asked the Minister for Education if he is satisfied that sufficient schools are available for deaf children; and, if not, the plans he has in mind to meet this demand.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Schools for Deaf Children.
75.
The provision for hard of hearing children was fully investigated by the Committee on the Education of the Deaf, which published its report in December, 1972.
The committee did not recommend any new school for the deaf; however, it did recommend a reorganisation of facilities and an improvement of existing school accommodation. Some of the committee's recommendations in this regard are already being implemented—the remainder are being considered by my Department in consultation with the interested parties.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that in many areas no such facility is available to families and where there are schools there are long waiting lists?
I understand that there are difficulties in getting children in, but the Deputy will agree that, in the case of profoundly deaf children, the numbers are so small that it is necessary for them to go to boarding school. One could not provide in each locality a sufficient number of children to ensure that there would be sufficient to form a class and give adequate teaching.
How many are on the waiting list for admission to these schools? How much is their education being impeded because they are on the waiting list?
I do not think I have that information. I do not think the waiting list is very big. There may be individual cases where difficulties have arisen for one reason or another: because there was a question of determining whether the child was suitable for admission to a school for the deaf, or because of the existence of a multiple handicap it was right that the child should be placed elsewhere. There would be delays in such cases. As to the existence of a global waiting list, I could not give the Deputy any information. If he wishes to put down another question that would be helpful.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary have any idea as to whether there is a register of children who are severely deaf or anything like that? Have we any such statistics?
I could not give that information to the Deputy. If the Deputy wishes to put down a question along those lines, we will see whether my Department or the Department of Health could provide the necessary information.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary agree that this is the type of information which should be made available by sociologists to the Department of Education?
I agree with the Deputy that it would be useful information to have but I should point out to the Deputy that it is not information which I was requested to provide in relation to this question.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary recommend to his Department that they might consider compiling a register?
I cannot tell the Deputy that we have not done so because I have not got the information available to me in relation to this question because it does not relate directly to this question. If the Deputy wishes to put down a question, we will do what we can to provide the information for him.