Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 23 May 2023

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills

Education Needs of Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Students: Discussion

Mr. Andrew Geary:

As part of our action in the High Court, we sidestepped that point recently to come to a negotiated settlement. Calum has, however, lost out on a great deal of learning. There is no doubt about this when we compare him to his brother. My oldest son has gone off to university. He has done that through his own hard work and had nothing to do with me or my wife. He is studying medicine and I know Calum has the same brains. The same look is in his eyes. I have no doubt he has the same intelligence and intellect, but has this option been taken off the table for him? There is absolutely no doubt but that it has. No matter how hard he works, he is not going to get 600 points in his leaving certificate examinations because his level of English is years behind where it should be. He does, though, work hard and I want him to reach his potential. I am looking forward and this is where I keep focusing, despite the need to look backwards to put our cases together. I am, though, very thankful. I am a very grateful person. I believe this may be the destination of Calum's access. I am fearful, and I am always a pragmatist, that this may be another junction on our road towards achieving access. I am praying this time, however, that this will be our destination that results in full access.

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