CIB and SLIS welcome the commencement of the Irish Sign Language Act 2017
December 2020
The Citizens Information Board (CIB) and the Sign Language Interpreting Service (SLIS) are delighted to welcome the commencement of the Irish Sign Language (ISL) Act 2017 today. CIB and SLIS have been working to progress provisions under the ISL Act 2017 including:
- A register of accredited ISL interpreters, with a quality assurance scheme to strengthen the quality of ISL provision
- A remote interpreting App offering on demand access to interpreters via phones and other devices
- A voucher scheme to support the participation of ISL users in cultural, social and educational events
- Increased remote interpreting services and training and development initiatives aimed at increasing the number of ISL interpreters
The commencement of the ISL Act 2017 is an important step in removing barriers the Deaf community experiences, and enhancing access and engagement with public services and in the wider community.
Welcoming the commencement of the ISL Act, the Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphreys said:
“I am delighted to see this important legislation enacted today. I would like to thank CIB and SLIS for their hard work in progressing the Department of Social Protection’s commitments under the Act, which I have no doubt will greatly improve access to statutory entitlements and services for members of the Deaf community.”