Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 4 April 2019
75. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans for future funding of a society (details supplied); the amount of funding that will help develop and support Irish sign language and specifically the programmes run by the society such as deaf adult literacy services and the Irish sign language academy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15855/19]
View answer82. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans for the future funding of a society (details supplied); the way in which the funding will help develop and support Irish sign language and specifically the programmes run by the society such as deaf adult literacy services and an academy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15766/19]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 75 and 82 together.
The national further education authority SOLAS, provided funding to the Irish Deaf Society in 2018 for the provision of literacy courses for the deaf community through Irish Sign Language. €241k was allocated in 2018 to achieve the following:
- Provide QQI certified, Continuing Professional Development and personal development training interventions and workshops for approx. 400 learners who are members of the Deaf community.
- Support 60 learners to achieve QQI certification at Levels 2 to 5 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ).
I understand the Irish Deaf Society have applied for funding to provide this service in 2019, and the application is currently being considered by SOLAS.
It is not my Department’s policy generally to provide funding to representative organisations which operate independently of State provision, or to duplicate funding arrangements where State provision is already in place for services provided.
My Department provides for an extensive range of supports to assist pupils who are Deaf or hard of hearing, including the following:
- The Irish Sign Language (ISL) tuition scheme, where funding is made available to parents/guardians for tuition in ISL for children who are deaf/hard of hearing and their families.
- In 2018/19 school year, there are 1,459 special classes in mainstream schools, including 15 for students who are deaf and 1 early intervention special class for the Deaf. Of 124 special schools nationally, there are 2 special schools for the Deaf.
- Special Education Teaching (SET) support for deaf/hard of hearing students attending mainstream schools.
- The Visiting Teacher Service for Children/Young People who are Deaf/Hard of Hearing are a part of the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) Support Service and works in partnership with parents of deaf/hard of hearing children throughout the country, helping the children to derive maximum benefit from the educational opportunities available.
- The Support Service also provides funding for individual teachers and whole school staff to undertake courses in Irish Sign Language, which are available throughout the country through a variety of providers.
- Funding to schools for assistive technology such as radio aids and soundfield systems
- Special transport arrangements for pupils
- Enhanced levels of capitation in Special schools and Special Classes.
The NCSE published Policy Advice on the Education of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children in Ireland which makes a number of recommendations for the improvement of educational provision for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children, including recommendations relating to ISL provision.
In addition, the Comprehensive review of the SNA Scheme, published by the NCSE in 2018, recommends Irish Sign Language qualified assistants in schools, to support profoundly deaf students whose primary language is ISL and that this provision should be aligned to the requirements of the Irish Sign Language Act 2017.
In line with the recommendations of this review and the requirements of the Irish Sign Language Act 2017, a scheme will be developed to provide Irish Sign Language support for students attending recognised schools, whose primary language is Irish Sign Language.
On 24 January 2019, I launched a new undergraduate programme in DCU that enables deaf and hard of hearing people who use Irish Sign Language (ISL) to enter primary teaching.
