Neasa Hourigan (Dublin Central, Green Party)
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387. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will provide an update on the progress made to date in respect of implementing the recommendations specific to her Department outlined in the Report on the Operation of the Irish Sign Language Act 2017 to improve the functioning of the ISL Act; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22772/23]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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I can advise that my Department and Agencies under my remit, continue to implement the relevant provisions of the Irish Sign Language Act 2017.

The Irish Sign Language Act 2017 (the Act) recognises the right of Irish Sign Language (ISL) users to use ISL as their native language, and to develop and preserve it. The Act places a statutory duty on all public bodies to provide ISL users with free interpretation when availing of or seeking to access services.

In regard to services provided by my Department and Agencies under my remit, free interpretation services continue to be made available on request in, for example, our national cultural institutions and at Departmental events, such as the up-coming annual National Famine Commemoration on Sunday 21 May 2023.