Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This is the second session. On behalf of the committee, I welcome Ms Martina Mannion, assistant secretary with responsibility for special education and inclusion; Mr. Brendan Doody, principal officer, special education unit; Mr. Frank Hanlon, principal officer, special education unit; Mr. Kieran Rogers, assistant principal officer, special education unit; Ms Evelyn O’Connor, principal officer, curriculum and assessment unit; and Mr. Mark Kelly, technical manager, planning and building unit, Department of Education. The officials are here to brief us on the educational needs of deaf and hard-of-hearing students.

The format of the meeting is that I will invite Ms Mannion to make a brief opening statement. This will be followed by questions from committee members. Each member will have a five-minute slot to ask questions and for the witnesses to respond. As members will be aware, the meeting must finish by 1 p.m. As witnesses are probably aware, the committee will publish the opening statement on its website following today's meeting.

Witnesses are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice that they should not criticise or make charges against any person or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable, or otherwise engage in speech that might be regarded as damaging to the good name of the person or entity. Therefore, if witnesses' statements are potentially defamatory in relation to an identifiable person or entity, they will be directed to discontinue their remarks. It is imperative that they comply with any such direction.

I invite Ms Mannion to begin.