Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees
Tuesday, 4 July 2023
Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills
Education Needs of Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Students: Discussion
Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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We probably will have to come back to this issue. My biggest frustration is that there is the HSE, early childhood, primary and secondary education, and third-level education and while I do not want to stigmatise or put these people aside as special people, they are. We are very lucky. I am able to hear Ms Mannion and she is able to hear me. We take it for granted. Many children do not have that comfort. Chime spoke this morning about the frequency modulated, FM, systems. The Irish Deaf Society spoke about early intervention. That comes from the HSE, I presume. Then it goes on to the Department of Education. Then it goes on to early childhood and then primary and secondary education, etc. I do not want to get bogged down in it. We will definitely come back to this issue because I believe there are many questions to be answered. There are many easy issues that can be sorted out for the community.
I have many questions, but I promised a school we had in, namely, Holy Family School for the Deaf in Cabra, that we would ask about their building. Mr. Kelly has given a reply in that regard, but I will make this matter a priority for this committee. The school in question is currently operating on two separate campuses, which is completely unsatisfactory. I cannot understand it. I am aware that when it comes to special needs education, everything is a need and a priority. Am I correct in saying that there are two schools for the deaf in the country?