Vol. 463 No. 1
51 Mr. Flood asked the Minister for Health if he has satisfied himself that facilities exist within his Department which ensures that when issues pertaining to deafness and the deaf community arise the opinions and values of the deaf community are fully available to him; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5401/96]
Limerick East): It is the policy and practice of my Department that a process of consultation with people with physical and sensory disabilities is pursued in relation to all issues relating to health services for them. In relation to issues pertaining to deafness, officials of my Department are available at all times to representatives of the deaf community to discuss any issue of concern to them. The most recent meeting was with the Irish Deaf Society on 23 February 1996. The Deputy might like to note also that representatives of the deaf community attended the recent consultative seminar held to discuss the draft report of the Review Group on Services for People with Physical and Sensory Disabilities, on which the National Association for the Deaf is represented.
