Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 10 Mar 1998

Vol. 488 No. 4

Written Answers - Special Education Needs.

Andrew Boylan

Ceist:

314 Mr. Boylan asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason he has not adhered to the requests by parents of children attending Our Lady's secondary school, Castleblayney, County Monaghan, for sanction to appoint a person (details supplied) to the school's permanent staff; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that hearing impaired children need to be taught sign language and that the present resource teachers do not have this skill; and his views on the importance of this service to the future welfare of these children. [6381/98]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Martin)

My Department has allocated five resource posts to Our Lady's secondary school to cater for the educational needs of special pupils, and has also allocated one temporary post to cater for pupils with hearing impairment who attend the school.

At present Our Lady's secondary school does not have a vacancy into which a permanent appointment can be made.

I can assure the Deputy that the needs of this school will be kept under review and that the continued provision of a teacher for the hearing impaired will be considered in the context of available resources and the needs of the pupils concerned.

Training in the use of sign language for teaching is given every consideration within my Department. The training of further members of the staff of the school in the use of sign language can be arranged by the school management authority through the in-career development section of my Department to which they may apply for funding for the running of such a course.