Neasa Hourigan (Dublin Central, Green Party)
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460. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection 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. [22773/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Irish Sign Language (ISL) Act 2017 assigns specific responsibilities to the Minister for Social Protection in relation to the funding of a scheme of accreditation for ISL interpreters (Section 7) and the provision of funds to facilitate ISL users with access to specific events, services and other activities, as specified in guidelines (Section 9).

I have assigned the implementation of these responsibilities to the Citizens Information Board (CIB), a statutory body under the aegis of my Department.

In relation to Section 7 of the ISL Act, in 2020, CIB’s funded company, the Sign Language Interpreting Service (SLIS), with the support of CIB, established the Register of Irish Sign Language Interpreters (RISLI). The first of its kind in Ireland, RISLI strengthens and guarantees the quality of ISL provision, by ensuring that interpreters reach specified standards and partake in Continuous Professional Development to maintain their registration status.

In relation to Section 9 of the ISL Act, in 2021, SLIS, with the support of CIB, conducted a four-month pilot scheme, which provided access to free ISL interpretation for eligible activities, in accordance with developed guidelines. An evaluation was completed in 2022 and its recommendations will form part of a future scheme, to ensure it meets the needs of the Deaf community and obligations under the ISL Act. SLIS is currently developing a proposal on the operation of a future scheme, taking into account the pilot evaluation and other relevant considerations, such as the limited supply of ISL interpreters in Ireland and current ISL services provided by SLIS and other public bodies and Government Departments.

In relation to your reference to the Report on the Operation of the ISL Act, published by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth in January 2023, the Minister for Social Protection is cited in two recommendations as follows:

- "Review and develop an action plan to increase the supply of interpreters as a priority: Ministers for Children Equality Disability Integration and Youth (CEDIY), Social Protection, and Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (FHERIS;); National Skills Council.

- "Consider addressing guidance and standards for reasonable accommodations for ISL interpretation in future work on ‘reasonable accommodation’ under the Employment Equality Acts, including consideration of a scheme to provide ISL interpretation for employees: Ministers for Social Protection, CEDIY and Enterprise, Trade and Employment (ETE); IHREC."

With regard to the first recommendation on increasing the supply of interpreters, which is a key issue identified in the Report, as this recommendation relates to education and training, it is important to note that neither CIB or SLIS have an education or training remit, with SLIS’s key role being the provision of high quality ISL interpretation services.

With regard to the second recommendation on guidance and standards for reasonable accommodation, my Department has provided input to the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, which is developing a Code of Practice on Reasonable Accommodation.

Furthermore, the Reasonable Accommodation Fund in my Department aims to support the employment of disabled people by providing financial support to help make workplaces more accessible. The Job Interview Interpreter grant is available under this Fund, which provides funding to a person with hearing loss or speech impairment to hire an interpreter to accompany them to a job interview as well as induction training.

My Department has reviewed the Reasonable Accommodation Fund, and the review, which was informed by a public consultation held in 2022, will be published shortly. The review is to see how to improve the effectiveness of the grants and to identify gaps in provision.

In addition, in Budget 2023, I announced an additional €1 million in funding to expand the provisions made under the Reasonable Accommodation Fund grant, including interpreting services, and to support the recommendations from the forthcoming review.

I trust the above clarifies the Deputy’s query.