Deaf News: Irish Deaf Society at risk of closure due to “financial crisis”

The Irish Deaf Society (IDS), a leading charity representing the deaf community in Ireland, has announced it is to shut down in March.

The decision to close comes after the organisation failed to secure financial support from the Government or another state body ahead of its funding running out in two month’s time.

In a statement, Chief Executive Officer John Sherwin said: “This month the Irish Deaf Society will have no choice but to issue all staff with protective notice and prepare to close its doors in March.

“The closure of IDS services will have a huge negative impact on the Deaf community one year on from the approval of the Irish Sign Language Act.

“For many this will call into question the Government’s commitment to supporting the Deaf Community.”

The latest developments follow a crisis information meeting on Saturday, where members of the society and the Deaf community met to discuss the potential closure.

The society’s decision to close down will also affect its services, which include IDS Advocacy, an Irish Sign Language academy and its deaf adult literary services.

In a letter of support, one service user said: “I was a student in DALS for 12 years.  It really helped me and also it gave me confidence.

“I know many people like me felt the same. Where will the Deaf people go if IDS closes down? It is scary.

“We need IDS to stay on,” they said.

The charity is currently assembling a book with messages of support to present to the Irish Government, and is calling upon people to share their support on Twitter using the hashtag #SaveIDS.

The Government has been contacted for comment.

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Update: In a statement, a spokesman from the Department of Rural Community Development told The Limping Chicken that the Irish Deaf Society “is currently in receipt of core funding from [the Department] under the Scheme to Support National Organisations”.

“The Irish Deaf Society was allocated €269,700 over the 36 month period of the current SSNO scheme,” they said.

Elsewhere, a Department of Health spokeswoman said Finian McGrath, the Minister for Disabilities, “very much regrets the difficulties that the Irish Deaf Society is currently experiencing”.

They said: “The Minister recognises and values its advocacy work on behalf of the deaf community of Ireland and he acknowledges the significant contribution it has made in relation to the Irish Sign Language Act, 2017.

“The Irish Deaf Society does not provide health services per se to the deaf community, and for this reason it does not qualify for funding through the Health Vote. However, the Society has received funding from a number of Government Departments to date as well as Lottery funding support.

“Minister McGrath is presently in discussions with Cabinet colleagues to try to resolve the Irish Deaf Society’s financial difficulties. These discussions have been very positive so far and Minister McGrath will confirm the outcome of these discussions in the coming days.

Mr McGrath has since taken to Twitter to say that he is trying to resolve the issue, and that he is “committed to funding [the Irish Deaf Society]” in 2019.

By Liam O’Dell. Liam is a mildly deaf freelance journalist and blogger from Bedfordshire. He wears bilateral hearing aids and makes the occasional video about deaf awareness on his YouTube channel. He can also be found talking about disability, politics, theatre, books and music on his Twitter, or on his website.