Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

311. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when an Irish sign language teacher will be available in a school for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10826/22]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Department does not comment on individual cases.

The education of children with special educational needs is a key priority for this Government.

The State currently spends in excess of 25% of its annual education and training budget (€9.2 Billion) on making additional provision for children with special educational needs.

This funding provides for a range of teaching and other supports for students with special needs including Hearing Impairment.

The Department, either directly or through the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), provides for a range of supports in schools to enable them to educate children with Hearing Impairment including additional teaching support, specialist equipment and access to Special Needs Assistant (SNA) support, depending on the child's level of assessed needs.

The Department of Education's policy is that children with special educational needs should attend a mainstream class where possible and with additional supports where required.

The Department provides for a range of placement options for students who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing, where s/he will have access to an education appropriate to their level of need.

Many Deaf or Hard of Hearing students attend mainstream classes at primary and post-primary level whilst other children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing and have more complex needs may attend special classes, which have lower student teacher ratios.

Special class students have opportunities, where appropriate, to integrate and interact with mainstream peers.

In line with advice from supporting professionals, other children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing may avail of a placement in one of the two schools for the Deaf. These schools have reduced class sizes and provide specialist supports in line with the children’s needs.

There are extensive education supports in place to support children who are Deaf/Hard of Hearing. These include:

- the provision of funding to provide ISL tuition for children and their families

- additional teaching and care supports in school in line with need

- assistive technology to enable students access and engage the school curriculum

- supports provided by the National Council for Special Education which include the Visiting Teachers for students who are Deaf / Hard of Hearing (VTDHH) who work with students and their families and their schools

- professional development for teachers

The NCSE can also give approval to a school to appoint a communication worker who is required to have an appropriate level of proficiency in ISL. This person will support students whose main language is ISL to assess the curriculum and participate in school life.

The Irish Sign Language Act 2017 imposes obligations on state bodies in relation to the provision of supports and services for people whose primary language is ISL.

In particular, the Act imposes a number of obligations on the Minister for Education in relation to the provision of ISL supports for students and their families.

Work is underway in the Department on these supports and the statutory schemes required under the Act .

It is expected that the proposals which are currently at an advanced stage of development will enhance current provision for children whose primary means of communication is through ISL.

An announcement will be made on the matter shortly.