Local authorities have refused to allow members of the public to use addresses in Irish in the new Register of Electors, which is being compiled at the moment.
Assurances had been given that no local authority should refuse to accept a name or address in Irish.
However, the Minister for the Environment, Dick Roche, has conceded that only the English version of addresses will be used in the compilation of the new register.
Gaeltacht areas will be exempt from using English place names on the register.
The Report of the Irish language Ombudsman, An Coimisinéir Teanga, has suggested that such a practice undermines the concept of recognising addresses in Irish, or the use of bilingual placenames, signage or road signs.
