Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 April 2006
751 Mr. McHugh asked the Minister for Education and Science his plans to ensure that Irish sign language is given official recognition by the Government; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14234/06]
Amharc ar fhreagra806 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Science if she will meet with the Irish Deaf Society; and if the maximum support on the Irish sign language issue will be given. [14369/06]
Amharc ar fhreagra878 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason she disbanded the Advisory Committee on the Education of Deaf Persons prior to a final report or recommendation having been made; if she intends to put anything in its place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14986/06]
Amharc ar fhreagra879 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science if she will meet with the National Association for Deaf People who have been seeking a meeting with her; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14987/06]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 751, 806, 878 and 879 together.
The Advisory Committee for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing was established in December 2001. The committee held 38 meetings over a three-year period as well as a number of other meetings at sub-committee stage. From an early stage in the committee's deliberations, it became apparent that there were divergent views among representatives of deaf and hearing persons and their families on approaches to the teaching of the deaf and hard of hearing. The opposing viewpoints made it difficult for the committee to reach decisions. Indeed in some cases, decisions arrived at sub-committee stage were challenged at plenary level by members who were involved in the decisions of the sub-committee.
While various chapters of the committee's report were drafted, including chapters on early intervention, primary education, post-primary education, visiting teacher service and communication issues, no consensus was reached on any of these due to the divergent views of members of the committee. In order to progress matters, and as two previous deadlines which had been set for the report's finalisation had not been met, my predecessor, the Minister, Deputy Noel Dempsey, met the committee in June 2004. At that meeting, the then Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Noel Dempsey, stressed that its report should be completed by October 2004. This did not happen.
In the circumstances and following consultations between my officials and the chairperson of the committee, I formed the view that there was no prospect of the advisory committee reaching an agreed position in the foreseeable future. Given this position, I wrote to the chairperson of the committee and informed her of my decision to disband it.
I am disappointed that it was not possible for the committee to complete its work but the reality was that, over three years after its establishment, there was no prospect of it doing so. Rather than continue down the cul-de-sac that the committee's work had become, I have decided that a different approach is required which includes involving the national council for special education which has a remit to advise my Department on policy matters.
I am confident that the national council for special education, which has a research function and part of whose remit is to advise my Department on policy matters will be in a position, after undertaking appropriate research and analysis of this matter, to advise my Department on policy and other issues relating to the education of deaf and hard of hearing pupils. Indeed, I understand from the NCSE work is progressing on this issue and I am satisfied that this important issue in receiving appropriate attention.
In regard to Irish sign language, ISL, I wish to advise the Deputies that ISL has formal recognition in the Education Act 1998. Under the Act, it is a function of the Minister for Education and Science to ensure, subject to the provisions of the Act, that there is made available to each person resident in the State, including a person with a disability or who has other special educational needs, support services and a level and quality of education appropriate to meeting the needs and abilities of that person. This includes provision for students learning through ISL.
A number of initiatives which seek to promote, develop and implement ISL in order that it will achieve greater recognition and use in the education system are currently in place. These include the following. The special schools for the deaf in Cabra, Dublin, have been encouraged in regard to the use of sign language in class. In-service training is provided in the use of ISL. My Department has provided funding for an ISL weekly home tuition service whereby deaf tutors visit the homes of deaf pre-school children and deaf school-going pupils to provide training in ISL for the deaf children-pupils, their siblings and parents.
My Department has sanctioned a pre-school for deaf children on a pilot basis. Programmes are delivered through the medium of ISL as a first language. My Department also provides funding towards ISL tuition to the siblings of the children enrolled.
My Department, through the Higher Education Authority, has established and fully funds a centre for deaf studies in Trinity College, Dublin, which provides diploma courses for ISL-English interpreters, deaf tutors and in deaf studies. The course modules deal with issues such as sign linguistics, bilingualism and socio-linguistics of sign language. The course is delivered in seminar sessions-group work and the award of the diploma is based on continued assessment and a project and course design.
My colleague, the Minister of State with responsibility for adult education, recently launched the first in a series of instructional DVDs. These DVDs were developed by the Irish Deaf Society with funding from the Department of Education and Science, under the Education Equality Initiative, which provides pilot funding for innovative projects aimed at adults who are educationally disadvantaged. This is the first in a series that will provide instruction in English through ISL to deaf adults. Funding covers the period 2004 to 2006 and is assisted by the European Structural Funds.
My officials will be in contact with the two groups in question concerning their request for a meeting.
