Caít Keane (Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House to take this matter in which I am representing the deaf community. In Ireland, apart from English and Irish perhaps the most significant other language is Irish sign language. The Irish deaf community regards Irish sign language as its primary language. It is the language of the deaf community and the word "Irish" in its name has nothing to do with an teanga Gaeilge. Irish sign language has no official status in Irish legislation and this affects all aspects of a deaf person's life. There is a lack of Irish sign language translated material and a total lack of general understanding of why Irish sign language is so important to the deaf community.

The programme for Government states it will examine various mechanisms to promote the recognition of Irish sign language. What type of mechanism does the Government intend to examine? In what timeframe does it expect to complete the examination? When does the Minister responsible expect to be in a position to meet and consult the Irish Deaf Society? Irish sign language, along with British sign language, is recognised in Northern Ireland and in 2004 was formally recognised under the Good Friday agreement. Recognition of native sign language is being progressed quickly in other European countries such as Hungary, Iceland and, closer to home, Scotland. The Irish deaf community has approximately 5,000 members who use Irish sign language with approximately 40,000 people supporting them. It would not cost the earth to make the lives of these 5,000 people better.

In 1998, the European Parliament passed a resolution on sign language and in 2010 the Brussels declaration on sign language in the European union was signed. Will the Government examine these to see how we can advance Irish sign language? The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities has been ratified but not signed into law in Ireland. When will this happen? It contains four articles specifically relating to the deaf community on accessibility, expression, education and participation in education. The European Parliament initiatives on sign language are welcome but in Ireland we must look to countries such as Hungary which recently passed legislation and Iceland. Recently I was excited to read in a newspaper that ISL had been recognised but it was referring to Icelandic sign language and not Ireland. I ask the Minister of Education and Skills to follow Iceland's example and get Irish sign language recognised.

Reference to equality in education usually relates to third level. However, for deaf people who seldom have people to speak for them, we need to include preschool and primary school in the discussion. I was part of a small group which established the model school for the deaf which was a pilot project for three years and has ceased. It can be resurrected. Will the Minister of Education and Skills examine initiatives such as these? People in the deaf community who do things for themselves should be helped and Irish sign language should be supported. Deaf children do not have access to Irish sign language in schools and because of this they do not have access to a full curriculum or reach satisfactory levels of education. This is according to deaf people themselves. We must do something for them and advance this issue in the House.

A second requirement for equalising opportunity is to enable deaf students to do their examinations through Irish sign language. If our society is really interested in the deaf community and abolishing discrimination will the Minister of Education and Skills please consider what I have said?

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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I am taking this Adjournment matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Ruairí Quinn.

I thank the Senator for raising this issue as it gives me an opportunity to clarify the position on Irish sign language, ISL. First, I wish to clarify for the Senator that section 2 of the Official Languages Act 2003 states that "the official languages" of the State are the Irish language, being the national language and the first official language and the English language, being a second official language as specified in Article 8 of the Constitution.

Irish sign language has formal recognition in the Education Act, 1998. Under the Act, it is a function of the Minister for Education and Skills to ensure, subject to the provisions of the Act, that there is made available to each person resident in the State, including a person with a disability or who has other special educational needs, support services and a level and quality of education appropriate to meeting the needs and abilities of that person. This includes provision for students learning through ISL.

A number of initiatives which seek to promote, develop and implement ISL in order that it will achieve greater recognition and use in the education system are in place. These include funding for an ISL weekly home tuition service whereby deaf tutors visit the homes of deaf preschool children and deaf schoolgoing pupils to provide training in ISL for the deaf pupils, their siblings and parents.

Funding is also made available through the special education support service to enable individual teachers and whole school staff, including staff in special schools for the deaf, to undertake courses in Irish sign language which are available throughout the country through a variety of providers. In addition, the visiting teacher service for children and young people with a hearing impairment is provided by the Department of Education and Skills from the time of referral through to third level education. The visiting teacher service provides advice and support to ensure the needs of children and young people with hearing impairment are met. This service is available at preschool, primary and post-primary levels.

The Senator may be aware that assessment, rehabilitation and information services for children with a hearing impairment and their families are funded by the HSE, either directly or indirectly. Services provided include communication therapy and lip-reading classes as well as sign language classes.

The Department of Education and Skills, through the Higher Education Authority, HEA, has established and funds a centre for deaf studies in Trinity College, Dublin which provides diploma courses for ISL and English interpreters and deaf tutors in deaf studies. The course modules deal with issues such as sign linguistics, bilingualism and sociolinguistics of sign language. The course is delivered in seminar sessions and group work and the award of the diploma is based on continued assessment and a project and course design. The HEA has allocated €387,000 in core funding to the centre in the current academic year.

I wish to advise the Senator that the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, has commissioned an external high-level review of the issues surrounding deaf education. This review will focus on models of provision with reference to evidenced-based outcomes and the implications of adopting various approaches. I know the Minister for Education and Skills looks forward to receiving the policy advice from the NCSE in this regard.

Caít Keane (Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister of State for the information. I would not have tabled an Adjournment matter in the House if I had not been prompted to do so by the Irish Deaf Society. I am speaking on behalf of deaf people. To listen to the Minister of State one would think everything was great for Irish sign language. We do not recognise Irish sign language in legislation. Iceland, Scotland and Northern Ireland-----

Pat O'Neill (Fine Gael)
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A question please, Senator.

Caít Keane (Fine Gael)
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When will we do what is stated in the programme for Government? I asked it previously but it was not answered. The visiting teachers-----

Pat O'Neill (Fine Gael)
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A question.

Caít Keane (Fine Gael)
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-----initiative is welcome but I call for the Minister of Education and Skills to meet the Irish Deaf Society to hear the real story.

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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I will undertake to make the Senator's feelings known to the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Ruairí Quinn. If he is not available to have such a meeting with the Irish Deaf Society I will undertake to do so myself and take on board its views.