Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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106. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when the voucher scheme for users of Irish sign language to access free ISL and English interpreting for social, educational and cultural events and services including medical and other activities and the remote interpreting on demand service, will be permanently established; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56934/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Sign Language Interpreting Service (SLIS) is the national Sign Language Interpreting Service. Established in 2007, SLIS is supported and funded through the Citizens Information Board (CIB). SLIS supports high-quality Irish Sign Language (ISL) interpretation services to ensure Deaf people can access public and social services and take part in Irish society as full and equal citizens.

SLIS currently provides the following services:

- The IRIS Remote Interpreting Service (IRIS), through a video link interpreters help support Deaf people to access information, entitlements, and rights. IRIS is available Monday to Friday 9 am to 7 pm, Saturday 10 am to 4 pm, and Sunday from 12 pm to 2pm.

- A 24/7 emergency service to arrange for sign language interpreters in crisis situations.

- A service to enable access to GP and HSE Primary Care Service.

- A support and access service to help service providers reduce barriers and become more accessible and

- A social Interpreting Fund to cover interpreting costs for funerals and hardship cases.

As Minister, I supported the Citizens Information Board and SLIS in launching a pilot voucher scheme for users of Irish Sign Language to access free ISL interpreters for Social/Cultural/Service/needs. The pilot ran for a four-month period to the end of October 2021. An evaluation of the pilot was completed in July 2022, which reported that 160 deaf people accessed 272 vouchers. 26% of interpreter assignments were for private medical purposes, 24% for social events, 20% for education and training and 18% for public events and services.

The recommendations from the evaluation report will form part of any future voucher scheme to ensure it meets the needs of the Deaf community in Ireland and meets the obligations under the ISL Act (2017). The recommendations are to guarantee equal access to all Deaf users within the society as equal citizens in Ireland. CIB is currently exploring with SLIS the options as to how the Voucher Scheme can be rolled out, using lessons from the pilot.

In the meantime, my Department continues to provide funding to SLIS through its yearly operational grant; an estimated allocation of €458,594 has been provided in 2023.