Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

616. To ask the Minister for Health if he will report on the implementation of the Irish Sign Language Act 2017 by his Department and by agencies which operate under the remit of his Department. [8242/23]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy will be aware, the report on the operation of the Irish Sign Language Act 2017 was published on the website of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration, and Youth on 13 January 2023.

My Department and 18 of the 19 aegis bodies under the Department of Health participated in the consultation process. The Department of Health assessed itself to be partially compliant with the relevant provisions of the Act. Of the aegis bodies under the Department that completed the self-assessment of compliance: three bodies were compliant, nine bodies were partially compliant, four bodies were non-compliant and three bodies stated that it was not applicable.

Overall, the report found a need for improvement in awareness, and understanding – in both the public and public bodies – of the scope and definitions of the Act, and which public bodies the Act applies to.

My Department intends to review the findings of the report and will consider next steps in line with a whole of Government approach to the recommendations to strengthen the implementation of the Act.