Simon Harris TD, Minister of State with special responsibility for the Office of Public Works (OPW) today (31 January 2015) announced that the Office of Public Works is developing a new service for providing sign language interpretation on tablets at OPW Heritage Sites.

Speaking at the today's launch at Farmleigh House Minister Harris said: "I am delighted to be here today to attend the Irish Sign Language interpreted tour of this wonderful site, as managed by my Office, the OPW.  I wish to thank the Centre for Deaf Studies, Trinity College for partnering the OPW on this initiative.  As the second highest visitor destination in our estate, Farmleigh is popular with Dubliners and all visitors alike and I know the interpreted tour today was enjoyed by all".

The programme commenced at Dublin Castle and will continue at Kilkenny Castle on 28th February with more sites planned during the Spring 2015.

The Minister added: "It gives me great pleasure to launch a further initiative whereby sign language interpretation will be available at our Heritage sites on tablets  to enhance the visitor experience for the Deaf Community in Ireland.  My Office continues to work on the development of this service and Kilkenny Castle has been chosen to pilot this initiative in Spring of this year. I am sure we will learn from this process and apply our learning to the roll-out of this service to all appropriate sites in our care".

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For further information or if you wish to interview Minister Harris please contact Colette Davis, OPW Press Officer – mobile 087 947 5552, landline 01 647 6128/046 942 6128 or email colette.davis@opw.ie

Notes to Editors:

Free signed tours available to members of the deaf and hard of hearing community.

The pilot programme is being run in conjunction with the Centre for Deaf Studies, Trinity College Dublin and more information can be found on www.tcd.ie/slscs/cds/ 

Further sites will be identified and publicised on the following:

www.opw.ie, www.heritageireland.ie and @opwireland

Bookings can be made by emailing info@heritageireland.ie