Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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500. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the way in which his Department and agencies under his remit are meeting obligations under the Irish Sign Language Act 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17430/21]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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The Irish Sign Language Act 2017 came into effect on 23 December 2020. The Act imposes certain obligations on all public bodies. In particular, section 6 of the Act provides that:

- A public body shall do all that is reasonable to ensure that interpretation into Irish Sign Language is provided for a person who is competent in that language and cannot hear or understand English or Irish when that person is seeking to avail of or access statutory entitlements or services provided by or under statute by that public body.

- The provision of interpretation shall be at no cost to the person concerned.

- Provision of or availing of a remote, web-based service shall, if the Irish Sign Language user consents, be sufficient to meet the obligations of a public body under this section.

My Department is aware of its obligations under the Act and procedures have been put in place to enable the engagement of sign language interpreters, as required.

My Department does not maintain the requested information in respect of the State bodies under its aegis. These State bodies may be contacted directly by e-mail by members of the Oireachtas, as set out in the below table.