Vol. 490 No. 2
289 Ms Cooper-Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason there are not sufficient up-to-date books in braille for second level students available in all the subjects they have to study; when these books will be available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9902/98]
The total number of braille-using pupils in first and second level schools is about 55 (35 in special schools and 20 in mainstream schools).
Braille versions of textbooks are provided by Arbour Hill Prison. A master list of books already on braille is made available each September to special schools and to visiting teachers. Braille versions of books from the master list can be applied quickly.
Requests from mainstream schools for braille texts which are not on the master list are made through the visiting teacher service and should be made as soon as the requirements are known. Visiting teachers liaise directly with the prison authorities and monitor progress regarding the provision of braille texts requested by them.
When delays occur, they are due mainly to the late receipt and the large number of requests. The increase in requests arises from an increase in the number of new textbooks being published and from an increase in integration. The number of braille-using pupils who are leaving special schools to attend mainstram second level schools is growing. Transcribing one textbook per subject into braille will in the special school enable an individual copy to be made available for each pupil in a class-group. In a mainstream school, however, it will usually enable an individual copy to be made available only to one pupil as the textbook in use can vary from school to school.
The brailling unit in Arbour Hill Prison has requests for braille versions of three Irish textbooks. Braille text is much longer than the original print text — a braille version of a textbook will have several volumes. The brailling unit will provide Volume I of the braille version of each of these textbooks as soon as possible and before proceeding to transcribe text of Volume II.
I have recently discussed the question of brailling facilities with representatives of "Féach", the parent support group for blind and visually impaired children. My Department is at present examining the feasibility of arranging with the publishers of school textbooks to have a copy of new textbooks made available on computer disk to facilitate production of a braille version. The question of the provision of a resource centre for visual impairment is also being examined by my Department. The brailling of textbooks is among the services which such a resource centre would provide.
