Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 31 March 2021
199. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the way in which his Department and agencies under his remit are meeting obligations under the Irish Sign Language Act 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17424/21]
View answerMy Department is fully committed to ensuring that customers and members of the Deaf community who wish to conduct their business with my Department using Irish Sign Language can do so.
My Department has engaged with the National Sign Language Interpreting Service for Ireland to provide access to our services through Irish Remote Interpreting Services. This is a free service for all Deaf customers. The provision of this service is in line with our commitment to making our services accessible to all our customers.
Currently customers can avail of a live video-link to an Irish Sign Language interpreter which will ensure that our customers in the Deaf community can fully access our services. Details of how to access the service are available on the Department's website www.enterprise.gov.ie
Officials from my Department has contacted all agencies under its remit to make them aware of their obligations under the Irish Sign Language Act 2017 and ensure they make Irish Sign Language interpreting services available to their customers.
My Department is committed to monitoring on an ongoing basis the level of demand for services to be provided in Irish Sign Language and responding to those demands in a planned, coherent, and accessible way.
