Staff and service managers in the HSE must support our Irish-speaking patients and service users, and fulfil legal obligations under the Official Languages Act 2021 (OLA).
This page provides HSE staff with information on the following:
- about the OLA
- written communications
- stationery and signs
- names, addresses and titles
- recorded announcements
- automated email replies
- advertising (including recruitment and public notices)
- logos
- publications
- complaints about OLA breaches
- public communications not covered under the OLA
- Translated resources (useful phrases, job titles, signs, names)
- OLA guidance booklet
- OLA queries
About the Official Languages Act (OLA)
The OLA seeks to improve the use of the Irish language in public services. The Act's regulations are being introduced gradually. We will keep this page updated with new guidelines and requirements.
The HSE's duties under the Act must be implemented across all HSE services. These duties apply to our public services and our obligations under the Official Languages Act. They do not apply to internal communications.
Key information
Specific HSE information as outlined below, resources and communications must be available in Irish, or both Irish and English.
It is essential that:
- Irish appears first, before English
- Irish text must not be smaller in size than English text
- qualified Irish translators must carry out translations. Translations cannot be done using online services because they do not meet necessary Irish language standards
Written communications
If you receive correspondence in Irish, you must reply in Irish.
This includes correspondence by:
- letter
- social media query
- any other form of correspondence
If a person writes to us in Irish or requests that all correspondence be in Irish, we must ensure that this happens throughout our interactions with them.
General mailing and leaflet drops
If the HSE sends printed public information to unaddressed homes, it must be written in Irish or both Irish and English, with Irish appearing first. For example, distributing leaflets about the local injury unit to every home in Bantry.
Stationery and signs
Stationery
Information on HSE stationery must be written in Irish, or both Irish and English. This includes the names, addresses, and contact information printed on:
- letterheads
- compliment slips
- envelopes
- printed information on the outside
It also includes staff members’ email signatures, addresses and other contact information.
The legislation does not require you to include your name in Irish as part of your online signature. If you translate your name into Irish, the public may believe you can provide services in Irish.
If you wish to translate your name, you can find a directory of Irish surnames on surnames - peig.ie
Signs
Signs in HSE offices, services and facilities must be written in Irish, or both Irish and English. This applies to signs inside and outside HSE buildings, services, car parks and facilities. The HSE Estates Department has an online resource to help you order or develop new signs.
Text in Irish must:
- appear first and not be smaller than English text
- be legible and follow HSE visual identity guidelines - hse.ie
- communicate the same information as the English text
- be written in full and not abbreviated unless a word in English is abbreviated
HSE Signs in Irish and English (PDF, 400 KB, 11 pages)
Names, addresses and titles
Names and addresses
You must always use a person's Irish name if they write to the HSE using that name. When communicating with people with names that include fada, a fada must be used.
How to insert a fada on a computer:
- for a lower case fada - press the computer key AltGr +the vowel you need to place the fada on at the same time (á é í ó ú )
- for upper case fada - press the computer key AltGr + shift key + vowel at the same time (Á É Í Ó Ú)
Titles
There are no Irish words for Mr, Mrs, Miss, Ms.
Seán Ó Ceallaigh Uasal is the closest translation for Mr Seán Ó Ceallaigh.
Máire Uí Cheallaigh Uasal is the closest translation for Mrs Máire Uí Cheallaigh.
Sorcha Ní Cheallaigh Uasal is the closest translation for Miss and Ms Sorcha Ní Cheallaigh.
Recorded announcements
Recorded announcements must be in both Irish and English, with Irish coming first. Both languages must communicate the same information. This includes recorded announcements on telephone systems for HSE offices and services. It also applies to HSE services with audio recordings, such as hospital entrances. It does not apply to personal voicemail for individual staff.
Automated email replies
HSE email addresses that send 'out of office' or automated responses must do so in Irish, or both Irish and English. You should not have an out-of-office or office email automated response that is only in English. The Irish language version must be placed first, followed by the English version.
Get sample automated responses in Useful Irish Words and Phrases (PDF, 730 KB, 17 pages).
Advertising (including recruitment and public notices)
HSE Communications and Public Affairs manages most of our paid advertising placements. The communications division developed Irish language guidelines for advertising and creative agencies. Contact your local communications team if you require assistance with this.
Advertising includes:
- commercial communications
- service and product promotions
- recruitment notices
- policy initiatives
- asset sales
- public consultations
We must ensure at least:
- 20% of annual advertising from the HSE is in the Irish language (this 20% requirement includes recruitment advertising)
- 5% of annual HSE advertising spend is published in Irish language media (Irish language media means that 50% or more of media content is through Irish)
We submit annual reports to the Language Commissioner on our responsibilities under this section of the OLA.
Get translated staff titles and HR codes for use in recruitment in Useful Irish Words and Phrases (PDF, 730 KB, 17 pages).
Logos
HSE services must use the HSE logo as their primary logo. The logo is a graphic with no words. Translation is not required, but service names associated with the logo must be written in both Irish and English, with Irish appearing first.
Learn how to use the HSE logo in the HSE visual identity guidelines - hse.ie
Publications
We must ensure our annual report and financial statements are provided in both Irish and English.
Complaints about OLA breaches
If the HSE breaches any of its duties under the OLA, a member of the public can file a complaint with An Coimisinéir Teanga. HSE services must then address and resolve the complaint.
Correspondence from An Coimisinéir Teanga is written in Irish. When a complaint is received, you should take immediate action to resolve the issue. Your reply must be in Irish. A response must be sent to the Coimisinéir's office within 15 working days of the complaint date.
If you're unsure how to respond and ensure that complaints are handled properly, email the designated HSE manager at ATO@hse.ie
Public communications not covered under the OLA
Information materials in HSE facilities
Translation is not necessary for:
- HSE public information documents meant to be viewed or picked up in a HSE public service
- leaflets and posters for internal use, such as those describing infection control protocols (OLA does not cover internal staff materials)
Websites
The Act does not require public bodies to have Irish language or bilingual websites. This includes HSE websites.
Health promotion materials
The OLA does not require us to translate all of our health promotion materials. However, a large selection can be ordered in Irish from healthpromotion.ie. Enter 'Irish' into the keyword search box to see the health promotion materials available.
Translated resources
We've provided these translated resources to help you. These are correct at the time of publication (August 2024). You can check if the translation is still valid and translate words on tearma.ie.
HSE job titles
Get translation for HSE staff job titles in HSE job titles (PDF, 527 KB, 26 pages)
Useful Irish words and phrases
Get translation for the following in Useful Irish words and phrases (PDF, 730 KB, 17 pages):
- General phrases
- Numbers
- Months of the year
- Time
- Colours
- Out of office
- Useful phrases
- Recruitment staff
- ICT staff
- Finance staff
- Doing things
- Hospitals and REOs
- Community Services
HSE signs
Get translation for the following in HSE signs in Irish and English (PDF, 400 KB, 11 pages):
- HSE offices
- HSE services
- HSE facilities
HSE visual identity guidelines
Get guidelines for HSE communications in HSE visual identity guidelines - HSE.ie
OLA guidance booklet
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)
OLA queries
If you have a query about a HSE issue related to the Official Languages Act, email the designated HSE Officer at ATO@hse.ie.