Irish Sign Language (ISL) - Application Form 2021/2022

• Published date: 23 October 2019
• Issuer: Department of Education

Updated July 2019 1

IRISH SIGN LANGUAGE (ISL) TUITION

The Irish Sign Language (ISL) scheme is made available to provide funding for a weekly tuition

service whereby a tutor visits the home of a deaf / hard of hearing pre-school child or school-

going pupil to provide training in ISL for the child, their sibling(s) and parent(s)/guardian(s).

Funding is made available for tuition on completion of the full application process only, which

includes the issuance of a letter to the parent(s)/guardian(s) to confirm that sanction of funding

for the nominated tutor has been approved and the hours and time frame for which tuition is

sanctioned.

All tutors must comply with the Vetting requirements prior to commencing the delivery of

tuition. From the 29th April 2016, the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons)

Act 2014 came into operation. All persons who wish to undertake certain work or activities

relating to children or vulnerable adults or to provide certain services to children or vulnerable

adults, cannot commence such work, activity or service unless they have been vetted.

All tutors must complete and return a completed Statutory Declaration (Appendix 1) and the

Form of Undertaking (Appendix 2) to the Department.

No arrangements should be entered into with a tutor in anticipation of funding being made

available until confirmation of sanction is received from the Department. Payment will not be

made in respect of any tuition carried out before approval has been given. Under no

circumstances will funding for tuition be back-dated.

Tutors providing tuition in Irish Sign Language (ISL) are paid at the current part-time rate and

are subject to tax directives. Travel and/or subsistence allowances are not available.

Payment of the ISL grant is made to the Parent/Guardian where the tutor/teacher is not on this

Department’s payroll. The applicable rate of funding will be set out on the sanction letter.

To comply with existing legislation, the Personal Public Service Number of the

parent(s)/guardian(s) and tutor(s)/teacher(s) must be supplied in order for payment to be

considered. The Personal Public Service Number (PPSN) is a unique reference number used in

all dealings with Public Service Agencies, including Revenue. If you need details of your PPSN

or your child’s PPSN please contact the Department of Social Protection (DSP) Client Identity

Services, Social Welfare Services, Shannon Lodge, Carrick-on-Shannon, Co. Leitrim.

Telephone: Lo Call 1890 927999 Email: cis@welfare.ie

In accordance with legislation, the financial details in respect of this scheme are forwarded

annually to the Revenue Commissioners. Accordingly, this Department will advise Revenue of

the amounts of the educational grant aid which has been issued to the Parent/Guardian and the

name and PPSN of the Parent/Guardian and Tutor.

Completed Application Forms should be returned to:

ISL Tuition - Special Education Section, Department of Education and Skills, Cornamaddy,

Athlone, Co. Westmeath, N37 X659

The Department will keep and maintain records for the purposes of identifying persons

accessing additional supports and planning the provision of special educational and support

services.