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

241. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform 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. [8245/23]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My Department is committed to providing accessible communications to all members of society. As such, the communications team in my Department are including the Irish Sign Language Act 2017in their communications planning. My Department is currently undertaking a stakeholder mapping exercise and will be engaging with internal and external stakeholders to support the drafting of a new communications strategy. As part of this, strategic communication options available to the Department will be reviewed.

In addition, the Office of Government Procurement (OGP), which is part of my Department, has recently facilitated a disability awareness campaign for its staff. The communications strategy for the OGP outlines a commitment to adhering to the Irish Sign Language Act 2017, to providing Irish Sign Language services as required, and to making events more accessible to the deaf community by making available an Irish Sign Language interpreter, for example, for the OGP’s Public Procurement Client Conference 2022.

The position in relation to the bodies under the aegis of my Department is set out below.

Office of Public Works (OPW)

The OPW has implemented the following steps for the provision of interpretation to persons seeking to access the services of the OPW through Irish language sign language (ISL):

- Provision of ISL tours at OPW Heritage sites upon request. The OPW also run a programme of scheduled ISL tours throughout the year on Heritage sites. In addition, the OPW also request the interpretation service to put up an ISL video promoting the tour on the ISL vlogs and films Facebook group page;

- The OPW only engage ISL interpreters whose competence has been verified by having been accredited in accordance with the accreditation scheme funded by the Minister for Social Protection;

- In 2021, the OPW’s Learning and Development Unit arranged Deafness Awareness Training courses which were delivered by the Irish Deaf Society and attended by 57 OPW staff. ISL provided sign language interpreter services for course participants. ISL services are similarly provided for all training courses where participants require this support;

- In 2022, the OPW’s intranet content creators received Assistive Technology Fundamentals training delivered by the National Council for the Blind. This training course provided an understanding of the technology and supports available for people working with or providing services to people with a visual impairment;

- Delivery of NDA Disability Awareness Training; and

- Delivery of specific training on communicating with persons who are deaf or hard of hearing and or persons whose first language is ISL, along with funding for employees to attend ISL classes.

National Shared Services Office (NSSO)

The NSSO continues to review its obligations under the Act. The NSSO provides services to Civil and Public Servants including pensioners rather than the general public. All of its services can be accessed via email or webpages.

Public Appointments Service (PAS)

PAS provides Irish Sign language interpreters where required for candidates to participate in all of its selection processes at no cost to the persons concerned.

Office of the Ombudsman

Communications were issued to all staff in the Office of the Ombudsman of the provisions and requirements of the Irish Sign Language Act 2017. The communications provided information to staff on how to arrange access to an interpreter to support deaf people in receiving full and equal access to information and also on the steps to be taken, with the support of the Access Officer for the Office, when information comes to hand that a deaf person may be attending an appointment, meeting or event. An example of the successful implementation of the Act was the provision of ISL Interpreters at two recently held workshops (in person and online) by the Ombudsman on the issue of Public Services and People with Disabilities.

State Laboratory

The State Laboratory is not a public facing body. As such, the State Laboratory has had no requirement to ensure that interpretation into Irish Sign Language is provided to a person seeking to avail of or access statutory entitlements or services provided by the Laboratory.

Office of the National Lottery Regulator (ORNL)

The ORNL does not provide any statutory entitlements or services that may require the provision of Irish Sign Language to persons seeking such services.