The Register of Irish Sign Language Interpreters (RISLI) welcomes the publication of the government’s National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030. The strategy including a number of actions relevant to RISLI.
Review Irish Sign Language (ISL) Act: There is a commitment to review and update existing legislation and to consider where a need for new legislation may exist, particularly following Ireland’s ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. This includes ISL Act 2017 and related matters, such as the requirements for the regulation of Irish Sign Language Interpreters and structures to ensure appropriate implementation of the Act. This action will be the responsibility of the Department of Children, Disability and Equality
Recruit an Education and Accreditation Officer in RISLI. This officer will provide guidance on the “Pathway to Accreditation”, setting out the basic standard competency threshold for applicants to be placed on the RISLI register of accredited interpreters. Their work will also establish the criteria for competency to facilitate any educational institutions who wish to commence Irish Sign Language interpreting courses with a view to increasing Irish Sign Language interpreter supply.
Establish a Working Group on Irish Sign Language to consider the recommendations of the reporting by the National Disability Authority on the operation of the Irish Sign Language Act 2017and any subsequent reports, with a focus on increasing the supply of Irish Sign Language interpreters.
The Working Group priority issues for 2025-2026 will include:
- Increasing the number of Irish Sign Language interpreters
- Identify barriers to recruitment and education of interpreting students and their entry into the workforce as Irish Sign Language interpreters.
- Make recommendations to address these barriers with a view to progressively increasing the number of Irish Sign Language interpreters actively providing interpretation services to Deaf people and giving due consideration to the implementation of high priority recommendations from the NDA reports, with all relevant stakeholders.
- Work with the Further and Higher Education Sector
- to scope the provision and range of pathways and courses (part-time, full-time, remote or hybrid courses) available, with a view to identifying opportunities to increase the numbers graduating with qualifications leading to careers as Irish Sign Language interpreters, and
- to scope the development of a quality continuous professional development programme for Irish Sign Language interpreters.
- Advise on awareness raising of Irish Sign Language interpretation and the Teaching of Irish Sign Language as a viable and meaningful career through Whole School Guidance and promotional campaigns.
- Identify the requirements and appropriate structure for the regulation of Irish Sign Language teaching and delivery of curricula in schools.
- Emergency services, 112 emergency calls. Explore opportunities to provide for enhanced access for Deaf people to public services on a rights basis, including accident and emergency services, 112 emergency calls, and access to wider health and legal services, and in line with obligations in the Irish Sign Language Act 2017.
- Membership of the working group to include:
- Register of Irish Sign Language Interpreters
- Citizens Information Board
- Irish Deaf Society (Disabled Persons’ Organisations)
- Sign Language Interpretating Service
- Trinity College Dublin Centre for Deaf Studies Council of Irish Sign Language Interpreters
- Department of Children, Disability and Equality
- Department of Education and Youth; Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science
- Department of Social Protection
- National Disability Authority
- Quality and Qualifications Ireland
RISLI will seek to recruit an Education and Accreditation Officer to progress the important work required of RISLI under the ISL Act. We look forward to collaborating with the working group, particular in the review the ISL Act in relation to the regulation of interpreters and to increase the number of interpreters.