Seán Kenny
Question:851. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of children currently waiting to receive a Baha hearing device; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40994/14]
View answerTuesday, 4 November 2014
Questions (851)
Written answers
I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department provides for an extensive range of supports to assist pupils who are Deaf or hard of hearing. In line with my Department's policy that children with special educational needs access appropriate education intervention in mainstream settings where possible, many Deaf or hard of hearing pupils are integrated into mainstream classes at primary and post-primary level with additional supports such as additional resource teaching and Special Needs Assistant (SNA) support. Other children who are deaf or hard of hearing may attend special schools or classes, which have lower pupil teacher ratios. In order to support the education of such pupils, grant-aid is provided to schools towards the provision of specialist equipment such as sound field systems and radio aids. The type of equipment provided is set out in my Departments Circular 10/2013 on the Assistive Technology scheme. I wish to advise the Deputy, however, that personal hearing/communication devices, as referred to in this question, are provided for children by the Department of Health through the Health Service Executive. As such, the Deputy may wish to direct his query in relation to the provision of such equipment to those bodies.