Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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724. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine 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. [8233/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the Irish Sign Language Act 2017 came into effect on 23rd December 2020 and imposes certain obligations on public bodies, including my Department and its agencies. In particular, section 6 of the Act places a duty on public bodies to provide access to public services or statutory entitlements through Irish Sign Language (ISL) when requested through the provision of free ISL interpretation by accredited interpreters.

Two Access Officers are appointed in my Department, in accordance with Section 26(2) of the Disability Act 2005, to provide or arrange for assistance and guidance to persons with disabilities accessing services provided by the Department when requested, and generally act as points of contact for people wishing to access such services.

Since 2020, the Access Officers in my Department provided Irish Sign Language interpretation services on two occasions on receipt of requests for access to services provided by my Department.

As regards the twelve State Bodies under the aegis of my Department, the information requested is an operational matter for the State Bodies themselves. I have referred the Deputy’s question to the Agencies and have requested that a response should issue within 10 days.