Marie Sherlock (Dublin Central, Labour)
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219. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide an update on the implementation of the Irish Sign Language Act 2017 (ISL) within his Department and its associated public bodies, including details of any ISL strategies that have been developed; and if no ISL strategy has been developed to date, the details of plans his Department has to address this gap in the near future. [17972/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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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.

My Department provides sufficient interpretation services in Irish Sign Language to meet all obligations and duties as set out in the Act.

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 on request to persons with disabilities accessing department services. The Access Officers act as a point of contact for people with disabilities wishing to access such services. Through these officers, my Department provides Irish Sign Language interpretation services to the public on receipt of requests.

As regards the 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.