Between December 1st, 2023, and February 1st, 2024, an online survey[1] was launched aimed at qualified ISL interpreters on the Island of Ireland. The survey aimed to determine if the Irish Sign Language interpreting profession is currently sustainable, or not, and – if this is not the case – what is needed to make it (more) sustainable. Additionally, the survey wanted to gain an understanding of the reasons why people who have obtained the qualification as an ISL interpreter do not start working as an interpreter, have left the profession, or have reduced or increased their working hours as an ISL interpreter over time.
The report and recommendations presented on this page are the result of consultation and collaboration with the Council of Irish Sign Language Interpreters (CISLI), the Register of Irish Sign Language Interpreters (RISLI), the Irish Deaf Society (IDS), and Sign Language Interpreting Service (SLIS).
The full research report, including the analysis of the data collected through the survey, a summary and discussion, and nineteen recommendations to improve the sustainability of the signed language interpreting profession in Ireland can be downloaded here.
[1] This research received ethical approval from the Research Ethics Committee of the School of Linguistic, Speech & Communication Science, Trinity College Dublin, the University of Dublin.
The Strategic Nature of Interpreting 