Marie Sherlock (Dublin Central, Labour)
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295. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills 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. [17976/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy will be aware that the Irish Sign Language Act 2017 (the Act) was enacted on 24th December 2017 and commenced on 23rd December 2020. 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 statutory entitlements and services. In addition, the Act provides for specific obligations in the areas of legal proceedings, educational provision and broadcasting.

In accordance with section 10 of the Irish Sign Language Act 2017, the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (MCEDIY) is required to publish a report on the operation of the Act. In line with this requirement, the National Disability Authority was asked by the MCEDIY to prepare a report on the operation of the Act. The report on the operation of the Act can be accessed as follows: nda.ie/publications/report-on-the-operation-of-the-irish-sign-language-act-2017-december-2021, including my Department’s input and responses to the NDA Review.

My officials have been in contact with relevant officials from the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration, and Youth during the course of 2024 to discuss possible supports from that Department to assist with supply measures for interpreters. My department will continue to liaise with that Department, as lead Department of the Irish Sign Language Act following the conclusion of their public consultation on the National Disability Strategy and accessibility, including ISL, at a whole of government level.

In terms of current provision by third level institutions under my Department's remit, the Deputy may be aware that:

DCU offer a Bachelor or Education- ISL Pathway (restricted entry) - in addition to academic entry requirements, competency in ISL is assessed prior to entry and competency in ISL is a prerequisite for entry to the B.Ed ISL. All participants on the programme undertake a 30 week school placement and the programme offers a specialism in deaf education. Here is a link to the Bachelor of Education (Irish Sign Language) | Courses | Dublin City University: www.dcu.ie/courses/undergraduate/institute-education/bachelor-education-irish-sign-language-pathway-restricted.

Trinity College Dublin also offers a Bachelor in Deaf Studies which offer profession-specific competencies for students opting for pathways into ISL teaching or ISL/English interpreting. They do note that there is a shortage of ISL teachers in Ireland in the programme description. Unlike the above programme, no prior knowledge of ISL is needed for entry to the programme. Deaf Studies - School of Linguistic, Speech and Communication Sciences - Trinity College Dublin: www.tcd.ie/slscs/undergraduate/deaf-studies-bachelor/.

Responsibility for the training of Irish Sign Language teachers lies with my colleague, Helen McEntee T.D. Minister for Education. Further information can be found here: careersportal.ie/news/ministers-foley-and-madigan-announce-establishment-of-a-scheme-for-the-provision-of-irish-sign-language-support-.