Vol. 463 No. 5
6 Mr. Martin asked the Minister for Education if she will consider the development of a new system and operation for the production of brailled books and the provision of a comprehensive brailling service for braille dependent students. [6692/96]
13 Mr. Foley asked the Minister for Education if she will consider the development of a new system and operation for the production of brailled books and the provision of a comprehensive brailling service for braille dependent students. [6696/96]
22 Mr. E. Ryan asked the Minister for Education if she will consider the development of a new system and operation for the production of brailled books and the provision of a comprehensive brailling service for braille dependent students. [6699/96]
29 Mr. T. Kitt asked the Minister for Education if she will consider the development of a new system and operation for the production of brailled books and the provision of a comprehensive brailling service for braille dependent students. [6695/96]
30 Mr. O'Leary asked the Minister for Education if she will consider the development of a new system and operation for the production of brailled books and the provision of a comprehensive brailling service for braille dependent students. [6698/96]
33 Mr. J. Walsh asked the Minister for Education if she will consider the development of a new system and operation for the production of brailled books and the provision of a comprehensive brailling service for braille dependent students. [6694/96]
39 Dr. Moffatt asked the Minister for Education if she will consider the development of a new system and operation for the production of brailled books and the provision of a comprehensive brailling service for braille dependent students. [6700/96]
41 Mr. M. Kitt asked the Minister for Education if she will consider the development of a new system and operation for the production of brailled books and the provision of a comprehensive brailling service for braille dependent students. [6702/96]
48 Mr. Hughes asked the Minister for Education if she will consider the development of a new system and operation for the production of brailled books and the provision of a comprehensive brailling service for braille dependent students. [6701/96]
52 Mr. O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education if she will consider the development of a new system and operation for the production of brailled books and the provision of a comprehensive brailling service for braille dependent students. [6697/96]
57 Mr. N. Treacy asked the Minister for Education if she will consider the development of a new system and operation for the production of brailled books and the provision of a comprehensive brailling service for braille dependent students. [6703/96]
68 Mr. Cullen asked the Minister for Education if she will consider the development of a new system and operation for the production of brailled books and the provision of a comprehensive brailling service for braille dependent students. [6693/96]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 6, 13, 22, 29, 30, 33, 39, 41, 48, 52, 57 and 68 together.
It is my policy to provide suitable equipment and reading materials, including Perkins braillers and brailled reading materials, to pupils with visual impairments who need them both in ordinary and special schools. Requests for conversion of specific textbooks into braille come through my Department's visiting teacher service and directly from the special schools for pupils with visual impairments.
The service for the brailling of textbooks for students with visual impairment is provided, through an arrangement between my Department and the Department of Justice, by Arbour Hill Prison. The brailling process at Arbour Hill uses modern computer-based technology. The equipment is supplied and funded by the Department of Justice. The cost of brailling textbooks is borne by my Department and are supplied free to students at first and second levels.
The service provided by Arbour Hill is reviewed on a continuing basis by officials of my Department. The visiting teacher service of my Department is in regular contact with students with visual impairments, their parents and their teachers. I am assured that they find the existing service satisfactory.
The Minister's assurance that the parents find the system satisfactory is extraordinary given that the question was tabled on foot of complaints from parents and particularly from one organisation representing children with visual impairment. I ask the Minister to consider taking complete control of the braille service, the production of books, repair of braille machines and so on. The Department of Education should contact DCU or UCD where technology is available to develop a first class service.
Is the Minister concerned that some students have experienced delays of up to six months in getting the required school books? Children with visual impairment should not be disadvantaged in securing textbooks, they should receive a similar service to that provided for other children. I am concerned that parents who have to bring braille machines to Arbour Hill very often have to wait with their children in the prison waiting room. It is unfair and unsatisfactory in this modern age that people with such a disability are treated in that way.
I am concerned that students feel they are treated badly. There are no more than 70 students in the education system who are fully braille dependent. Two years ago complaints were made of delays in providing school books. That arose from the fact that there were many textual changes within the curriculum and the books were not sent to Arbour Hill in time for the start of the new school year. There was genuine concern that the matter was not treated with the required urgency. I have been assured that these difficulties have been overcome. There will be a meeting with the authorities in Arbour Hill, representatives of special schools and the visiting teacher service in the near future to discuss existing arrangements.
I ask the Minister to investigate the matter further. Will she agree to meet the organisation involved — I will supply the names to her? It is important that she directly hear the views of those availing of the service. I urge her to seriously consider establishing a new system because I am informed that the existing system is a hit and miss affair, with no continuity or consistency in delivery of the service. The children involved deserve the best and should be treated in the same way as other school children. I urge the Minister to consider using the available technologies in DCU and UCD to establish a new system, which would also provide considerable employment.
I share the Deputy's concern that these students feel in any way discriminated against. The forum referred to will provide an opportunity for representatives from the special schools in question, the visiting teacher service and the authorities in Arbour Hill to express their concerns. I visited the brailling service in UCD and was surprised at the process that must be gone through in brailling a book. Some publishers are very helpful in that they do not allow copyright laws to get in the way of making discs available, which would be a much easier and quicker service. Technology is improving all the time and the education needs of these students will be met by the Department.
