Vol. 455 No. 4
141 Miss M. Wallace asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment if his attention has been drawn to the significant difficulties faced by hearing-impaired people in taking up training schemes overseen by his Department due to the lack of relevant communication support; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12358/95]
Overall responsibility for the training of people with physical disabilities, including those with impaired hearing, rests with the Department of Health.
I presume that the Deputy is, however, referring to the accessibility to FÁS training programmes by persons whose hearing is impaired. As part of its day to day activities, FÁS liaises with the National Rehabilitation Board at national and local level in order to encourage persons with disabilities onto all of its programmes, provided that they are capable of participation. In recognition of the special difficulties of persons whose hearing is impaired FÁS has, on a pilot basis, trained a number of its front line staff as signers, some to an advanced level. This initiative has proved successful and FÁS plans to further extend it in the future.
If the Deputy is aware of any case where there is a particular difficulty, the Oireachtas Liaison Unit of FÁS would be happy to assist.
