Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 548: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the services and facilities available to persons with a hearing disability who wish to phone his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10954/07]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The Department of Foreign Affairs has appointed an Access Officer in compliance with the Disability Act 2005. The Access Officer looks after the provision of assistance and guidance to persons with disabilities in accessing the Department's services.

Persons with a hearing disability can make contact with the Department through fax and e-mail, as well as the "contact us" facilities on the Departmental web-site — www.dfa.ie. In addition, the Department is examining the provision of a Minicom / Textphone facility in the Passport Office. This would allow callers with a hearing disability, who have a similar unit, to engage in real time communication with Passport Office staff.

The Department of Foreign Affairs also arranges disability awareness training programmes for staff at regular intervals. The Department circulates Disability Awareness information to all staff to coincide with occasions such as International Day of People with a Disability. These initiatives have a customer service focus, including an emphasis on service provision to persons with a hearing disability.