asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a newspaper report (details supplied) that there is a serious scarcity of instructors for training blind people for open employment; and what steps he proposes taking to remedy this situation.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Training of Blind.
12.
I have seen the report referred to by the Deputy. The question of increasing the supply of instructors for training of blind people for open employment is one of a number of matters relating to blind welfare at present under examination by my Department.
What is the Minister doing about this very unsatisfactory situation?
The services for the blind have developed over the years and blind welfare has been passed over to my Department. I will be examining the situation with a view to seeing what further improvements might be undertaken. As I have had the matter under review for only five weeks the Deputy could not expect me to have made any decision. As I said, there has been a very happy development in blind services over the last ten or 15 years, under the Minister for Social Welfare.