Marie Sherlock (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I raise the issue of public service broadcasting. Finally, we have the strategic vision for RTÉ. There are probably lots more questions than answers in the 30-page document we got yesterday. What is clear is that we are going to have a much-reduced organisation over the next five years. Certainly, taking one in five workers out of RTÉ is going to have a drastic impact on content and the operations of RTÉ. In saying that, the independent sector needs to be supported. There are recommendations to ensure the sector plays a greater role in broadcasting in Ireland. I want to see that there are good jobs in that area. It is important to put that on the record.

The issue for Members of the Oireachtas is that while RTÉ has been forced into a corner to make these cuts because it was effectively given no choice by the Government, we still have no clarity on long-term funding for public service broadcasting in this country. We had commitments in the wake of the Government rejecting the Future of Media Commission's recommendation on the future financing of public service broadcasting. There was an interdepartmental group but we do not know who sits on it, where it is or when it will report. What we heard yesterday is that it will be 2025, as opposed to 2024, before we see a new model for the long-term financing of public service broadcasting in place. The Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Deputy Catherine Martin, must be asked to come into the House to explain the Government's position. As I see it, public service broadcasting is now operating in a vacuum with regard to its long-term future.

Yesterday, a number of members of the Joint Committee on Education, Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science met with representatives of the Holy Family School for the Deaf, Cabra, both the primary and secondary school. Senator Fiona O'Loughlin also attended. I have worked with the school to try to save its speech and language therapists following the introduction of the progressing disability strategy. I will read a letter from the students of the Holy Family School for the Deaf.

Dear Members of the Oireachtas Education Committee,

We really need Irish Sign Language Interpreters in our school. We want interpreters who understand us and we understand them from age 3 to 18. We've had many, but only a few can understand. We want to be like all kids, having equal access with in-house interpreters. Please support us; remember the ISL ACT 2017 and the 1916 Proclamation about cherishing all children equally.

Thank you,

Students of Holy Family Deaf School

It is important to note that this legislation, which was spearheaded by Senator Mark Daly, originated in this House. The Department of Education is refusing to provide additional supports to a special school. It expects a special school to provide these supports out of its existing capitation grant. That is not good enough. The Seanad needs to respond by saying that special schools deserve and require those additional supports from the Department.