Ms Martina Mannion:

With regard to the Irish Sign Language scheme, as the Chair will know, we announced it last year. Up to 40 staff are to be employed by the National Council For Special Education, NCSE. There will be two new roles, the Irish Sign Language classroom assistant and the Irish Sign Language adviser. As regards the national campaign for the Irish Sign Language assistant, there are seven individuals on a panel which will now be available for schools to draw down and I know two have already been processed through that. As for the Irish Sign Language advisers, three advisers have been successful in the recent recruitment competition in that area and are going through clearance ahead of appointment. Overall, we would see the huge value of these new posts in our school system and will work very closely with the Holy Family School for the Deaf and the special classes who are catering for deaf students as well who we know will benefit from these supports.