# Sign Language Act (Northern Ireland) 2026, Section 5: Department to issue guidance

Extent: N.I.

(1) The Department for Communities must issue guidance about—
(a) the effect of this Part, and
(b) such additional or different matters as to—
(i) British Sign Language or Irish Sign Language, and
(ii) the interests of the deaf community,
as the Department considers appropriate.
(2) The Department—
(a) may—
(i) review guidance issued under this Chapter, and
(ii) issue guidance under this Chapter as revised in light of review, and
(b) must publish, on the Department’s website, guidance issued under this Chapter (including as revised).
(3) Whenever devising (or reviewing) guidance under this Chapter, the Department must consult—
(a) each of the prescribed organisations, and
(b) at least two persons or groups appearing to the Department to be representative or cognisant of the views or interests of the deaf community.
(4) All the prescribed organisations must have regard to guidance issued under this Chapter in connection with providing information and services.

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/nia/2026/7/section/5 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/sign-language-act-northern-ireland-2026/section-5
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.