Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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250. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if it is mandatory for hospitals to have staff who can communicate in sign language for those attending the hospital who are unable to talk or hear. [38249/24]

Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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The Irish Sign Language Act 2017 stipulates that public bodies must do all that is reasonable to ensure the provision of ISL for users of Irish Sign Language when that user is unable to use Irish or English and is seeking to access statutory entitlements or services provided by that public body. Under the Irish Sign Language Act 2017, the definition of a public body includes, non-exhaustively, a Department of State (other than, in relation to the Department of Defence, the Defence Forces) for which a Minister of the Government is responsible; a local authority within the meaning of the Local Government Act 2001; and the Health Service Executive.

In Ireland, there are three types of hospitals:

• Public hospitals that are run by the State through the Health Service Executive.
• Voluntary public hospitals that are mainly state-funded but are sometimes owned by private bodies such as religious orders. Other voluntary public hospitals are run by boards often appointed by the Minister for Health.
• Private hospitals that receive no state funding.