fada to (a, e, i, o, u)

Addresses

Use the Irish format:

For example, Seán Ó Ceallaigh Uasal, 123 Sráid na Gaillimhe, Gaillimh, H91 AB12.

Verify place names:

To find official Irish place names (for example, search 'Galway' for 'Gaillimh'), use logainm.ie.

To confirm postal details, use eircode.ie

Recorded announcements

Telephone systems and audio announcements (such as in hospital entrances) must be in Irish and English. Irish should come first and provide the same information as English. This does not apply to personal voicemail.

Public-facing services

Public-facing services (such as receptions, helplines, patient care) must be accessible to Irish-speaking users. This can be done directly by HSE staff or by third parties acting on their behalf.

Public-facing services must:

provide services in Irish when requested
ensure third-party providers comply with OLA regulations
identify bilingual staff or access translators through ATO (email: ato@hse.ie)
train staff in basic Irish greetings (for example, 'Dia duit' for hello)
display signs offering Irish services (for example, 'Seirbhísí trí Ghaelige ar fáil')

Useful Irish words and phrases for greetings and job titles (PDF, 730 KB, 17 pages)

Advertising and digital communications

Advertising

At least 20% of HSE advertising must be in Irish.

At least 5% of advertising spend must go to Irish-language media (50% or more Irish content).

To ensure that advertisements are compliant contact HSE Communications and Public Affairs

Email: ato@hse.ie

Social Media

1 in 5 posts on official HSE accounts (such as HSE Health Regions, national services) must be in Irish. If you need advice on how to meet these duties, contact your local communications team.

Publications and branding

Public-facing publications and branding must comply with the OLA. This does not apply to materials for internal use.

Annual reports and financial statements must be in Irish and English. For translations, email ato@hse.ie

Information materials in HSE facilities

In Gaeltacht areas, all public-facing materials must be in Irish or Irish and English.
Internal materials in non-Gaeltacht areas (for example, infection control posters) do not require translation. Materials in shared spaces (such as break rooms and public-facing reception areas) should be in Irish and English, where possible.
Public-facing leaflets for general distribution (for example, injury unit flyers) must be in Irish and English, with Irish first.

Health promotion materials

Health promotion materials shared with the public (such as leaflets, posters and emails) must be in Irish or in Irish and English, with Irish text first.

This applies to:

national campaigns (for example, vaccination drives)
general mailings (for example, leaflets sent to homes)
materials in Gaeltacht areas

Internal materials do not require translation (such as staff-only posters). The majority of materials have Irish versions available.

Order Irish materials at healthpromotion.ie. Search 'Irish' in the keyword box.

Websites and online services

The OLA does not mandate bilingual websites. Critical information and interactive services must be available in Irish (such as forms and bookings).

Logos

The HSE logo is wordless and does not require translation. Associated service names, schemes, or programs must be in Irish and English. Irish must be first and have equal prominence.

When using the HSE logo and name, follow the HSE visual identity guidelines - HSE.ie

Is the material public-facing? - if yes, ensure bilingual (Irish first).
In Gaeltacht areas? - Irish or bilingual mandatory.
Is it internal only and not in a Gaeltacht area? - no translation needed.
Unsure? - email ato@hse.ie

Handling complaints

If the HSE breaches any of its duties under the OLA, the public can file a complaint with An Coimisinéir Teanga (The Language Commissioner). The responsible HSE service must then address and resolve the complaint.

You must respond to An Coimisinéir Teanga in Irish within 15 working days.

Your response must include:

admission of the breach
an apology
remedies implemented
steps to prevent recurrence

If you are unsure how to respond, email ato@hse.ie for guidance on handling complaints.

Resources

Phrases, months, out-of-office replies, job-specific terms:
Useful Irish words and phrases (PDF, 730 KB, 17 pages)

Bilingual signage for offices and facilities:
HSE signs in Irish and English (PDF, 400 KB, 11 pages)

Branding and logo use:
HSE visual identity guidelines - HSE.ie

Guidance for HSE staff on our duties under the OLA:
Official Languages Act guidance for HSE staff - English version (PDF, 790 KB, 11 pages)