Review of Sign Language Interpretation Services and Service ...

7.4.2 Irish Sign Language Interpretation Service - development anddelivery of SLI servicesDuring phase one the Irish Sign Language Interpretation Service should beestablished, up and running and fulfilling its mandate. There should have beensignificant advancements in key areas such as the booking service, complaintsprocedures, technology assessment and pilots.In addition to carrying out the activities outlined in phase one, the role of the IrishSign Language Interpretation Service in phase two should include:• Ensuring that the central booking service, within the Irish Sign LanguageInterpretation Service is transformed into a technology-enabled, highlyresponsive, quality booking service:– Running an effective national remote interpreting service with access pointsfor Deaf people and interpreters in, public service locations (e.g. hospitals,Garda stations, Citizens Information Centres), Deaf clubs and associationsacross the country– Developing an extended hours service, providing access to SLI servicesoutside normal working hours– Employing a number of interpreters in the booking centre on a permanentbasis, to staff the video relay service• Ensuring that a remote interpreting service is fully rolled out and functioningeffectively, including the provision of training to users and interpreters• Awareness building in relation to the national remote interpreting serviceIn phase two, staff at the Irish Sign Language Interpretation Service are likely tobe augmented by:• Interpreters who would work on a rota basis to operate the national remoteinterpreting service• The part time Project Manager role in phase 1,may be which extended to afull time position, responsible for rolling out technology-enabled remoteinterpretingThe precise staffing requirements for phase two will depend on the outcome ofphase one and the take up of new technology.7.4.3 Roll out of a national remote interpreting serviceTechnology-enabled remote interpretation services should play an important partin phase two. It is anticipated that videophones should play a key role in phasetwo, together with other relevant technologies identified during phase one. Forexample, a decision made during phase one is likely to include the establishmentof a national videophone relay service, with videophones at many locationsthroughout the country.Videophones and/or other appropriate technology should be installed and morewidely available for use by interpreters and Deaf people in public service locationswhere Deaf people need access to interpreters in order to avail of public servicese.g. in local hospitals, Garda stations, libraries, transport stations, as well as in aReview of Sign Language Interpretation Services and Service Requirements in Ireland • page 129