Vol. 527 No. 4
180 Ms Coughlan asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will consider the intro duction of a pilot programme in primary schools to teach Irish sign language; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28868/00]
Children who are deaf or who have hearing impairment are not a homogenous group either in terms of their hearing loss or of a wide range of other key factors. Therefore, no single response is appropriate or adequate when addressing the communication needs of this particular category of children. Educational provision is made for individual children, in consultation with their parents, on the basis of the assessed needs of each child.
In this context, and in relation to the choice of communications systems, the fundamental decision is whether the most appropriate first language for the child is Irish sign language or spoken English.
If the option is spoken English, which it will be in a significant number of cases, then a predominantly oral method of teaching is employed. In this oral approach, signed English is sometimes also used as a teaching device.
If the option is for Irish sign language, then the child is taught in a linguistic environment that is predominantly or exclusively based on the use of Irish sign language. There is an increasing request for this approach by some parents on behalf of their children. The policy of my Department is to facilitate access to this approach so that the assessed needs of pupils and parental wishes are taken into account. In this regard, I have allocated additional resources to the two special schools in Dublin to allow them to establish a number of classes in which sign language is the medium for communication and teaching. My Department has also provided four special needs assistants, who are themselves deaf, for these schools in order to facilitate the development and use of Irish sign language as required. My Department has also provided support for a number of families with deaf children to allow them to employ tutors of Irish sign language in their homes.
With regard to further developments in this area, my Department will continue its consultation with representatives of the deaf community and with other relevant bodies and individuals, including parents of deaf children. The increased use of Irish sign language in the education of deaf children has already been acknowledged in the Education Act, 1998.
I have also decided to establish a representative advisory group which will offer guidance on key future developments in the education of the deaf, including the issue raised by the Deputy.
