Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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466. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will report on the implementation of the Irish Sign Language Act 2017 by her Department and by agencies which operate under the remit of her Department. [8247/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Irish Sign Language (ISL) Act 2017 assigns specific responsibilities to the Minister for Social Protection in relation to the funding of a scheme of accreditation for ISL Interpreters (Section 7) and the provision of funds to facilitate ISL users with access to social, educational and cultural events and services (including medical) and other activities as specified in guidelines (Section 9).

I have assigned the implementation of these responsibilities to the Citizens Information Board (CIB), a statutory agency under the aegis of my Department.

In relation to Section 7 of the ISL Act, the Register of Irish Sign Language Interpreters (RISLI) was established in December 2020. Prior to establishment, CIB conducted significant research into international policies and standards, undertook extensive consultation with the Deaf community and other stakeholders, and developed and externally reviewed policies and procedures. A separate company was also established to ensure operational independence of the Register.

The first of its kind in Ireland, RISLI is a standards-based registration system for ISL interpreters. It aims to strengthen and guarantee the quality of ISL provision in Ireland, by ensuring that Interpreters reach specified standards to be admitted on the Register. RISLI also aims to support ISL interpreters to meet and maintain these standards by partaking in continuous professional development (CPD) to maintain their registration status. There are currently 112 ISL Interpreters on the Register.

In relation to Section 9, the establishment of the Register was a fundamental prerequisite for this commitment, in order to ensure that approved interpreters provide ISL interpreting as part of the scheme. Section 9 of the Irish Sign Language Act 2017 sets out support for access to events, services and activities for users of Irish Sign Language. The Sign Language Interpreting Service (SLIS), with the support of CIB, provides a range of interpreting services to both individuals and organisations, including:

- The Irish Remote Interpreting Service (IRIS), through a video link interpreters help support Deaf people to access information, entitlements and rights,

- 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

- A Social Interpreting Fund to cover interpreting costs for funerals & hardship cases, and

- Supporting the delivery of the National Disability Inclusion Strategy (2017-2022).

In addition to these services, a pilot scheme was launched for a four-month period in 2021 to trial a voucher system to access free interpretation for eligible activities.

An evaluation of the pilot was completed in July 2022 and, in the context of the evaluation, CIB is currently exploring with SLIS the options as to how the learnings form the pilot can be built on.

In relation to my Department's commitments under Section 3 and Section 6 respectively, the Department provides an ISL Interpretation service to any customer who may request or need this service in order to interact or engage with the Department. ISL Interpretation is provided free of charge to customers and the Department ensures that interpreters assigned to DSP are registered with RISLI.