Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 454: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the annual funding paid to the National Braille Production Centre in 2007 and 2008; his views on whether it is good practice that the final pages of a maths book were issued to a student (details supplied) in Dublin 22 eleven months after being ordered and a few weeks off the person's completion of fourth class, and that these pages covered weeks one to four, which had been covered by their class in September 2007; the action that will be taken to ensure that books in Braille are available to students at the beginning of the school year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25525/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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In 2007, my Department provided the National Braille Production Centre (NBPC) with funding of €867,000 and additional funding has been made available in 2008 to enable the NBPC meet demand.

The NBPC provides an essential service to children who are blind or visually impaired. My Department's visiting teacher service for the visually impaired works closely with the NBPC as it is often the visiting teachers that will order books or materials on behalf of a particular child. In 2006, the NBPC agreed a protocol with the visiting teacher service in order to further improve communication between all parties involved. So far the feedback on the protocol and the related book delivery guarantees has been very positive. The protocol is due for review shortly.

I understand from the NBPC that the book referred to by the Deputy was ordered outside the agreed time lines. However, the NBPC afforded urgent priority treatment to providing the book and the timetable was designed and delivered to follow the student's progress through the school year. The NPBC has advised my Department that all Braille books ordered within the agreed timeframe are guaranteed to be delivered in the specified number of volumes for September 2008. Follow on volumes will be delivered in a timely and well-scheduled manner until the full book is delivered in line with each individual client's requirements.