Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 September 2026
646. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the status of the second report on the operation of the Irish Sign Language Act 2017 pursuant to Section 10 of that Act; when the report was received from the National Disability Authority; the reasons for any delay in its publication; the expected timeframe for publication of the report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68351/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI thank the Deputy for this question. The Irish Sign Language Act 2017 provides for the recognition of Irish Sign Language (ISL), its use in legal proceedings and obligations related to the provision of interpretation into ISL by public bodies.
In July 2025 and in accordance with Section 10 of the Act, I requested the National Disability Authority to prepare the Second Report on the Operation of the Irish Sign Language (ISL) Act 2017. The Report was received by my Department in March 2026. Since then, the findings, recommendations and issues raised in the report have been under review by officials within the Department and the report will be published once all stages of this process have been completed.
Government is committed to advancing implementation of the ISL Act. In particular, increasing the numbers of interpreters is a specific policy area spotlighted for targeted action under the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030 and a Working Group on Irish Sign Language has been established to further this objective. A number of subgroups have also been established to identify priority actions for the Second Programme Plan of Action for 2027-2028, including addressing barriers to ISL interpreting and ISL teaching, exploring tertiary education pathways, advancing the recommendations of the First Report on the Operation of the ISL Act and delivering on improved access to essential and emergency services for the deaf community.
The Strategy also commits to a review of the ISL Act as part of a broader review of existing disability legislation with the objective of considering where a need for new legislation may exist, ensuring that relevant legislation appropriately advances the rights of disabled people in line with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).
