A failure by Garda authorities to meet obligations in relation to the Irish language has been referred to the Houses of the Oireachtas.
An Coimisinéir Teanga has formally submitted a report to TDs and Senators, over a lack of Irish speaking gardaí in Gaeltacht areas.
It's the latest stage in a long running effort to ensure compliance with obligations under the 2005 Garda Síochána Act.
An investigation ten years ago by the Language Commissioner, found the force was not complying with an obligation to station Irish speaking gardaí in the Gaeltacht.
The inquiry found that only a third of officers who could speak the language fluently, were located in Gaeltacht stations.
This is despite a stipulation in the Act that the Garda Commissioner must "ensure that members … stationed in a district that includes a Gaeltacht area are sufficiently competent in the Irish language to enable them to use it …in carrying out their duties".
Figures from last year show that only 35 Irish-speaking gardaí are assigned to Gaeltacht stations. This is out of a total of 95 who are fluent in the language.
An Coimisinéir Teanga, Rónán Ó Domhnaill, says he can do no more to have recommendations issued by his office in 2011 implemented.
He says the number of Irish-speaking gardaí who are on duty in the Gaeltacht is inadequate and, as a result, the Garda Síochána Act is being breached.
It now falls to the Houses of the Oireachtas to take whatever additional measures are deemed appropriate.
