Greater Access, Better Learning

RTÉ is committed to improving access services and providing tangible educational tools for citizens

Access Together

The Covid-19 pandemic continued to create challenges for Ireland’s Deaf community who looked to RTÉ to deliver important messages, services and programming. In 2021, the Access Services team delivered Irish Sign Language (ISL) services across a range of channels and platforms, including RTÉ News, RTÉ One, RTÉ2, RTÉ Player and our social media accounts. All major public health announcements by An Taoiseach were broadcast live with ISL on RTÉ News and RTÉ Player.

An ISL First on The Late Late Toy Show

RTÉ engaged regularly with the Deaf community throughout 2021 and adapted our services according to their feedback. This was most notable on The Late Late Toy Show ISL which last year had its first Deaf signer. Sarah Jane O’Regan joined our team of ISL presenters on RTÉ Player and the RTÉ News channel. Sarah Jane is one of the first group to qualify as a Deaf interpreter and presented live alongside hearing interpreters, Amanda Coogan and Aisling Dragoi. We also created original ISL content for the ad breaks and for social media on the night featuring the children of Holy Family Deaf School in Cabra. The response from the Deaf and the wider community to these achievements was overwhelmingly positive.

Improving Access

Apart from the provision of subtitles, audio description and ISL across all our services, over 95% of all peak programming on RTÉ One was available with subtitles, while 89% of programmes on RTÉ2 and 54% of all RTÉjr programming were available with subtitles. RTÉ’s ISL targets are set by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI). By June 2021, RTÉ had exceeded all targets.

In 2021, we invested in recruiting and training a panel of audio describers which will enable us to increase RTÉ’s volume and range of accessible content with a particular focus on Irish content, including drama.

RTÉ Outreach

RTÉ’s Outreach Programme for TY and Senior Cycle students got under way in October and saw RTÉ staff visit schools, including Trinity Ballymun, St. Kilian’s in Bray, Loreto Crumlin, Larkin College, CBS Brunswick Street and Mercy Inchicore. They spent a morning in each school: Giving a Smartphone workshop on filming and editing; Advising on posting safely and responsibly online; Letting the students know about RTÉ’s history and the services we provide.

Also in October, RTÉ, in partnership with DCU Access Services, gave an Online Career’s Talk for the Senior Cycle (TY, Fifth Year and Sixth Year) which was particularly useful for those who want to study and work in the media after they leave school. There were also practical tips on how to get the best support from access services in third level. These initiatives support schools with low progression to third level that are under-represented in the media.

A Week of Science

From brain implants to the future of vaccines, RTÉ again went live for Science Week 2021 with a feast of engaging science-themed content for people of all ages, across all platforms. After a year in which global science and health news dominated our lives, 2021’s Science Week on RTÉ programme had something for everyone, including the live return of Future Island to RTÉ One with Liz Bonnin and Professor Luke O’Neill, who discussed some of the biggest questions regarding Ireland’s future. In partnership with Science Foundation Ireland, a week of special content was supported by an advertising campaign on television, on radio, online and on social media.