Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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222. To ask the Minister for Finance 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. [8239/23]

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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My Department is aware of the requirements of the Irish Sign Language Act 2017 and is committed to meeting the obligations of same. My officials are engaged in preparing appropriate strategies for achieving compliance with the requirements of the Act and will respond to any requests for the service of Irish Sign Language Interpreters. Such service will be provided if requested, with the necessary notice required, from the organisation providing Irish Sign Language (ISL) Interpreters.

To note, my Department currently offers a loop system within its main conference room, and this is available to both staff and visitors who have cochlear implants.

A number of bodies under the aegis of my Department meet the definition of a public body, as defined in the Irish Sign Language Act 2017, and have provided the information below.

The Central Bank of Ireland, as part of its Diversity & Inclusion Strategy 2022-2026, is committed to complying with the legal obligations of public service bodies as set out in Part 5 of the Disability Act 2005. This includes the promotion and support of employment of people with disabilities, compliance with any statutory Code of Practice, meeting a target of 6% employment of people with disabilities and reporting each year on achievement of these obligations. A Disability Task Force was established in June 2020 to develop and deliver an action plan to bring the Central Bank into compliance with the Disability Act 2005. Provision of reasonable accommodation is contained within that action plan, including services related to those outlined in the Irish Sign Language Act 2017. The Central Bank currently has a vendor in place to provide Irish Sign Language services.

The Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman (FSPO) is committed to its obligations under the Irish Sign Language Act 2017. It has arrangements in place, through an accredited contracted service provider, to ensure the provision of Irish Sign Language Interpretation for ISL users that cannot hear or understand English or Irish, when they are availing of the services provided by the FSPO and make such a request. The provision of ISL interpretation is at no cost to the person concerned, in accordance with section 6(2) of the ISL Act 2017. The FSPO has a nominated Access Officer available to provide information or advice relating to access to the services of the Ombudsman. To date, there have been no requests received for ISL interpretation when accessing the FSPO’s services.

While Home Building Finance Ireland (HBFI) provides limited services to the public, it is doing all that is reasonable to ensure that interpretation into Irish Sign Language is provided in accordance with the provisions of Section 6 of the Irish Sign Language Act 2017.

The Irish Fiscal Advisory Council is aware of the requirements of the Act in respect of facilitating a request by an individual seeking access in the format prescribed under this Act and shall do all that is reasonable, on receipt of such a request, to ensure that interpretation into Irish Sign Language is provided.

The Irish Financial Services Appeals Tribunal have confirmed that it has a policy and procedure in place for the purpose of complying with its obligations as and when they may arise under the Irish Sign Language Act 2017.

While the National Asset Management Agency and the National Treasury Management Agency do not provides services to the public, both bodies are doing all that is reasonable to ensure that interpretation into Irish Sign Language is provided in accordance with the provisions of Section 6 of the Irish Sign Language Act 2017.

The Office of the Revenue Commissioners has confirmed that an Irish Sign Language interpreter service can be arranged on request for its customers who are deaf or hard of hearing. Members of the deaf community can communicate with Revenue staff in their own language (Irish Sign Language) with an Irish Sign Language Interpreter on screen. This is a free service to all deaf customers and the service is provided by the Sign Language Interpreting Service (SLIS), the national sign language interpreting service for Ireland. In addition, Revenue supports staff members who request the use of Irish Sign Language as the need arises.

The Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland is doing all that is reasonable to ensure that interpretation into Irish Sign Language is provided in accordance with the provisions of Section 6 of the Irish Sign Language Act 2017.

The Tax Appeals Commission is fully compliant with the Irish Sign Language Act 2017 and the recommendations contained in the ‘First Report on Implementation of the Irish Sign Language Act 2017’ published by Mr Roderic O’Gorman T.D., Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.

While the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General is within scope of the Irish Sign Language Act, currently its activities do not provide services or access to statutory entitlements to members of the public within the meaning of the Act. Should the activities of the Office further develop to include the provision of services directly to the public, statutory responsibilities under the ISL Act will be applied.