Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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149. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of the report on the operation of the Irish Sign Language Act 2017 pursuant to section 10 of the Act; when the report was received from the National Disability Authority; when it will be published; the reason for the delay in its publication; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26855/22]

Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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The Irish Sign Language Act 2017 was signed into law on 24th December 2017 and I commenced the Act jointly with the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O'Gorman, in December 2020.

The Act recognises the right of the Deaf community to use Irish Sign Language (ISL) as their native language. The Act creates obligations for the public sector regarding the provision of ISL. In addition, the Act provides for specific duties and obligations in the areas of legal proceedings, educational provision and broadcasting.

Implementing the Irish Sign Language Act requires a whole of government approach. As such, all public bodies have obligations to fulfill. My Department has an important role to play in monitoring the implementation of the Act to ensure that users of Irish Sign Language have equal access to the services of the State and equal opportunities to achieve their full potential.

Section 10 of the Act requires me, as the responsible Minister, to request a report on the operation of the Act to be produced, initially three years after enactment and every five years thereafter. These reports must be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas.

In line with these requirements, in 2021 the National Disability Authority (NDA) was commissioned to produce the first report on the operation of the Act. The NDA completed the report in December 2021.

The Report is receiving detailed consideration within my Department. As the recommendations of the Report affect a wide range of organisations, it has been necessary to consider the whole of Government implications arising. I intend to publish the report at the earliest possible opportunity.