Written answers
Tuesday, 20 March 2007
Department of An Taoiseach
Departmental Communications
11:00 pm
Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 184: To ask the Taoiseach the services and facilities available to persons with a hearing disability who wish to phone a Government Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10360/07]
Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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While there are a number of channels available, which can be utilised by people with hearing disabilities to communicate with my Department, such as email, website feedback forms, post and fax, we do not currently have facilities for people with a hearing disability to phone my Department. We have, however, recently received proposals from our telecom suppliers for the installation of induction couplers and other telephone devices for the deaf (TDD) (text phones/Minicoms) which we are considering.
My Department will continue to explore and implement opportunities to improve services to people with disabilities, including through the Department's Disability Monitoring Committee which seeks to ensure that the range of services provided by the Department is accessible to people with disabilities and that staff of the Department engage actively in the process.
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