Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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609. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her Department will provide funding for a child (details supplied) in County Cork to attend the John Tracey Clinic in Los Angeles in the United States of America. [36499/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department provides for an extensive range of supports to assist pupils who are Deaf or hard of hearing, including pupils who have Down syndrome and additional hearing difficulties.

In line with my Department's policy that children with special educational needs access appropriate education intervention in mainstream settings where possible, many Deaf or hard of hearing pupils are integrated into mainstream classes at primary and post-primary level with additional supports such as additional resource teaching and Special Needs Assistant (SNA) support. Other children who are Deaf or hard of hearing may attend special schools or classes, which have lower pupil teacher ratios.

Funding is also provided by my Department for a weekly home tuition service whereby tutors visit the homes of Deaf and hard of hearing pre-school children and school-going pupils to provide training in Irish Sign Language (ISL) for these children, their siblings and parents.

The Visiting Teacher Service for Children and Young People with a Hearing Impairment is provided from the time of referral through to third level education. The Visiting Teacher service provides advice and support to ensure that the needs of children and young people with hearing impairment are met. This service is available at pre-school, primary and post-primary levels.

Additional supports provided by my Department include funding for specialised equipment for pupils who are Deaf or hard of hearing, special transport arrangements, enhanced levels of capitation in Special schools and Special Classes as well as additional teacher training.

Finally, I wish to advise the Deputy that provision for funding for health therapy supports, including consideration of overseas placements therapy services such as that referred to in his question, is a matter for the Department of Health through the Health Service Executive. As such, the Deputy may wish to direct his query in this regard to those bodies.