Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 9 Oct 2001

Vol. 541 No. 4

Written Answers. - Students with Hearing Impairment.

Proinsias De Rossa

Question:

176 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Education and Science if the advisory committee on deaf education has been established; if so, its membership and terms of reference; and when he expects to receive its report. [22985/01]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods)

Nominations have now been received in my Department from the majority of bodies invited to participate in the Advisory Committee on the Education of the Hearing Impaired. I expect that outstanding nominations will be received in the coming days.

The proposed composition of the committee is as follows: chairperson nominated by the Minister for Education and Science; two nominees of the Minister for Education and Science; one nominee of the Minister for Health and Children; two nominees of the special schools for the hearing impaired; one nominee of the National Association for the Deaf; one nominee of the Irish Deaf Society; one nominee of the Catholic Institute for the Deaf; one nominee of the visiting teacher service; one nominee of the Model School for the Deaf Project; one nominee of the INTO; one nominee of the ASTI-TUI; and one nominee of schools management.

The terms of reference of the committee are as follows: having regard to the distinct educational needs of certain students with hearing impairment; having regard to the responsibility of the State to make adequate educational provision for students with hearing impairment; having regard to the particular importance of early educational intervention in the case of children with hearing impairment; having regard to the range of special educational support services currently made available to students with hearing impairment in special dedicated facilities and in integrated settings; and having regard to the desirability of ensuring that services made available to students with hearing impairment are appropriate to their evolving needs.

The Advisory Committee on the Education of the Hearing Impaired will review the adequacy of the current range of educational support services available to students with hearing impairment; identify and prioritise areas of service provision which require development or adjustment; and bring forward such proposals as are considered appropriate in order to ensure the development and delivery of an appropriate, effective education support service for students with hearing impairment.

The work of the proposed committee will commence shortly. I would be anxious that the initial focus of the committee's work should be on the areas of provision at pre-school, primary and second level. The committee will be required to prioritise its work and establish a timetable for completion of its consideration of each priority area.