Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 257: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he has been contacted by representatives of the approximately 5,000 people who use Irish sign language on a regular basis towards making the language into an officially recognised language; if so, if their request has been acted upon; and his position on the issue. [16150/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Representations seeking recognition of Irish sign language as an official language have been made on a number of occasions to my Department. The position is that the Government has no proposals to give recognition to Irish sign language as a third official language.

However, policy in the area of language for people with disabilities is reflected in the Education Act 1998 (learning through Irish Sign Language), the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004 (language assessment) and the Disability Act 2005 (Code of Practice on Accessibility of Public Services and Information provided by Public Bodies).