Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 215: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the extent of the visiting teacher service for children and young people with a hearing or visual impairment, VTHVI, provided by his Department with particular reference to the numbers of visiting teachers available for pre-school, primary, post primary and third level in each region allocated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41690/08]

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 216: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason a teacher for visually impaired children (details supplied) was allocated a case load on a restricted basis in view of the impracticality of the circumstances in which the service could be provided as a consequence; the alternative ways that have been examined by his Department; the outcome of the alternative ways examined; the location of the nearest geographically adjacent VTVIs; the findings of the analysis of alternative ways of providing the service examined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41691/08]

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 217: To ask the Minister for Education and Science his views on whether the visiting teaching service for children and young people with a hearing or visual impairment scheme provided by his Department was never intended to be by telephone consultation only; if his attention has been drawn to the situation in which this is the only visiting service allocated to pupils and that this fails the aims of the scheme and the aims of the service to be provided; if he will rectify this situation forthwith; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41692/08]

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 218: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the cost of the visiting teacher service for children and young people with a hearing or visual impairment for each of the past five calendar years; the allocation made in the budget for his Department for each such year for this purpose; if all the moneys allocated were spent; the number of new teachers capable of providing the specialist service involved employed in the past five years; the number employed as of 30 September 2008 in the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41693/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 215 to 218, inclusive, together.

My Department currently has 42 posts for Visiting Teachers of the Hearing and Visually Impaired (VTHVIs) nationally, 29 of which are assigned to support the education of approximately 2000 hearing impaired children and 13 in the case of approximately 1000 visually impaired children. The posts are assigned to caseloads of between 60 and 100 children covering, in some cases, a limited geographic area and, in others, up to 5 counties. Each caseload contains a combination of children and young people with varying levels of sensory difficulties from pre-school through primary and second levels to third level education. Each of my Department's ten Regional Offices is a base for an average of 4 VTHVIs. All 42 posts in this service are currently filled.

The assignment of caseloads to individual VTHVIs and the location of VTHVIs is a factor of available resources and assessment of service needs at any given juncture. The assignment of a VTVI to continue a limited service to Co. Mayo from Dublin in 2007/2008 fell within these parameters. While it was necessary to review that service in September 2008, it was always intended that the needs of visually impaired children in Co. Mayo would be addressed locally and permanently in the longer term within the overall capacity of the VTHVI service. In order to ensure some continuity of support for families, schools and relevant referral agencies, a VTVI has been providing welcome advice and support on an interim basis since early September 2008 while options for a permanent solution to this matter have been explored.

My Department will correspond directly with the Deputy in relation to details regarding costs and staffing of the VTHVI service.

I wish to inform the Deputy that significant progress has been made in planning for a permanent VTVI service to Co. Mayo and, in that regard, my Department will shortly advertise the post in question.