ISL support in Wexford school
Deputy Murphy raised the lack of an Irish Sign Language specialist for deaf children in Sacred Heart National School in Newbawn. The Tánaiste said he did not know the details, suggested recruitment difficulties may be involved, and promised to speak to the Minister.
In the beautiful village of Newbawn, in the heart of County Wexford, one will find the Sacred Heart National School, which has two special classes for severe-to-profoundly-deaf children. Fourteen pupils are currently enrolled in these special classes. To the best of my knowledge, it is the only school outside of Dublin to provide such classrooms. The National Council for Special Education announced in October last year that it was rolling out an Irish Sign Language, ISL, specialist to provide classroom support so that these pupils could be fully integrated into school life. It goes without saying that the presence of an ISL specialist to provide classroom support to 14 severe-to-profoundly deaf children at Sacred Heart would be invaluable, yet this role has not been sanctioned for Newbawn national school. Fourteen severe-to-profoundly deaf children are in need.
Why has an ISL specialist not been sanctioned for these two special classes? When will the appointment of an ISL specialist be made?
Comment on this
I do not have the details of the case so I cannot give a specific answer in respect of the school. There have been challenges in recruiting qualified personnel for posts of that kind. That may be the case for this school or post, but I do not know. The Deputy can give me the details.
Comment on this
It is the only one outside Dublin.