Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 283: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the provisions in place to ensure members of the public with sensory disabilities can access gardaí at a local level. [43483/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I am advised by the Garda authorities that all divisional and district stations have been supplied with an audio frequency induction loop system which allows a person with impaired hearing and who is equipped with an appropriate hearing aid to communicate with Garda. In addition, the new public access call-box systems currently being installed at non-24 hour stations are equipped with a similar induction loop system. The new public access call-box systems also have a braille script to advise visually impaired persons to press the button to communicate with gardaí. Eircom continues to support the minitel service for contacting emergency services through the 999 or 112 system. I am further advised that the Garda college works with the National Learning Network, which is part of the Rehab group, to raise awareness amongst student gardaí in respect of disability. The focus in respect of sensory disability is providing guidance to students in respect of people who are visually impaired and those who suffer from deafness or hard of hearing. The National Learning Network provide awareness training to student gardaí as well as general etiquette training when interacting with persons suffering from sensory disability.