Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 431: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if the Irish Deaf Society will be given the maximum support on issues (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11707/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that ISL has formal recognition in the Education Act 1998. Under the Act, it is a function of the Minister for Education and Science to ensure, subject to the provisions of the Act, that there is made available to each person resident in the State 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 currently in place. These include the special schools for the deaf in Cabra, Dublin, have been encouraged in relation to the use of sign language in class; in-service training is provided in the use of ISL; my Department has provided funding for an ISL weekly home tuition service whereby deaf tutors visit the homes of deaf pre-school children and deaf school-going pupils to provide training in ISL for the deaf children-pupils, their siblings and parents; my Department has sanctioned a pre-school for deaf children on a pilot basis. Programmes are delivered through the medium of ISL as a first language. My Department also provides funding towards ISL tuition to the siblings of the children enrolled; my Department, through the Higher Education Authority, HEA, has established and fully funds a Centre for Deaf Studies in Trinity College, Dublin which provides diploma courses for ISL-English interpreters, deaf tutors and 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-group work and the award of the diploma is based on continued assessment and a project and course design; and my colleague, the Minister of State for adult education, recently launched the first in a series of instructional DVDs. These DVDs were developed by the Irish Deaf Society with funding from the Department of Education and Science, under the education equality initiative, which provides pilot funding for innovative projects aimed at adults who are educationally disadvantaged. This is the first in a series that will provide instruction in English through Irish sign language to deaf adults. Funding covers the period 2004-06 and is assisted by the European Structural Funds. This series of DVDs will allow deaf adults study in the comfort of their own home. I know that the Irish Sign Language DVD will enhance the deaf community's ability to share in that gift. I am committed to continued and improved funding for the Link Up project to 2008.

The issue of including ISL deaf studies in the curriculum will be considered in consultation with the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment.

My Department has no responsibility for the issues of improved access to employment, health services and the media and likewise the issue of deaf people making a statement to the gardaí.