152. Deputy Marie Sherlock 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; when it will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [69134/26]
Topics / Irish Sign Language
A subject heading for parliamentary questionsIrish Sign Language
47 questions from 12 TDs, between 1 April 2025 and 30 September 2026.
47
questions
47 written, 0 oral
12
TDs have asked
5
parties and groups
Independents counted together
15
departments asked
Questions per month
The record holds no questions for August, when the Dáil does not sit.
Jan 2025Oct 2026
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| Month | Questions |
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| January 2025 | 0 |
| February 2025 | 0 |
| March 2025 | 0 |
| April 2025 | 26 |
| May 2025 | 1 |
| June 2025 | 0 |
| July 2025 | 0 |
| August 2025 | 0 |
| September 2025 | 3 |
| October 2025 | 0 |
| November 2025 | 0 |
| December 2025 | 0 |
| January 2026 | 0 |
| February 2026 | 9 |
| March 2026 | 2 |
| April 2026 | 2 |
| May 2026 | 1 |
| June 2026 | 1 |
| July 2026 | 0 |
| August 2026 | 0 |
| September 2026 | 2 |
| October 2026 | 0 |
Who asks, by party
The party each TD belonged to on the day, in alphabetical order. Parties differ a lot in size, and members of the Government answer questions rather than ask them, so this shows who raised it, not how much a party cares about it.
The TDs who asked most
Members of the Government answer questions rather than ask them. Each question counts once.
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The questions
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 mat…
595. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of social workers employed by the State who have some knowledge of Lámh or of Irish sign language. [46866/26]
248. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of Irish Sign Language specialist classroom support (ISL-SCS) posts that have been, sanctioned, advertised, filled, and remain vacant since the publication of Circular 0072/2025, Enhancement to Irish Sign Language (ISL) Scheme Provision, on 18 November 2025; the number of applications received and approved by the NCSE for ISL-SCS support f…
1390. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is aware of the difficulties being experienced by deaf students in accessing education through ISL the measures she is taking to improve access to same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25304/26]
1391. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Education and Youth her plans to increase supply of ISL-fluent teachers to improve ISL-competent assessment pathways and to standardise access to ISL interpretation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25306/26]
506. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Education and Youth if there are plans to include Irish Sign Language, ISL, as an examinable subject at leaving certificate level; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21795/26]
892. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the reason Irish Sign Language (ISL) interpretation services are not currently available at University Hospital Waterford (UHW), given that ISL access is mandatory in public hospitals; the steps the HSE has taken to ensure compliance with the Irish Sign Language Act 2017 in this regard; when ISL interpretation services will be fully available for Deaf patients…
77. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Education and Youth the status of the programme for Government commitment to provide in-house Irish Sign Language interpreters in deaf education settings; if not, the reason this commitment has not yet been implemented; if she will provide a clear timeline for delivery; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12996/26]
78. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her Department recognises the distinction between ISL special class support, ISL SCS, posts and dedicated in-house ISL interpreter roles; if she will confirm that ISL SCS posts will not be treated as a substitute for interpreter provision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12997/26]
79. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her Department has assessed the impact on deaf teachers and school staff of the absence of in house ISL interpreters; if she accepts that reliance on ad hoc or external interpreters undermines equal staff participation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12998/26]
80. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Education and Youth in light of the Irish Sign Language Act 2017, if the continued absence of in house ISL interpreter provision in deaf schools can be reconciled with the State’s obligations; the steps taken to fill these absences; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12999/26]
81. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Education and Youth the way in which current practice in deaf education settings aligns with Ireland’s obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13000/26]
82. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Education and Youth the cost to her Department of schools having to hire external ISL interpreters, by month for each of the years 2021 to 2025, inclusive, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13001/26]
83. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she has examined a centralised in-house Department staffing model for ISL interpreters; and if so, if she will provide the findings of any such analysis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13002/26]
84. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Education and Youth to list the engagements, by date with deaf schools she has had in relation to the provision of ISL interpreters; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13003/26]
85. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Education and Youth to list the engagements, by date with deaf-led organisations, ISL interpreters, or deaf education stakeholders regarding ISL interpreter roles; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13004/26]
293. Deputy Brian Brennan asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the progress of the Irish sign language specialist classroom support programme pilot; when further applications will be considered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49928/25]
758. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of registered ISL interpreters currently available in each county. [48537/25]
759. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Social Protection the barriers faced by ISL interpreters in the delivery of services, including issues in relation to recruitment, training, career, progression and retention; the steps being taken to address these challenges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48538/25]
83. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Education and Youth to incorporate Irish Sign Language into the national curriculum, particularly at the Junior and Leaving Certificate levels (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24570/25]
1780. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide an update on the implementation of the Irish Sign Language Act 2017 (ISL) within her 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, if she will outline the reason for this and any plans …
16. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade 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 fu…
27. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications 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 ne…
52. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Transport 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. [17982/25]