Sign Language Interpreting Service

Sign Language Interpreting Service (SLIS) is Ireland's national provider of professional sign-language interpreting, funded and supported by the Citizens Information Board. Established in 2007, SLIS exists to ensure that Deaf people can access public and social services, exercise their rights under the Equal Status and Disability Acts, and live as full, equal citizens.

SLIS offers a comprehensive suite of services. Its Emergency Service provides out-of-hours interpreters for medical or legal crises, while the Social Fund can arrange interpreters for funerals and hardship cases at no cost to the client. Through a Referral Service, organisations and individuals can be matched with experienced, independent freelance interpreters, and SLIS also supports service providers in using sign-language interpreting effectively. For health-care needs, SLIS arranges and funds interpreters for GP and primary-care appointments for Deaf patients with medical or GP visit cards. The Irish Remote Interpreting Service (IRIS) delivers instant video-link interpreting, and the Register of Irish Sign Language Interpreters maintains quality standards and offers training for practitioners.

Serving Deaf people and public bodies across the Republic, SLIS combines advocacy, quality assurance and a range of specialised interpreting solutions to promote equal access for all.